WhoDat!656

As we present to you the 4th installment of our Big Easy Believer mini-series “Fixing the Saints”, we come to the one position that I believe is the most often “over-looked” problem with the Saints’ disappointing 7-9 finish in 2014.

Specifically, the lack of a “push” in the middle / interior of the Defensive Line; and even more specifically, at the spot of Defensive Tackle (a.k.a., the ‘Nose Tackle’).

Getting that “push” up the gut was what allowed the Saints and their pass rush to be successful on the defensive side of the football in 2013. However, that clearly wasn’t the case in 2014.

A lack of a true pass rush absolutely KILLED this football team in 2014. They tallied only 34 sacks, which ranked 25th overall in the League; after putting up 49 of them back in 2013 (fourth best in the NFL that year).

Fixing The Saints Part 4: Big-Body Brawler on the D-Line

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

Rugby Saint II

I agree with article completely. Dt is definitely a need but not as critical as ILB, G or CB. I was happy that the article discussed more than just the NT position.

jcp026

How about Jordan Phillips of Oklahoma? 6'6" 334 lbs Projected by CBS Sports as a 2nd round pick.

halloween 65

This is exactly who I want 3/4 ready.

hagan714

his back still bothers him. i expect he might drop in the draft so a late round risk with short term expectation is acceptable

Dan Williams Cardinals NT 6-2, 327

that is my top FA signing at say $6 million a year

saintsfan1976

I want to see Aikem Hicks at NT.

blackangold

I thought Hicks was very disappointing this year. He was a big part of the "no push" in the middle problem, so I dont think he is the solution.

I personally think getting major upgrades at the DT/NT position is the best way to improve the D. Gallete had a good year rushing the passer with the most pressures in the league. Cam couldn't win the 1v1 battles and isn't worth a big contract, even with that said we had zero pressure from the middle, QBs could step up all day and wait for coverage to break down.

saintsfan1976

Hard to say why, but yes I was disappointed with his overall performance as well.

That doesn't mean he couldn't line up over a center and win one-on-one. Do you recall seeing him absolutely steamroll a few centers this year? I do!

Look, I'm not saying he's our one and only 3 down NT but if we have guys better suited to be DEs than NTs then let's put the big man in there during camp like they did his rookie season and see what he can do.

halloween 65

ILB followed by a stud 3/4 NT in the draft is the way I would go.

saintsfan1976

Suh is 6'2" and 305
Hicks is 6'4" and 345

The ideal NT is probably 6 foot but Hicks has tremendous upper body strength perfect for that position.

I'll bet Tyrunn Walker is read to be a starting DE opposite Cam Jordan.