Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

Starting today and continuing throughout the next several weeks, Big Easy Believer will be looking at the positions on the New Orleans Saints football team that following their disappointing 7-9 finish in 2014, have been referred to as “gaping holes”.

Our first installment of this mini-series of articles this morning will focus on the Linebacker position, one which based on how often they were outright GASHED by opposing running backs last season, literally screams out to be upgraded — and quickly.

Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

Good article.

Perryman intrigues me. I like the mental part of his game. Reminds me a lot of Lofton, and I mean that in the best way.

Upgrading the linebacker group is an interesting scenario because we're not really committed to either 4-3 or 3-4. There are a lot of ways to go. Keeping Haralson and continuing to develop Edebali seems like a good path. The main thing is finding someone to upgrade the Hawthorne position. That IMO is the weakest part of the defense right now - yes even weaker than #2 corner.

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

I agree on Hawthorne (and Haralson). Hawthorne so needs to be replaced. 2nd string at best.

Re-wind and watch whenever we are gashed by runs or simply give up 5 yards right up the middle. Hawthorne has already run into the trash to take himself out of the play. Our #2 CB sometimes held down the fort.

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

This is a pretty good analysis of the LB'er weakness. The O-line article is good as well. It's an informative series.

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

Thompson, Beasley, or McKinney in the 1st and Perryman in the 2nd would fix the LB problem. CB in the 3rd. C or G in the 4th. RB, T or WR in the 5th. Kicker in the 6th. FB Fowler in the 7th. Cut some high salaries. Restructure Brees. Don't have a Country Club setting for camp. Get some attitude. Grow some stones. Bring back home field advantage to the Dome! WHO DAT!

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

Great article. Agreed that LB needs upgraded and I'd be happy if they addressed that in the first round. But I also wouldn't complain if they addressed offensive line, defensive line or CB.

We really need a good draft this year.

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

Except for Gallete, no other Saints player who lined up on the outside was capable of providing a decent pass rush with the notable exception of the rookie UDFA Kasim Edabali out of Boston College, whom the Saints hopefully will give more playing time next year.

Right here i start thinking the over valued and over glorified sack impact. not a lot of good if all you need to do is let the guy take himself out of the play. ok back to reading.

not a bad read.

none off the FA will meet our cap without Micky pulling another huge wabbit out of his hat and strapping us again next year

ILB Bernardick McKinney of Mississippi State
Denzel Perryman ILB, Miami - not sold on him just yet
Vic Beasley of Clemson - reminds me Jr

Alvin Dupree OLB Kentucky - interesting upside all the way type of pick
OLB Dante Fowler of Florida please no. question his motor

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

I think LB is the weakest position on this team. I wouldn't mind if we took LB's in the first two rounds of this draft.

IMO Shaq Thompson is gonna be a star, take him in the first. Take either Denzel Perryman or Nate Orchard in the second. Hope Malcolm Brown falls to the third and address the OL through FA.

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

I'm worried Shaq is a project because of the school.

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

I like drafting this high because in the second round,we're high enough to catch some good 1st round talent that falls through the cracks. If we go LB in round one,we should have a good shot at getting a quality O lineman or even another good LB in the second. I guess it all depends on how we approach FA.

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

As of right now, my choices for first round in order if available are:

Scherff
McKinney
Perryman
Collins

A CB should be picked up in FA along with a LB.A really good corner would be nice,but I kinda lean more towards landing a top LB and getting a solid #2 corner. I think our o line issues can be handled through this years and next years draft.

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

I'm with this guy. I'd definitely go LB in the first two rounds. When you have really good LB's you can turn your DLine loose and let the LB's clean up the rest. Edibali needs to be starting period.

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

Actually, in the 3-4 base your defensive linemen don't have to be stars, just really big, strong two-gap types who can occupy multiple linemen, collapsing the pocket allowing your bigger (6-2 to 6-4) athletic linebackers to attack, penetrate to make plays...

Hearken back to the memories of the Dome Patrol when the entire linebacking unit was making the Pro-Bowl or even garnering All-Pro selections and the defense was on a HoF clip - not one defensive linemen (i.e. Wilks, Warren, Geathers) or secondary type made the Pro-Bowl...

So you see, you can draft defensive linemen in the mid-rounds, have seven deep solid linemen who can rotate, stay fresh and have the playmakers in your linebacker corps...

With regards to the article? After the title, things went down hill....

Why devote that much time writing about Justin Houston who will be tagged?!? And even if he were avail, he's not in the budget...

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

I agree. The guys up front have to be big and need to be strong at the point of attack, they have to occupy multiple blockers to make it work thats the exact reason I want a stud sitting at nose tackle.

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

ILB McKinney, YES. OLBs Beasley and Fowler, no. I read they are weakest against the run and we totally are unable to stop the run.

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

We've got one and he had an injury and it'll get fixed; we just need another one to rotate with him...

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

Agree on 1st round except I've Collins before Perryman.

Agree on FA, too. Please, please draft a starting LB and get another starter in FA. Maybe Spikes in Buffalo? Get a #2 in FA. We cannot draft them so stop trying.

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

I beleive we can draft a good CB, but until we have a secondary coach that proves he can can polish them for the nfl, we're better off grabbing one out of FA.

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

Yeah I don't know if the CBs in the draft will be developed enough.

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

I'm with this guy. I'd definitely go LB in the first two rounds. When you have really good LB's you can turn your DLine loose and let the LB's clean up the rest. Edibali needs to be starting period.

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

Agree to an extent, but you know damn well we don't draft LB's early. I'd be absolutely shocked if we did.

I'd love to see it, but it ain't gonna happen.

Those 1st two picks will be OL, DL, WR or CB. You know it, I know it, and the rest of this board knows it whether they wanna admit it or not.

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

Yup. And I will cuss. Then cuss some more. It is what it is.

But I won't be too upset if it's OL or DL in the 1st 2 rounds.

I will be furious if it's a corner or a wideout in the first 2 rounds, though, considering how bad we got beat on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball in 2014.

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

A draft like this would go a long way toward fixing the Saints:

13: R1P13
CB TRAE WAYNES
MICHIGAN STATE
44: R2P12
OLB ISHAQ WILLIAMS
NOTRE DAME
75: R3P11
ILB ERIC KENDRICKS
UCLA
109: R4P13
C HRONISS GRASU
OREGON
140: R5P12
OT COREY ROBINSON
SOUTH CAROLINA
171: R6P11
ILB A.J. JOHNSON
TENNESSEE
205: R7P13
DE JERMAURIA RASCO
LSU
What say you?

Re: Fixing the Saints Part 1: A Make-Over of the Linebacker Unit
 

I went to the Miami - North Carolina game and Denzel Perryman is a pretty darn good LB.