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The plan was put in motion at safety when the Saints selected Vonn Bell in the second round of the draft.

If things follow the team’s vision, at some point, whether it’s next year or a couple more down the road, the Ohio State product will slide in at free safety be the long-term starter at that position. That’s simple to see. New Orleans wouldn’t have traded up to select Bell if it didn’t believe this was in his future.

But there’s a logjam in the interim that might make it difficult to find him snaps if the Saints defense sticks to same packages it used last year. There’s only room for one deep safety in the single-high looks the team used last season, and Jairus Byrd and Kenny Vaccaro are still on the roster. Neither player is here to watch.

Byrd, who counts $10.9 million against the cap this year, is still someone with Pro Bowl ability. And Vaccaro, who is a strong safety, was one of the better players on defense last season and recently had his fifth-year option picked up.




So the issue is finding ways that all three players can play at the same time. Right now, the Saints say they’re still figuring out what the best practices will be for this defense.

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dizzle88

I really liked the three safety sets in 2013, we just need to make sure our middle isn't exposed because we already give up the size of Africa in rush yardage and TE's crossing the middle.

Euphoria

it makes a lot of sense...

You put your best players on the field - PERIOD. Find ways to use them like that even use one in the box as a LB at times.

The other option is use them in what Seattle uses as a BOX overage. Which was suppose to happen under Ryan when we were signing all the safeties but never happened.

jnormand

Yeah wtf happened to that look? We were doing great with it.

dizzle88

Jairus Byrd happened.....lol

voodooido

I would be happy with 3 healthy safeties.

ChrisXVI

Big whoop... Just stop someone. Run a seven LB set if you have to- just play good defense.

Danno

It was previously called a big nickel.

You just have a free safety playing the NB position instead of a 3rd or 4th CB. Probably because of teams using more 2 TE sets or to cover studs like Gronk or Graham.

halloween 65

I read a simular article today. In 2013 we run this set and ranked I believe 5th, but when Seattle beat us in the 2nd round of the playoffs it said Payton wanted our D to play Seattles style of D. Could very well explain the 2014 and 2015 plummet. And now we might play it again?

Rugby Saint II

Sean Payton is an offensive genius, but he needs to stop meddling with the defense. It has never worked. So far none of his DC's that he hired have had any success.(oh yeah, he sucks at evaluating defensive talent as well)

My fingers are crossed for Dennis Allen though. He's got the right attitude to build a good defense around. Stern approach while executing the basics flawlessly is a good recipe for success. We have a young defense loaded with potential studs and we have a nice mix of veterans. Welcome back Roman Harper.