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The departure of Junior Galette may have marked the end of the New Orleans Saints as a 3-4 defense.

That's not to say that the team's alignment will change dramatically in 2015. But with Galette being replaced by Cam Jordan as in the edge-rushing role, it's increasingly difficult to pretend that the Saints run a base set with four linebackers.

In theory, the Saints' base defense in 2014 included a nose tackle, two ends and Galette, who was called an outside linebacker. The 3-4 defense describes a unit with three linemen and four linebackers.
That label only works in 2015 if you count Jordan as an outside linebacker, not an end.

The early evidence suggests that it makes far more sense to label Jordan as an end. He lines up on the line and puts his hand on the dirt. Oh yeah, he's also 6-foot-4 and 287 pounds.

In response to a question this week, he referred to himself as a "Jack" linebacker. But in a follow-up, he agreed that it makes more sense for him to be labeled as a defensive end.

"I call it an end," Jordan said. "My hand's still in the dirt. You call it what you want. Call it what you want."

If Jordan is an end, the Saints are a 4-3 base defense.

Early practices suggest that the team is using Jordan as the rush end, John Jenkins and Kevin Williams as interior tackles and Akiem Hicks as the other end.

In nickel sets, Kasim Edebali has been the No. 1 edge rusher, with Jordan and Hicks moving inside to roles similar to the ones they had in 2014.

Cam Jordan on his new role: 'I call it an end; you call it what you want' | NOLA.com

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