Re: Saints tinker with defensive line in first practice
 

Can't be any worse than 14 and sure as hell no worse than 12 :doh:

Re: Saints tinker with defensive line in first practice
 

Um, Max Unger wasn't a whisper. Our first first round pick wasn't one, getting rid of uncooperative LG and C wasn't one. Adding CJ Spiller wasn't one.

Re: Saints tinker with defensive line in first practice
 

Really don't get the round peg/square hole approach on defense...

Finally, FINALLY, start drafting personnel to scheme a 3-4 defense...

Which, as a scheme, is better suited to today's passing game and then decide to go with a 4-3?!?

Creeping in the back of thoughts is the possibility of FO want to justify Cam Jordan's contract after justifiable criticism of the Galette contract...

Consider what has transpired...

Man-up for 3-4 ILB in the first round in Stephone Anthony...

Get great value in an ideal, proven 3-4 OLB in Hau'oli Kikaha...

Then somehow steal another OLB in Davis Tull in the 5th round...

Trade for another ILB, Ellerbe, who's best days were in Baltimore's 3-4...

Have good rotational OLB in Powell, a former consensus No.1 Prep player...

And great veteran experience in Parys Haralson...

Not to mention trading two draft picks just over two years ago for a proto-type NT...

But going to employ a 4-3 defense so Cam Jordan has more chances for sacks?!?

Re: Saints tinker with defensive line in first practice
 

Agree100% ,again. I don't get it either.

Re: Saints tinker with defensive line in first practice
 

Agreed. I'm hoping that its just one of several packages that we will use during the season.

Its not a bad 1st down grouping at all. Shift to a traditional 3-4 on passing downs to get Kikihaha on the field as an OLB.

Anthony looks like he could easily play 4-3 MLB as well as ILB in a 3-4.

We're just exploring options, right?

Re: Saints tinker with defensive line in first practice
 

You're probably right, it's early and I'm overreacting because I've wanted to see this change to the 3-4 base since it was announced two years ago...

The game is so much faster today with the pass:run ratio and limited contact in pass defense...

The old 4-3 baseeffectiveness is limited to college and prep levels now, unless you have four/five first round picks in that group as the Jets have done (and yet they have nothing else except a quarterback on the verge of stardom [sic]...

And with our personnel vs depth, I just don't get having our best four defensive linemen out on the field full-time...

But again, it's early and Foster may have a return to full health and we may have some more undrafted free agent rookie gems once again...

Rather have out biggest three boys jamming their offensive line of five/six, having four linebackers swarming shutting down running and short/intermediate passing lanes, and our heavily-invested free safety coming up for the timely pick, pick-6...