Saints Defense... Is this a fair assessment?

alleycat_126 · 02-04-2014, 11:16 AM

In a discussion of guys where I work, different teams fans... Houston, Philly, New Orleans and Dallas..... A comment came up from someone I would call my friend.... He got to talking about the Saints defense and he said something that stuck with me. I didn't know whether to slap him or hug him for placing that thought in my head. Straight quote.... "The Saints defense is talented, and disciplined... but not talented enough to take big risks yet<<<<< I understood him to mean like jumping routes, playing rouge, forcing more turnovers etc.......

Is that a fair assessment of the Defense... Yes or No?

Danno · 02-04-2014, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by alleycat_126

In a discussion of guys where I work, different teams fans... Houston, Philly, New Orleans and Dallas..... A comment came up from someone I would call my friend.... He got to talking about the Saints defense and he said something that stuck with me. I didn't know whether to slap him or hug him for placing that thought in my head. Straight quote.... "The Saints defense is talented, and disciplined... but not talented enough to take big risks yet<<<<< I understood him to mean like jumping routes, playing rouge, forcing more turnovers etc.......

Is that a fair assessment of the Defense... Yes or No?

Perhaps. In previous seasons they were very undisciplined and gave up big plays.

It does seem like they were more disciplined this year. I don't think its as much of a talent issue as it is trying to break old habits.

Perhaps its just the discipline pendulum swinging back the other way.

halloween 65 · 02-04-2014, 11:29 AM

It is, there are spots on our D that need upgrading. FS to start, ILB for 2. We have not 1 cover lb. in the group but I think in FA that will get adressed along with CB. That would be a great starting point and allow Jenkins to take a walk and draft a ball-hawking FS. Our secondary has some bad hands in the entire group.

The Dude · 02-04-2014, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by alleycat_126

In a discussion of guys where I work, different teams fans... Houston, Philly, New Orleans and Dallas..... A comment came up from someone I would call my friend.... He got to talking about the Saints defense and he said something that stuck with me. I didn't know whether to slap him or hug him for placing that thought in my head. Straight quote.... "The Saints defense is talented, and disciplined... but not talented enough to take big risks yet<<<<< I understood him to mean like jumping routes, playing rouge, forcing more turnovers etc.......

Is that a fair assessment of the Defense... Yes or No?

Probably so, thus our lack of turnovers. Sometimes its better to contain than to go for a strip or jump a route when you dont quite have the personnel to do it. I am just happy they did so well and would take our new defense any day over most in the league. I would like to have more turnovers but those guys went above and beyond. I wouldnt expect them to do quite as well again next year. I wouldnt be surprised if we dropped a couple of spots simply because its extremely difficult to bring a squad from dead last to top 5 over night, he did it for one year so you never know. I dont think we will drop enough for them to be a liability but I wont get too upset if they drop a spot or two. If not WOW.

blackangold · 02-04-2014, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by halloween 65

It is, there are spots on our D that need upgrading. FS to start, ILB for 2. We have not 1 cover lb. in the group but I think in FA that will get adressed along with CB. That would be a great starting point and allow Jenkins to take a walk and draft a ball-hawking FS. Our secondary has some bad hands in the entire group.

I don't get the whole knock on our ILBs coverage abilities. We had the 2nd best passing defense in the NFL, and you don't get there with poor coverage from your ILBs. Also, dont get your hopes up to address anything other than re-signing a few players in FA; we don't have the money to do much this year.

neugey · 02-04-2014, 12:53 PM

I get what your friend is saying and he is basically right. The Saints don't have the sheer speed of the 49ers or the past Steelers teams to go hog-wild with our 3-4 schemes. Which is okay, because very few teams have that elite talent. But as a result there are some plays that are too risky to implement because we don't have the speed to recover to other areas of the field.

TheOak · 02-04-2014, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by alleycat_126

In a discussion of guys where I work, different teams fans... Houston, Philly, New Orleans and Dallas..... A comment came up from someone I would call my friend.... He got to talking about the Saints defense and he said something that stuck with me. I didn't know whether to slap him or hug him for placing that thought in my head. Straight quote.... "The Saints defense is talented, and disciplined... but not talented enough to take big risks yet<<<<< I understood him to mean like jumping routes, playing rouge, forcing more turnovers etc.......

Is that a fair assessment of the Defense... Yes or No?

I think history would argue that its not fair, and to lump the entire defense into that statement isn't fair either.

2009 25th ranked defense <--- wound suggest not very talented.
Sharper - 9 INTs (very talented)
Porter - Jumped Payton Manning's route (not an extremely talented corner back)

2013 4th ranked defense - We have a lot more speakable talent in this defense than we had in 2009. Lewis, Gallette, Jordan, Vaccaro.

I would have said "The Saints defense is talented and disciplined, just not confident enough at key positions to be opportunistic. "

ScottF · 02-04-2014, 02:27 PM

there is a difference between 'opportunistic' and actually taking advantages of the opportunity
19 TO's is terrible--too many dropped picks and too few recoveries

Rugby Saint II · 02-04-2014, 03:48 PM

We need more talent at FS and CB then we can do whatever we want. Remember we've got players coming back from IR that had a lot of talent.

Vrillon82 · 02-04-2014, 06:21 PM

IMO Taking big risk = taking the risk big enough that could potentially draw flags.

The way the refs put the Saints defense under the microscope as they have the past 2-3 years, hard to take those risk.

Thats my opinion, if they could get by with all the BS that teams like San Fran or Seattle get by with, they be the #1 defense in a heart beat.

02-04-2014, 11:16 AM	#1
alleycat_126 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Katy, Tx a suburb of Houston Posts: 2,089	Saints Defense... Is this a fair assessment? In a discussion of guys where I work, different teams fans... Houston, Philly, New Orleans and Dallas..... A comment came up from someone I would call my friend.... He got to talking about the Saints defense and he said something that stuck with me. I didn't know whether to slap him or hug him for placing that thought in my head. Straight quote.... "The Saints defense is talented, and disciplined... but not talented enough to take big risks yet<<<<< I understood him to mean like jumping routes, playing rouge, forcing more turnovers etc....... Is that a fair assessment of the Defense... Yes or No? Danno and neugey like this.
	You shouldn't throw stones if you live in a glass house, and if have a glass jaw you should watch your mouth..... cause I'll break your face!!! -50 cent

02-04-2014, 11:27 AM	#2
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,723	Re: Saints Defense... Is this a fair assessment? Originally Posted by alleycat_126 In a discussion of guys where I work, different teams fans... Houston, Philly, New Orleans and Dallas..... A comment came up from someone I would call my friend.... He got to talking about the Saints defense and he said something that stuck with me. I didn't know whether to slap him or hug him for placing that thought in my head. Straight quote.... "The Saints defense is talented, and disciplined... but not talented enough to take big risks yet<<<<< I understood him to mean like jumping routes, playing rouge, forcing more turnovers etc....... Is that a fair assessment of the Defense... Yes or No? Perhaps. In previous seasons they were very undisciplined and gave up big plays. It does seem like they were more disciplined this year. I don't think its as much of a talent issue as it is trying to break old habits. Perhaps its just the discipline pendulum swinging back the other way.

02-04-2014, 11:29 AM	#3
halloween 65 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Grand Haven, Michigan by way of a little Mississippi River town in Louisiana Posts: 5,893	Re: Saints Defense... Is this a fair assessment? It is, there are spots on our D that need upgrading. FS to start, ILB for 2. We have not 1 cover lb. in the group but I think in FA that will get adressed along with CB. That would be a great starting point and allow Jenkins to take a walk and draft a ball-hawking FS. Our secondary has some bad hands in the entire group.

02-04-2014, 12:43 PM	#4
The Dude 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 9,050	Re: Saints Defense... Is this a fair assessment? Originally Posted by alleycat_126 In a discussion of guys where I work, different teams fans... Houston, Philly, New Orleans and Dallas..... A comment came up from someone I would call my friend.... He got to talking about the Saints defense and he said something that stuck with me. I didn't know whether to slap him or hug him for placing that thought in my head. Straight quote.... "The Saints defense is talented, and disciplined... but not talented enough to take big risks yet<<<<< I understood him to mean like jumping routes, playing rouge, forcing more turnovers etc....... Is that a fair assessment of the Defense... Yes or No? Probably so, thus our lack of turnovers. Sometimes its better to contain than to go for a strip or jump a route when you dont quite have the personnel to do it. I am just happy they did so well and would take our new defense any day over most in the league. I would like to have more turnovers but those guys went above and beyond. I wouldnt expect them to do quite as well again next year. I wouldnt be surprised if we dropped a couple of spots simply because its extremely difficult to bring a squad from dead last to top 5 over night, he did it for one year so you never know. I dont think we will drop enough for them to be a liability but I wont get too upset if they drop a spot or two. If not WOW.
The Dude 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 9,050

02-04-2014, 12:45 PM	#5
blackangold 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 3,422	Re: Saints Defense... Is this a fair assessment? Originally Posted by halloween 65 It is, there are spots on our D that need upgrading. FS to start, ILB for 2. We have not 1 cover lb. in the group but I think in FA that will get adressed along with CB. That would be a great starting point and allow Jenkins to take a walk and draft a ball-hawking FS. Our secondary has some bad hands in the entire group. I don't get the whole knock on our ILBs coverage abilities. We had the 2nd best passing defense in the NFL, and you don't get there with poor coverage from your ILBs. Also, dont get your hopes up to address anything other than re-signing a few players in FA; we don't have the money to do much this year. Rugby Saint II likes this.

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02-04-2014, 12:53 PM	#6
neugey Hu Dat! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,714 Blog Entries: 13	Re: Saints Defense... Is this a fair assessment? I get what your friend is saying and he is basically right. The Saints don't have the sheer speed of the 49ers or the past Steelers teams to go hog-wild with our 3-4 schemes. Which is okay, because very few teams have that elite talent. But as a result there are some plays that are too risky to implement because we don't have the speed to recover to other areas of the field.

02-04-2014, 12:56 PM	#7
TheOak 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cypress Tx. Posts: 19,026	Re: Saints Defense... Is this a fair assessment? Originally Posted by alleycat_126 In a discussion of guys where I work, different teams fans... Houston, Philly, New Orleans and Dallas..... A comment came up from someone I would call my friend.... He got to talking about the Saints defense and he said something that stuck with me. I didn't know whether to slap him or hug him for placing that thought in my head. Straight quote.... "The Saints defense is talented, and disciplined... but not talented enough to take big risks yet<<<<< I understood him to mean like jumping routes, playing rouge, forcing more turnovers etc....... Is that a fair assessment of the Defense... Yes or No? I think history would argue that its not fair, and to lump the entire defense into that statement isn't fair either. 2009 25th ranked defense <--- wound suggest not very talented. Sharper - 9 INTs (very talented) Porter - Jumped Payton Manning's route (not an extremely talented corner back) 2013 4th ranked defense - We have a lot more speakable talent in this defense than we had in 2009. Lewis, Gallette, Jordan, Vaccaro. I would have said "The Saints defense is talented and disciplined, just not confident enough at key positions to be opportunistic. "

02-04-2014, 02:27 PM	#8
ScottF 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 6,324	Re: Saints Defense... Is this a fair assessment? there is a difference between 'opportunistic' and actually taking advantages of the opportunity 19 TO's is terrible--too many dropped picks and too few recoveries

02-04-2014, 03:48 PM	#9
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,073	Re: Saints Defense... Is this a fair assessment? We need more talent at FS and CB then we can do whatever we want. Remember we've got players coming back from IR that had a lot of talent.

02-04-2014, 06:21 PM	#10
Vrillon82 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,127	Re: Saints Defense... Is this a fair assessment? IMO Taking big risk = taking the risk big enough that could potentially draw flags. The way the refs put the Saints defense under the microscope as they have the past 2-3 years, hard to take those risk. Thats my opinion, if they could get by with all the BS that teams like San Fran or Seattle get by with, they be the #1 defense in a heart beat.
Vrillon82 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,127

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