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The "Legion of Boom" is already taken. But there's nothing wrong with the New Orleans Saints mimicking the Seattle Seahawks' secondary.

Time and time again this offseason, members of the Saints organization lauded the Seahawks' suffocating secondary. The unit devoured the typically prolific Saints passing offense twice in 2013.

In their latest step to build a Seattle-like secondary, the Saints selected Nebraska cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste with their second-round pick at No. 58 overall in Day 2 of the NFL draft Friday night.
The transformation began last offseason with the acquisition cornerback Keenan Lewis in free agency and safety Kenny Vaccaro in the first round of last year's draft.

Both acquisitions vastly improved the team's defense, the team's pass defense. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan deemed Lewis as the top free-agent acquisition in 2013 and called Vaccaro essentially the best overall safety in the NFL, including Seattle's Earl Thomas.

It wasn't quite enough for the complete transformation as the Saints only intercepted 12 passes last season, tied for 24th in the NFL.

New Orleans shelled out megabucks for prized free-agent safety Jairus Byrd, adding a third piece to the puzzle, yet still leaving a potential void at the second cornerback role.

The Saints might not have enough reps in practice to give those competing for the starting role opposite Lewis, as the list of contenders include free-agent acquisition Champ Bailey along with holdovers Corey White and Patrick Robinson, among others. But despite the logjam, it still didn't satisfy Saints coach Sean Payton, who said drafting a cornerback was a priority.

Enter Jean-Baptiste: A 6-foot-3 converted cornerback bearing the ideal size of today's NFL cornerback with the ball skills attributed to being a former receiver in college.

"Look, (the Seahawks have) got a fantastic secondary," Payton said after selecting Jean-Baptiste. "We've had a chance to see it firsthand. But I think it was trying to fit what we're doing. A year and a half ago, starting before last year's draft, we made an effort to really put a high value on size, and we've been able to do that defensively."

Read more: New Orleans Saints continue molding secondary with Seattle blueprint | Larry Holder | NOLA.com

hagan714

See i disagree with all this seahawk stuff. if that were the case tackling and aggressive play would be higher requirements for this pick. have you seen the size of our SS and FS ????? drama catching headlines that are so far from the truth it is a joke

All this was is a reflection of the effect of taller wide WR are having not only in the NFL but in college. DB are just now starting to get trained up for the change. before you walk in tall and with good hands you went straight to offense. now the defenses are adjusting.

wait till the effect takes over high school ball big time then you will see this size of DB more common in the draft. give it 5 or so more years.

If this is the case Ahmad Dixon Baylor atop the defense wish list this morning.

just like Bucannon was a top of mine at the opening bell.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

Danno

Agreed, this has less to do with Seattle and more to do with our style of defense. Rob wants to play more press and naturally the bigger and longer your CB's are the easier it is (mostly). If we ran a cover-2 he'd probably not be the guy we want.

And if I had to guess, our division is now loaded with big tall WR's that will be hard to press with smaller DBs (not impossible tho).

He simply fits what we want to do.

Rugby Saint II

Is he a good tackler? I haven't read that yet.

lee909

The choices i see in our backfield seem to be big ballhawking playmakers than the big powerful nasty DBs in Seattle.

I do think the way the league is taking away big hits means the need is playmakers over big hitter in the backfield

Rugby Saint II

What I like is that Baptiste knew the names of our players in the secondary. He's done his home work. That means he's into preparation. Me likey.

dizzle88

The Difference between our secondary and seattles?

Our players don't need to take PED's to be dominant

TheOak

I've read his open field tackling is inconsistent, technique comes and goes.
http://nfldraftgeek.com/stanleyjeanb...ingreport.html

That said being a previous wife receiver "should" translate to playing the ball very well instead of playing the receiver all the time.

Several Mock Drafts had him going in the first.

dizzle88

Wife receiver ey? Knew that woman wasn't loyal

TheOak

Damned auto-complete.! Lol