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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

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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

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