Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

The Saints are bad at defense. The Saints have been bad at defense for many years.

That’s no longer an accident or a coincidence.

Saints coach Sean Payton admitted some draft misses haven’t helped them climb out of their perpetual rebuild on defense, which is part of the reason they’re struggling so much now.

“When you’re not playing well on defense, there’s always going to be a few common themes with regards to getting off the field on third down,” Payton said, via Herbie Teope . “Statistically, a number of those things. But, man, you’re going back a ways here now. If you’re going back to when we first struggled in 2014, it hasn’t been good. . . .

“I would say the other common theme is we have missed on a handful of defensive players in the draft and that process has gotten better.”

Dumping a former first-round pick (linebacker Stephone Anthony) for spare change (a fifth-round pick) was a symptom of a larger disease. Since hitting on 2011 first-rounder Cameron Jordan, they’ve burned high picks on players such as second-round cornerback Stanley Jean Baptiste (2014). Then there’s 2013 first-rounder Kenny Vaccaro, who’s on the trade block and was benched. None of the four defensive players chosen in 2014 are still with the team, and 2015 picks Davis Tull and Damian Swann are already gone.

So it’s hardly a coincidence they’ve struggled. Since their last playoff appearance in 2013, the Saints haven’t finished higher than 27th in the league in total defense or 28th in the league in scoring defense. They’ve also endured the regrettable Rob Ryan era, and aren’t that far removed from setting a league record for yards allowed in a season (7,042 in 2012). But Payton wanted to make sure not to blame coordinator Dennis Allen.

“It’s never going to be the coordinator’s defense himself,” Payton said. “It’s going to be the Saints defense, No. 1.

“No. 2, from a personnel standpoint, how we and what we pay attention to, and first hand making sure that it’s something I’m comfortable with in regards to personnel. And making sure that we’ve asked the right question, so we know the player can learn and we know the player can fit in this role. And I think that process recently has served us very well.”

If recent first-round picks such as Sheldon Rankins and Marshon Lattimore can help fix things, some of the questions may subside. But there’s no sign at the moment things are getting better.

Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense – ProFootballTalk


Insert shock face

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

too many DC and bouncing from 43 to 34 and back to 43 yet again.

That is the main issue

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

And too much meddling by SP. At this level, you can't keep changing the type of defense you want to be year end and year out. We will never have players that "fit".

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense

Ya think............

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

Rankins hasn't done much and Lattimore looks to be made of glass. He hasn't been on the field enough for his hammy to blow.

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

Payton wakes up 8 years later with juicy fruit stuck in his hair, aimlessly wandering the aisles of walmart barefoot

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

With $50 million in the bank and a Super Bowl ring on his finger.

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

Sounds like a fireable offense to me.

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

Pre-2015 drafts... Pathetic, and firings were justified.
Since then its been damn solid.
The future is bright. Suck it up panzies!

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

Where is the evidence that it's been solid since 2015? We have Lattimore... Who else is showing up on that side of the ball, in any draft we've had recently? Rankins was at least a good pick, on paper, but he isn't showing anything right now. I know he's young, but until I see anyone other than Lattimore showing up, I'm not going to declare these drafts anything close to a success.

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

You are entitled to your opinion, even if its wrong.:p

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

Yes, just as you are entitled to your opinion, but please show me an example of where I am wrong? It's nothing personal, it's just a matter of fact right now. No one else but Lattimore is getting anything done on that side of the ball (other than Jordan, who doesn't fit into the current discussion). Others could come along later, but as of now, they haven't.

vSean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

Re: vSean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

To slow bro :dance:

http://blackandgold.com/saints/84366...d-defense.html

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

Well, there's been...

2015
P.J. Williams - Starting Cornerback. Impressed in camps, could be our best CB. Leading the team in tackles up to this point.
Tyler Davison - Rotational Defensive Tackle. Hasn't overwhelmed anyone but has shown flashes.
Hau'oli Kikaha - Rotational Edge Defender. Impressed in his rookie season with 4 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 passes defended. 1 sack in his one game this season

2016
Von Bell - Third Safety. Hard hitting free safety that maybe better at strong safety. Used in three safety sets.
David Onymata - Rotational Nose Tackle. Listed on the roster as a nose tackle but can play several spots on the Dline.
Sheldon Rankins - Defensive Tackle. Put up respectable numbers his rookie season.

2017
Marshon Lattimore - Starting CB. Starting as a rookie. He's been very good in coverage so far.
Marcus Williams - Starting Free Safety. Also starting as a rookie. By all accounts, he has excellent instincts.
Alex Anzalone - Starting weak side linebacker. Physically gifted. 8 tackles, 1 sack and 1 pass defended in his first two games.

Those are the guys playing on defense right now. There's also a couple of guys with potential like Hendrickson and Muhammad. And some undrafted free agents.

That's a whole lotta guys to just write off.

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

Like smokey said, And WE KNOW THIS MAN!. From the movie FRIDAYS, Chris Tucker. If you didn't know, now you know.

Re: vSean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

Yup!!! LOL

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

So you just named all of the guys who have been drafted, but couldn't give me one legitimate reason to say that any of them have, or will pan out? Aside from Lattimore, who I already mentioned as the lone real bright spot.

No offense to you, but it doesn't seem like you read my posts very thoroughly. I didn't write off a single player. I specifically said that some could come along later, but they haven't as of now. This year's rookie class gets a temporary pass because they are still rookies. The others are a different story.

Kikaha is one dimensional and frankly doesn't provide much in that one area. Yeah, he got a sack the other day, and what else? Where's the consistent pressure? Davison has shown flashes... Ok. Could I have some production? PJ Williams leads us in tackles... And who is he covering these days? You're using his tackles as a barometer for success? Isn't it alarming that a corner leads the team in tackles? Rankins barely played enough to put up solid numbers as a rookie. But what is he doing now? He's got time to put it together, but right now, he's nowhere to be seen. This team has not developed a legitimate DT in this millennium.

And instead of considering the fact that we have a lot of young players starting on defense as a sign that we've drafted well, could it be, instead, that this is actually a serious problem and a big reason why our defense is so bad? What has Vonn Bell shown? And if he's in the wrong scheme, then why draft him?

All of these excuses are like plugging holes in a sinking ship with your fingers. At some point, it's time to accept reality and get off the ship (no, I don't mean stop being a fan, I mean it's time for people to stop trying to defend these guys). Anzalone and Williams look like rookies. They have their qualities, but nothing is standing out. As I said, the rookies get a pass for this season.

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

2015
P.J. Williams - Can he stay healthy? Gun shy? Talent is there
Tyler Davison - Solid depth but replaceable
Hau'oli Kikaha - Can he stay healthy? Talent is there to be a pass rush specialist

2016
Von Bell - Smaller version of Kenny so far?
David Onymata - the next gem in the rough?
Sheldon Rankins - he needs a complementary NT?

2017
Marshon Lattimore - Can he stay healthy? Talent is there
Marcus Williams - Talent appears to be there but he needs a true SS
Alex Anzalone - Can he stay healthy? Talent is there
Hendrickson - Now he is an injury issue?
Muhammad - the next gem in the rough?

Now in DA defense he has done a great job raiding teams of players that were backups to piece together starting units. 2017 was LB. This is a great Greg Williams trait he picked up on. Talent that does not kill your cap. But it takes time to build a team this way.

I am hoping the saints get the complementary pieces to make picks work. The saints have not done a great job of this. A true SS is still on my list as is a space eating NT. Then we can better judge some of these picks better.

Injuries are killing the saints yet again

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

Payton, Brian Billick, Mike Shanahan and John Gruden all shop at the same "Washed Up Super Bowl Winning Coach" Wal-Mart! It's an exclusive store!!!

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

I understand your point burn, and e haven't drafted a JJWatt type stud, but you have to admit we've improved drastically since Ireland came on board. There are a lot of teams that would love their picks to be in that "good but maybe not great" range.
These types of drafts will free up more money to land a free agent prize player.

Lately our problems have been high dollar FAs that busted on us

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

Exactly! The fact is the Saints have not sucked but have been very average, thus not getting those high prime picks.

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

And more importantly they've overpaid several FA's, which have pushed us into cap hell.

Galette, Byrd, Browner, Fleener, Fairley, etc.

As we stock the roster with quality draft picks we can afford some better FA's.

Re: Sean Payton admits some bad picks have led to bad defense
 

Sean Payton doesn't need any input on defense. It is his Achilles heel. He just doesn't "get it" when it comes to defense.
Our new scouts and front office people are giving us good players that need seasoning. We're young. I like our recent drafts.