Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

There's no point in staying with the status quo with the personnel on defense for the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints are buried in the NFL defensive dumpster again for the fourth time in five years. The season already could be beyond return. It's time to make some moves.

You can almost envision Sean Payton saying exactly what his buddy Jon Gruen said during the "Monday Night Football" broadcast near the end of the Saints' 45-32 loss to the Falcons in Week 3.

"Once again, Jairus Byrd in the middle of the field is a liability," Gruen said without hesitation following Devonta Freeman's 48-yard run near the end of the game.

Why not put second-round pick Vonn Bell in the starting lineup at free safety? You've got nothing to lose if you're the Saints. Byrd is highly likely in his final season with New Orleans despite receiving a six-year deal that could have maxed out at north of $50 million in 2014.

Bell is the safety of the future. Everyone in the building understands that. I would hope even Byrd gets it, too. It honestly wouldn't stun me if we saw Bell start on Sunday in San Diego instead of Byrd.

It also wouldn't be ridiculous if the Saints made some switches in the linebacker group. Payton was very frank about how the linebackers performed against the Falcons.

"In general, we didn't play well at all at linebacker," Payton said Wednesday.

Craig Robertson is the only linebacker playing with any consistency. He leads the NFL in total tackles after Week 3 with 35. It's one ahead of Luke Kuechly, Jerrell Freeman and Zach Brown.

To put some franchise historical perspective on this, the Saints have more leading tacklers to finish outside the top 50 (three) in the NFL than finish in the top 10 (two) since 2001.

Typically, middle linebackers lead the team in tackles. Robertson can play the Mike spot. Payton has said so in the past. Robertson said Thursday he's fully capable. Why not make Robertson the starting middle linebacker instead of James Laurinaitis?

Again, I could see the Saints pondering that option heavily this week.

I will always assume Dannell Ellerbe won't play at weakside linebacker every week because of injury. So why not give Nate Stupar a chance at the Will spot to replace a shifted Robertson?

None of these ideas are over the top. And gauging by what safety Kenny Vaccaro said Thursday, changes certainly seem like they're on the way.

"I just don't think he (Payton) wants what's happened in the past to infiltrate our locker room again. He just wants to make sure the best 11 guys are out there, whatever can help our team win, he's all for," Vaccaro said. "If you have to sit guys, if you have to rotate guys, whatever that takes, it's all about getting the win. It doesn't matter how much you make, it doesn't matter how many years you've been in the league."

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Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

If we're not going to use Stephone Anthony at Mike then I can get on board with Robertson at Mike and Stupar at Will. As a matter of fact, I LOVE that idea!

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

I must say it, I missed Greg Williams

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

I does make you think about GW but we paid a heavy price
in the end.

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

Robertson has a slight edge on Stupar in coverage, so I'd say Stupar, who graded well with Atlanta at the Mike; but Anthony has the range and should be at the Mike and if he's not getting it, then the coaches have failed as well...

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

^^^THIS. I've said it a few time. Let JL be the vet backup and put Anthony back where he belongs. He is obviously struggling at Sam. I don't understand, the kid played with heart his rookie season. So he blew some checks..ok..he's a rookie. But DA comes in and just tries to ruin his career. Time for some changes and they need to check there ego's at the door and get a damn win.

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

Truth!!

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

Active rotation is better approach at this point than blowing things up and shuffling the deck completely.

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

The only personnel changes that will make a difference in our future start at the top!

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

Think we'll all agree that changes need to be made, but before we throw the babes out with the bathwater, do we have better available to us?

Coaches, Players, General Managers, Scouts et al, is there better available?

There's no question that the results demand changes, but who? what? when?

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

Always the million dollar question.

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

All points to the organization and its management. Look no further then how the Patriots are run. Ultimately, it's Tom Benson who should recognize this and take action on. As successful as he's been, maybe he's not working to win anymore as he once said he was.

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

BINGO.

Robert Kraft is why the Patriots are winners. Ownership means more to stability than anything (see Cleveland Browns) and Mr. Benson is aged, arguably lacks competence and has let his organization become another middling franchise.

When I say change at the top I mean the VERY top.

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

I'm still baffled as to why Anthony is on the bench and nobody is even mentioning it. At least give him enough plays so prospected trade teams can have something to watch. If you aren't going to use your first rounder fine, but at least dangle him out there for trade bait if he doesn't fit here. He showed enough last year to warrant some interest.

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

Bellichick doesn't sugarcoat **** either he's black & white when it comes to evaluating talent on the Loss to the Bills in his press conference he said (no quote) that Nothing we did was good enough offense defense ST NOTHING was good enough its no secrecy to his game/player evaluations because he's honest & the truth. Honesty & Truth ALWAYS resonates well with people

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

Not necessarily GW so much as having smart LB's in Vilma, Fujita and regardless of how much crap he got Shanle was always where he needed to be.
And as far as this argument about taking 3-4 LB's and making them play 4-3 what about Vilma? He didn't have a problem doing it. The game is just as much mental as it is physical.

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

I hate to admit it but it is time for a change from the top down. :sad:

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

It's important to remember that Vilma got hurt for a good portion of 2010 and 2011, we had Dunbar starting very often. In addition, Fujita left after 2009 and was replaced by Danny Clark in 2010 and Casillas in 2011. The 2010 Defense was ranked 4th overall, the 2011 defense was also very stout. We should have won another SB in 2011 if it wasn't for the 5 turnover fluke against the 49ers.

Greg Williams just knows how to coach his players and put them in the right spots; something we have not been able to do since.

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

Re: Time for Saints defensive personnel changes, plus other First-and-10 tidbits
 

GW played to guys strengths, he knew Harper was no good in coverage so he kept him in the box.
He also knew that we did not have the talent to get pressure with 4 guys, so he sent 6 everytime and kept everyone in man coverage.

All the players loved GW.