We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

Sorry, it will not happen with this team. And it seems that's what many here want for Brees to be able to win more games with what's he currently got on his side of the ball.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

New Orleans Saints 26th overall defense in the NFL

not good enough but we are not the laughing stock of the NFL either. giggles sure but not a LMAO team either.

Got some work to do and got to have some help from the football gods also to stay healthier.

Defense is not an over night thing but this last off season we made solid moves across the board to upgrade the swiss cheese we had the past few years.

Finish the season in the 25 range and let DA keep doing what he is doing and in 2017 we will have a shot at being in the 20 range.

Goal is 16 min.

Next year? doubtful.

2018 is within reach

I have faith in DA to accomplish it.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

I know no one who thinks its possible to have the #1 defense anytime soon.

Not One Person.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

"We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon"

Don't have to be; in 2009 the Saints total defense was ranked 25th; 4th against the pass and 12th against the run

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

I said early in the season a 25th ranked D wouldn't get us a sniff in the playoffs. In 2009 we had a real DC who could make chicken salad with chicken poop. Allen has improved the D to 26th with the last 2 drafts being D heavy and brought in vet FA to fill certain spots. Allen has his D in place for 1 1/2 years not just this season I hate to keep saying this but he's really not that good of a DC to begin with and having the players he has now is the only reason we're at 26th now. I hope somehow someway we get a real DC to get this D turned around because Allen surely isn't the answer to getting us back in contention.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

Few teams are............

But we have great potential.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

Allen's D is not in place. It is on the IR.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

Oh yes it is.. You can say IR or make any excuse you want but its his d

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

Excuses and reasons are often confused. Losing one player can have a detrimental affect on a defense. Losing two or three would have even a greater affect. When you see the following it can have a devastating affect.

RESERVE/INJURED

FS 33 - Jamarca Sanford
CB 24 - Kyle Wilson
DE 77 - D.J. Pettway
CB 43 - Jimmy Pruitt
DB 27 - Damian Swann
CB 25 - P.J. Williams
DE 58 - Obum Gwacham
DB 30 - Erik Harris

RESERVE/PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM

LB 44 - Hau'oli Kikaha

RESERVE/NON-FOOTBALL INJURY

DE 76 - Mitchell Loewen
LB 56 - Mike Mauti

And that doesn't include all of the defensive players that have missed significant time due to injury, yet are still on the active roster. Yet, even with all of that, the defense is still better than each of the past two seasons.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

Keenan Lewis
Delvin Breaux
PJ Williams
Damien Swann
Kyle Wilson
Danelle Ellerbe
Sheldon Rankins
Jamarca Sanford
Erik Harris
Oben Gwatchum
Hau'oli Kikaha
Michael Mauti

All missed significant playing time. You could begin building a pretty decent defense with just that list of players.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

Excuses and reasons are often confused but there is also the word denial. I think thats what some fans here do, denial. We haven't had a real D in the Payton era and only Williams made it work, the clowns we have as D coaches have NO TEAM INTERESTED IN THEM IN THE LEAST. Allen was a one hit wonder the 2009 season and if it wasn't for Sharper he wouldn't have gotten a sniff from another team then. If you think he's the answer the word denial might be lurking. Payton brought hif flunkie back out of pity because it wasn't from being a good DC. I would have been laughing if it wasn't my Saints being manhandled by Detroit when your boy Allen was going to put his stamp on the game and blitz Stafford to show how Stafford Allen was the man on I believe a 3rd and 17, I know what Stafford showed Allen 7 points. Denial is not a good thing. Oh by the way on that list all very unproven players.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

I disagree.

Defenses come together at certain times... you also want them to hit their stride at the right time as well. No time to panic though there was imporvement you see some talen emerging and that is what you want to see.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

With what? I love Ellerbe but he's always hurt. The rookies? Remains to be proven although I do think Rankins and Harris. Lewis hasn't stayed healthy and Breaux regressed? Williams can't stay on the field for long and Kiki I might never get to know. I ask again with what? The IR team?

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

So you've bashed all these guys, who were some of our top guys entering the season, yet say Dennis Allen isn't getting it done?
Sounds to me like, according to you, Dennis Allen is making Chicken Salad out of Chicken ****!

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

I'm not in denial, this D isn't that good, chicken salad or not. I am a Saints fan always have been but it don't mean I got to like the direction it's gone. You can call it bashing I call it telling the truth.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

So is Dennis Allen doing well with sub-par talent,
Or is this defense talented but he's just not getting it done?

This defense isn't good, but most of our top guys missed significant playing time.

For Dennis Allen to coach a bunch of street free agents to a defense ranked in the mid 20's is outstanding to me.

Imagine what he could do with some talent.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

We'll see. I expect the good ole boys to ride it down until it burns.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

In the Spirit of the Season... God Bless Everyone... cats included.

http://www.myinterestingfacts.com/wp...s-Pictures.jpg

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

How were we ranked 25 overall if we were 12 against the run and 4th against the pass? Is that common core math?

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

Of course you do. That's how you roll.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

You're right. A little off there. The Saints were 26th against the pass, 12th against the run, and 25th overall.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

Currently the Saints are 24th overall, 30th against the pass, and 13th against the run. Considering all of the injuries to the secondary this isn't surprising.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

Please, please tell me what other team(s) are knocking down the door for Vitt, Johnson or Allen? Can't can you? Tell me they have produced enough to warrant being here? Tell me they are top notch at their positions? Their D's have never been good, that's how they roll.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

The point of this was the offense. It seems that's what needs to happen for Brees/offense to play better or just play the same like have a team that can bail him out all game long like against Detroit because it's just one of those games. Against the lions and giants, Brees played like 2015 Manning. It's like wanting to win games in spite of the offense's play.

I know no offense can win every game but..........if they don't score at least 17 they usually lose. And against a top 10 offense, 17 is not ever going to be good enough to win, no matter how good the defense is.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

So in other words...........you want to do what we already did with Ryan and change the scheme so we could have more problems with players not fitting the scheme?

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

32 to 24 up 8 spots with very injured roster? OK with me. The D played with heart. More than the offense most of the season. Need O line help - prep for future everything else will be lagniappe.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

There were dropped sure thing TD's in both of those games. One by Cadet and another by Cooks.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

Or really at all. It would be great but that's a lot to expect.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

Only one team per year has the #1 defense. I know of nobody that has any expectation of the Saints being that team anytime soon, nor do they have to to be successful.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

Defensive ranking isn't necessarily what we need, it's being on the plus side of turnovers. 2009 the defense created 41 turnovers and this year so far 20. We only have 9 INT's this year so far whereas Sharper had 9 on his own back in 2009. Turnovers are the key and we are not getting enough of them.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

This ^^^^^^^^^.

I also think Allen has done well in spite of all the unfortunate injuries in 2016.

Re: We're not going to be a first ranked defense anytime soon
 

With health and another pass rush we can easily get in the 16 range next year. We will have a little money to spend lets just hope its used wisely.