despite all the love for the DT moves, the saints will need a DT that can fill the NT role better. yep doubling down on speed and quickness at DT is only good if you can bull rush with regularity. I do not see that on the roster.

If the saints think they have the next Muhammad Wilkerson, a DT that is so well rounded that he can play anywhere up front on the roster they will be disappointed. More importantly a DT has to have great instincts and a very high football IQ to work in this scheme. If not they will be trapped blocked right out of the dome. In all honesty this is what DA is going to try to do with the players he has.

DT (3) 99 - Sheldon Rankins, 90 - Nick Fairley, 93 - David Onyemata

Can Nick Fairley become the player he can be? I think he is his own worse enemy. Skill set is there but does he have the football IQ and instincts to handle this scheme? I say yes and blame lack of studying and too much living the high life. He become a self inflated fat cat after the draft. It all went to his head. Is he grounded and more importantly is he a player that shows up when contract time is right around the corner?

Sheldon is a sit back and see what we does player IMO. Over hyped or not? either way he should be a solid player.

Onyemata god only knows

Tyeler Davison and John Jenkins still have a lot to prove.

I am looking for Tyeler to over take Jenkins by seasons end if he can handle the mental part of the game. Once again DT need to be smart to make this scheme work. If not they will be trapped blocked right out of the dome.

John Jenkins time with saints might be over in 2017. improvement or need is his only hopes of staying.

So DT has plenty of questions to answer and plenty of players that are replaceable.

2017 returning players
DT (3) 99 - Sheldon Rankins, 93 - David Onyemata
NT (2) 95 - Tyeler Davison,

90 - Nick Fairley is a huge talented question mark

By season end we will feel a bit better about DT but that is about it

1 - Do we cut our loses with Byrd and throw money at a Muhammad Wilkerson?

Issue is our own FA and is this the last year of Byrd. Can Vonn Bell replace Byrd or at the least can CB play step up enough to make Bell work as a FS? So safety is the a huge key. David Onyemata is a wild card here.

2 - So do you roll the dice in the draft?

Jonathan Allen, DE/DT, Alabama - a fav
Chris Wormley, DE/DT, Michigan - watch list

Both have that same kind of skill set and size of a Wilkerson.

I really do not see a True NT solution out there in FA or the draft at this time.

If you missed it

Is a DT Instincts/football IQ lacking in DA attacking defense?
That DT will be trapped blocked right out of the dome.

Most of the football IQ stuff has been reduced by DA as we're going back to a one-gap attack system...

Rankins looks like a solid player, but will he have the same success week-in, week-out or will his numbers come in bunches against lesser opponents and be "trapped blocked" or flat-out blown out the holes by better players?

At the end of it all, see more of the feast or famine defense with a lot of stress on Laurinaitis and the linebackers while praying the secondary can bail out the defense on third and longs...

I'm expecting big things from J Byrd this season.

I fear a quick hitting run game at this point in time. if this is true then Laurinaitis will not be kept clean to make plays. The domino effect hits when Kenny is out of place on a play and leaving Byrd and Bell will asked to make a ton of tackles. that worries the hell out me. Open field enforcers is not exactly a strong suit of theirs.

If our FS are called upon to stop the run it will be a long season.