What changes would you make?
 

Clearly a major shakeup is coming in the offseason.

I'm going to say something controversial, not just for its own sake but because I really do believe it: It's time to let Sean Payton move on.

It's no secret his play calling and offensive philosophy have gone stale. Let's be honest, if not for the way the defense played last year we'd probably have been a 7-9 or 6-10 type team. IMO he is too stubborn to change his ideals and he will never truly turn over the reins to an offensive coordinator.

I love Sean Payton for what he has done, I really do - but what we're seeing is the continuation of a downward trend. I do not believe he is the same coach he was before the Bountygate suspension. He has lost a lot of what made him so good.

Jim Harbaugh, in my opinion, would be an extremely good hire to replace Sean. Yeah, he's a jerk, but he's the kind of jerk who can get things done. He turns around programs instantly, as we saw with Stanford and the 49ers. He knows how to motivate younger players and would turn us into a hard-nosed team again.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

Most people won't agree with you on Harbaugh. Our fan base is too "classy" for the likes of him. If we were to move on from Payton, I'd hope it would be him. Or John Gruden.

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Rex not Rob as the DC

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If we hire him, Gruden will be doing backflips all the way to Nola...

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Imagine family gatherings. lol

Re: What changes would you make?
 

I don't think Rob is as much to blame as people think

How many of us watch the likes of David Hawthorne, Kenny vaccaro, Corey white, P-rob and Curtis lofton miss tackles, blow coverages or drop picks

All of us, because they all do it every game

Sure rob deserves some blame, but is he to blame that none of our players can tackle?
Or is he to blame that none of the D line is getting pressure anymore when all they need to do is win their matchup? The things they were doing successfully last season.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

Just a hypothetical here, but with all the talk about the 49ers trading Harbaugh... Would anybody be on board with trading Sean Payton for a bunch of draft picks? I'm not saying I want to see that happen but the Harbaugh situation made me wonder about it.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

Unbelievable. Clearly there is a need for a major "shakeup" in multiple areas ON the field. The fans have been riding a awesome positive wave essentially since Payton came (minus the bountygate year). So the first time now that we see serious team issues, it's throw the captain off the ship?
I DO NOT agree.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

We were actually better in the bounty gate year than we are now lol

Payton will most likely stay (I wouldn't be totally against him getting fired)

We need a head coach that will bring toughness to this team, we have been a finesse team for as long as I can remember

Best I can hope for at the minute is Carmichael will take over play calling, but SP is too stubborn to see he is ONE of the many things that's hurting our team

Re: What changes would you make?
 

Get rid of Payton? I don't agree with that. I think changes are needed but replacing the HC because of one bad season is ridiculous. I'd rather the Saints not turn into the mess that is the Raiders.

Second, I can't stand Harbaugh. He's annoying and he throws fits and temper tantrums like a damn baby all the time. Just my opinion.

Lastly why is everyone complaining about Lofton all the time? The guy had 17 tackles yesterday and leads the team in tackles. He's got 127 on the season with three games left. Give the guy a break. Jesus.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

Because he's poor in coverage and also misses a lot of tackles.
But we could do worse, much worse.

I think Lofton would be a good fit in a true 3-4 as a Mike where his coverage responsibilities are limited. Also flanking him with some speed would surely help.

He's a keeper, but I'd say he's pretty close to a 2-down LB. He's also rated as the 2nd worst defender on our team, just ahead of Vaccaro.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

You don't (*edit*) fire Payton. You fire the ones who are making him look bad.

Again, let's see if he has the balls to do it.

I still remember him holding on to Gary Gibbs a couple seasons too long...

Re: What changes would you make?
 

I don't have problem with Harbaugh's temper and personality. I have problem with his coaching and play calling (roman). You will be calling for Payton after first Harbaugh game.
Give me their positional coaches and we can talk business.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

I just had this conversation with a friend of mines.
I believe that unless being worthy of being mentioned in the Hall of Fame a Head Coach has a shelf life of around 10 years before the NFL will begin to catch up to their system. Sean is coming up on 10 years and it seems like that explosive offense just isnt explosive anymore save for a few games here or there.

Also I would definetely change training camp. I felt like some bad was going to happen when I was hearing about other teams putting in work at training camp but every time i heard about the Saints camp it was always regarding a "Quarterback challenge" or these "Prank Wars" between Payton and Brees. From the outside looking in i felt like camp just wasnt being taken as serious as it should have been

Re: What changes would you make?
 

Great point. I think the team believed all the hype, just like we all did. Took for granted the dedication to the fundamentals needed for a strong base. Of course, injuries have been a killer also.
BUT, we still have a chance at the division and us winning it is better than any of the alternatives. Time to focus on a Chicago team that is in just as much turmoil.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

We were not a finesse team when GW was here. They were ruthlessly aggressive, and some would say it was because of the bounty but that's bull****. GW took a group of average to below average players and made them work. Those teams would fight get knocked down only to get right back up and fight some more. Ruthless aggression is what this team lacks. Rob Ryan hasn't brought it, maybe it's because of the position coaches but GW had the same guys too.

http://youtu.be/a4cTsFMgSec?list=UUQ...C79ghg0theWqNg

Re: What changes would you make?
 

Let Carmichael call plays.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

That's your opinion and you're welcome to it, but take a good hard look at the playcalling and offensive philosophies we've seen the last two years. This is not the same man who won us a Super Bowl. He's not innovative anymore. He doesn't have the same edge.

Remember the coach who came in in 2005 and promptly traded Donte Stallworth and replaced him with a 7th-round draft pick, was not afraid to make the tough veteran cuts and built one of the most unique offenses the league has ever seen. Can you honestly say that is the same Sean Payton we are looking at now?

Love Sean. LOVE HIM. For real. But there comes a time for everyone to move on. Maybe now is his time. No hate here, just a realization that now is now 5 years ago, or even 3 years ago. This org needs new blood.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

Very true, I remember in 2010 when Jo-lonn dunbar started at MLB for us and played great.

So many comeback wins those seasons.

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Tomlin is a real good coach and has had not so good seasons. I don't see him being considered as having lost it. Of course, he does have Lebeau as DC. It makes a difference. It's talent that has waned and wiffed. Changes are due and he can right the ship.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

Keep Payton and get a new O-line coach, WR's coach, D-line coach, LBer's coach, secondary coach,(basically clean house on defensive coaches) conditioning and strength coach, and most importantly fire McMahon and find someone who can coach up the special teams players.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

RS II.

Does Payton have any say on all caoches or is this solely the domain of the Front Office?

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Payton picks his own staff.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

Then he must start doing a better job here

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1. Keep Sean Payton. No question. Nearly every HC has an off year (Tomlin, Parcells, Joe Gibbs, etc.).

2. Keep RR. Yep. 2 years switching from a 4-3 to 3-4 is not enough time to gather the right personnel for one. Secondly, the NT & MLB positions have not been addressed yet for this switch in defensive scheme. This has been exploited in the SF, CIN, BAL, & CAR games to the fullest extent. What can RR do when the middle of the defense is under-sized and slow? And what can RR do when the offense turns the ball over so much or has so many 3-and-outs or the specials teams gives them lousy field position constantly. RR can share some blame, but come'on....

3. Refer to #2. Address NT & MLB positions in the Draft, in FA, and via trades aggressively. We are leaking like the Titanic in the middle of that defense and the entire NFL knows it. Poor ol' Jenkins' cannot hold that ground in the middle on his own the entire game the entire season. And Hawthorne is _____ (fill in the blank).

4. Send Goodwin out to pasture. Pick up via FA or draft or trade a kick @$$ center and press forward. I think we'd see better guard play if that happened and we'd see a better running game and better play-action pass game with that. I like Lelito, for sure, but I love Lelito as insurance as a back-up guard & center better.

5. Bye, bye Junior. I think he's lost the fans and some of his own teammates with his ripping on former Saints players who were part of that Super Bowl team. That's a no-no. He's alienated himself. Plus it's what he does for a run defense is when he's consistently letting running backs and quarterbacks run past him for 10-15 yards down field. This is undisciplined and just going for a QB sack instead of maintaining gap discipline...you know, team defense. Let him go be a 3rd down pass rush specialist for somebody else. Edabali & Powell are talented & hungry young kids. If we can't cut him for cap reasons, have him sit on defense and clean the toilets and shine the goal posts during half time. Make a statement. Take that "C" from him.

6. My Personal Favorite Move--Fire McMahon. Sure the Punt Return game was awesome against Carolina. A blind nut can find a squirrel every once in a while. But those hidden yardages make-and-break a game (see that Patriots/Chargers game last night?).

Re: What changes would you make?
 

I agree with every word. JR want work in a 3-4 unless he could play multiple lb. positions and I'm starting to think a thug type with skills could be where JR is (enter Powell and Ediaboli) let those 2 duke it out. ILB is a must next to Lofton. And a NT is exactly where I would start. Stud C and Lelito as a back-up, yes, makes a fine insurance policy. I still would draft a G and get a good RT to boot, all of our back-ups at those positions look bad except Lelito. We need to nail this draft and cut the fat.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

Vitt needs to go for sure, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.

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For some reason, I think Gruden finds it warm and cozy in that booth breaking down film with Mike Tireco (sp) and is relatively stress free. Don't think Jon is anxious to coach any team right now.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

Get someone in there that knows what the F they're doing when it comes to the draft. That's where all starts. We need to draft better!!!!

Re: What changes would you make?
 

All this talk about the offense being stale....

Rushing attempts per game 17th
Rushing YPG 9th
YPC 4.7 4th

Yards passing per game 297 3rd
Completion percentage 69.33 1st
Sacks per game 1.6 8th

Total offense
yards per play 6.1 tied for 3rd
third down percentage 48.78 2nd (by .02% to Dallas' 48.8)
first downs per game 25.2 1st
yards per game 421 3rd
red zone TDs per game 2.4 3rd

Offense is fine, give them a short field now and then and see what they can do.

NFL Football Team Stats & Stats Leaders

Re: What changes would you make?
 

They've also turned it over a lot, giving the opposing team a short field

Re: What changes would you make?
 

Offense - Grubbs, Colston, Watson and PT cut. Trade Evans. Re-sign FA's Morgan, Kelemete and Saunders.
Defense - Bunkley, Bush, Hawthorne, JR and Morstead cut. Re-sign FA's Humber, Walker, and Virgil.

Ask Payton if he wants to stay will a whole new staff. If he declines, trade him to the Raiders.

Trade down in the draft atleast once and pick up some more picks.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

Saints opponents have the worst starting field position in the entire league.

Yeah, I was surprised by that stat too.

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Why cut Morstead? Makes no sense.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

Yep, Offense isn't the main problem at all

From our friend bclemms at SR (Does not include week 15)

Saints Offense
Yards per drive- #1
Plays per drive- #1
Yards per play- #2
Points per drive- #4
3rd down efficiency- #1
Time of possession per drive- #2
Offense drives per game- #32
Offense starting field position- #32 (we have to go farther than anyone else)


Saints Defense
Yards per drive- #32
Plays per drive- #29
Points per drive- #32
3rd down efficiency- #32
Time of possession per drive- #32
Opponents starting field position- #2 (only one other team has to go farther per drive)

Re: What changes would you make?
 

The opponent starting field position stat is surprising, but it makes the other defensive stats show that they are even WORSE. Yards per drive #32, points per drive #32, Time of possession #32, 3rd down #32. That right there is it. What that means is, they literally can't stop anyone and they can't get off the field. It literally does not matter where the other team starts from, the result is usually a touchdown or score.

The offense is not the main problem but it's still a problem situationally, in the actual games. They have long periods where they pull a Rip Van Winkle and "go to sleep." Some of it's turnovers and some of it is three and outs. But look at the box scores by quarter, it's been a factor in all the bad games the team has had. You can't have whole quarters or whole halves without scoring ANY points, with this defense that we have on the field. You look at the points per quarter in these box scores, and the other teams just keep chugging away and scoring slowly but surely, while the Saints lay goose eggs. And these single quarters where the other team piles on and gets 14, 17, 19, 20 points, are just killing the team.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

We have a bend and break defense.

Re: What changes would you make?
 

Jus focus on the o line and front 7 on defense I'd say put some speed around Lofton and Haralson stick to 3 4 and find a second corner.....and get people that can teach these young players and develop them

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Re: What changes would you make?
 

The Saints need cap space. $3 mil for a punter is ridiculous. Even for a good one. But, it will only save the Saints $1 mil so it won't happen.