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New Orleans Saints Quarterly Grades: The Defense

Would the real New Orleans defense please stand up?

by BobRose Oct 9, 2017, 9:45am CDT

The New Orleans Saints evened their record at 2-2 with a 20-0 victory over the Miami Dolphins in London. It was the second straight win for the Saints, and done largely on the performance of a young defense that had been gashed for 65 points and 773 total yards in the first two games, both losses. The Saints defense rebounded over the last two games, giving up a combined 13 points and an average of 238 net yards in road wins at Carolina and over Miami.

Let's take a look at how the New Orleans defense has looked over this season's first quarter.

Grading the Saints defense

Defensive Line

The Saints defensive line, and entire defense, is led by the talents and leadership of defensive end Cam Jordan. The 7-year veteran is the team's best run defender as well as it's best pass rusher. He already has 3 sacks on the season, and is arguably playing the best football of his career. Finding players to compliment Jordan's production at the other end position has been a challenge for New Orleans in recent seasons.

The off season free agent signing of Alex Okafor, combined with the return to health of 3rd year Hau'oli Kikaha is playing better with each week. Kikaha has 2 sacks, and is ideally suited as a situational pass rusher. Okafor does have 1 sack, has pushed the pocket well at times and has been one of the team's strongest run defenders. Rookie Trey Hendrickson has been slowly working his way into the rotation along the outside after missing valuable time with injury in preseason.

The New Orleans defensive tackles have not been the disruptive force that the team had hoped coming into the season. The loss of Nick Fairley due to a heart condition has certainly hurt, but David Onyemata, Tyeler Davison and 2016 1st round pick Sheldon Rankins have not progressed like many had expected. Onyemata does have a sack, and has been arguably the most disruptive interior rusher, although Rankins has played much better over the last two weeks. The Saints defense will need Rankins to be a force in the middle as the season progresses.

Defensive Line Grade = B

Linebackers

https://www.canalstreetchronicles.co...shon-lattimore





Main issue I have is the lack of observation in the inability of the DL to keep LB clean. This would also help the "The Saints defense will need Rankins to be a force in the middle as the season progresses." The impact of Farley out for the season on huge at both levels.

But growing pains is expected

foreverfan

QBREES9

LOL

jeanpierre

I just don't get how Payton and Allen try to build a defense from the back to front...

There's a great safety, cornerback available fine - but you've got to get this d-line addressed...

Hopefully Trey Hendrickson can get more PT and make an impact; still waiting for Rankins...

NonieT

Rankin's gets double teamed on almost every play which is what's suppose to happen. It frees up others to do their job. Rankins is doing just fine.

|Mitch|

I disagree! Did you see how Fletcher Cox was being double teamed last night, but was pushing the center 6 yards back into Cam's face on just about every play?

That's what we seriously could use...

In the 3-4 defense is where the D-Line is just there to occupy blockers to allow the linebackers to make plays... We don't play too many 3 fronts; not with Allen...

jeanpierre

Exactly. DT3 in a four man front should be making tackles for loss and sacks, and that production is minimal so far from Rankins...

hagan714

They were blind sided by Nick Fairley's heart for the most part. They have have been looking threw the NFL scrap heap ever since, In SP and Allen defense

FA in 2018?

DaQuan Jones 34DE Titians 6036 322 5.35 4th Round 2014 2014 - $3/4 M

Titian under value him because he is used as a 2 down run stuffing 34DE. I have been keeping an eye on him since he was drafted.

He is a very good run defender, ranked 16th among DL in the NFL in 2016. He holds up well against double teams and demonstrates the ability to occupy one or even two gaps. He just eats up blocks and allows teammates to make plays is what this defense needs up front. He will demand double teams.

Jordan and Rankins would love having this guy between them. As would the LBs. OL are getting to the second level way to easily.

Has experience playing 1-tech and 3-tech in a 4-3 along with nose tackle and 5-tech in a 3-4. He collapse the pocket as a pass-rusher, making it harder to step up.

He is a proven commodity that can make the switch back to 1-tech DT with ease. The time spent as a 2 down 34 DE only helped him improve his pass rushing skills making him a 3 down 1-tech DT. He has a solid swim and a few counter moves now.

I have my 2018 "Ugly Big Bang for the Bucks" FA to

DL is never a pretty signing or draft pick

Nick Fairley Potential Out: 2019, 2 yr, $14,000,000; $4,000,000 dead cap

Now we hope a DE steps up. We got a lot youth there. If not just keep drafting them.

I am leaning towards
Bradley Chubb DE N.C. State 6031 273 4.86 #9 Sr
Jalyn Holmes DE OSU Sr, 6045 265 4.76 #10 Sr

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins