Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

Uh-oh, he mentions how good this draft is for CB, S, and RB. Please don't take a running back! And can we get some FN linebackers, for Pete's sake?! Am I the only one who thinks our LB corps has been sub-par for years? Even going back to Haslett days, too little attention was given to upgrading speed and playmaking at linebacker. At least we had Vilma for a little while, and I'm encouraged by Anthony's stoutness, when healthy. I'd like to see an injection of talent at OLB. Anyone else?

Sean Payton: Saints have to improve on defense - NFL.com

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

I watched this this morning. He's not going to show his hand regarding the draft. So I wouldn't take much he said as reality.

I'm pretty positive we're going LB and pass rusher first. Unless someone is targeted in FA.

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

S, OLB, NT, CB, and TE are on my list. I think we draft a CB and pick up a good one in FA. I also hope we can get the ILB from Carolina and slide Anthony back in the middle enabling Robertson to go back outside then draft a bad a$$ OLB. Stupar, Ellerbe, Anthony, FA Carolina, Robertson would improve our lb.'s. It's all in vein without crushing the pocket, insert NT to beef the middle, resign Kruger and Ediboli at DE.

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

I'd let Paul walk. He had virtually no impact last season coming off the edge.

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

I'm with you and I'd like to know what other LB at any college level that checks all of the boxes more so than Reuben Foster. No way I'd pass up this kid (assuming he is there at #11) who could become arguably the next Luke Kuechly for years to come.

More importantly, the Saints have added Mike Nolan to coach up our LB crew.

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

Don't belive everything you hear/read.

That leads to endless "protests"

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

Agreed, Kruger was just as bad as Richardson, zero impact. DE is a must in this draft. The last time we had an acceptable defense was when we had two DEs that could rush the passer.

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

I'm just glad we didn't sign Kruger to that massive deal that Payton originally planned before Cleveland beat us to him.

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

for a change....

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

I'm high on Reuben also. He's a franchise LB. Whatever that is...

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

Panthers may snatch Fournette. Focus will be LB, DE. CB's and Safeties are not going to help that much if that goes down and we are already weak in that area.

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

Its now the time of year for smokescreens.

If coaches and GM's say something, its most likely intentionally misleading.

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

SP is right. This is a draft to completely rebuild a secondary with. deep big and talented.

Some steals at RB are very possible

Still not sold on Dalvin Cook going in the top ten much less the top 20. he is not an Elliot.

Fournette is different. he carries that rare freak label.

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

Cook > Fournette

So coach says they going Defense in the draft, with the 11th Pick the Saints select Deshawn Watson QB Clemson

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

Free agency is for addressing immediate needs
Draft is for selecting the BPA and depth at areas of weakness.

The draft is full of JAG'S. Finding a gem is much easier if you address weaknesses in free agency.

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

Given the Saints past track record in FA, they can ill afford any more misses (Browner :rolleyes:, CJ Spiller, James Laurinitus) in 2017. On the flip side, Nick Fairley was a home run. I'd really like to have him back at a fair price. Tough to gauge what his market value will be. I also wonder what the FO will do with Byrd (restructure or do they let him walk).

Ahh, the off season.

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

I've watched a lot of video on both. Fournette IMO will be the better RB long term. He's going to score a lot barring injuries. He can get that 1-2 yards almost every time. Cook, not that kind of back. He will get stuffed on the GL and is more prone to injury with that cutback style, also much smaller. Speed in the open slight advantage to Cook but not much. Really not liking the Panthers have a shot at Fournette. It's going to be a problem for us.

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

Look at 7-9 throwing smokescreens by pretending we need help on D. Nice work Low Energy

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

Both are scheme limited RB.

Cook is a zone blocking RB and Fournette is a power blocking RB

So we are comparing apples to oranges in a way.

Cook in Carolina makes more sense than Fournette IMO.

Other RB will be in the draft in the for years to come that have the same skill set and build as Cook. There is not another RB in the que for the next few years that even comes close to offering what Fournette does for a power rushing team.

I am still on the fence about Cook being 20+ picks better RB than Christian McCaffrey. Cook is not Elliot. Christian maybe more of a one cut back and cook is shifter but in no way does Cook offer the flexibility that Christian does. Christian can beat you 100 different ways.

Shame the best back in the draft will go un drafted and might not even play in the NFL. Joe Mixon.

Actually would not be surprised to see both Cook and Christian fall in the draft and end up in the second. But the talent quality in round 1 seams to be all about upside than a high floor.

Been wrong before and this is why I love the draft. all so called educated guess work

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

Payton was handing out those Fake glasses with the big nose and mustache for the prospects to wear till draft day. "If you can't see them, they aren't there!" Yes it's the same one's they put on players when they "sneak" them through waivers.

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

Can Ireland work another magical draft on defense? Heck, Thomas was a second round steal for our dominant offense. But we need to focus strictly on defense......unless we take a guard in the first three rounds.

Re: Coach Says Team Needs to Improve Defense - Shocker
 

Damn, we didn't know that.