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Shutdown Corner - NFL

Shutdown Corner

Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:56 am EDT

Offseason progress reports: New Orleans Saints

By MJD

It's too early for '09 season previews, and too late for '08 season reviews. What's an NFL blog to do in the never-ending quest to overcover the bejeezus out of the NFL? Offseason progress reports. Let's go in alphabetical order. Today, the New Orleans Saints.

Free agents lost: S Josh Bullocks(notes), WR Terrance Copper(notes), S Kevin Kaesviharn(notes), FB Mike Karney(notes), RB Deuce McAllister(notes), CB Mike McKenzie(notes), WR David Patten(notes), DE Josh Savage(notes), DT Hollis Thomas(notes), DT Brian Young(notes)

Free agents gained: TE Dan Campbell(notes), DT Rod Coleman(notes), TE Darnell Dinkins(notes), FB Heath Evans(notes), CB Jabari Greer(notes), DE Anthony Hargrove(notes), C Nick Leckey(notes), S Pierson Prioleau(notes), S Darren Sharper(notes), DE Paul Spicer(notes), WR Paris Warren(notes), LB Anthony Waters(notes), WR D'Juan Woods(notes)

Drafted: CB Malcolm Jenkins(notes), S Chip Vaughn(notes), ILB Stanley Arnoux(notes), P Thomas Morstead(notes)

The average score of a Saints game in 2008 was Saints 28.9, Opponents 24.6. That's the best scoring offense in the league, and the 26th-best scoring defense. My extensive experience in watching football tells me that the Saints need to get better at ...  any guesses? Anyone? Anyone? Defense.

Unfortunately, we're unable to narrow it down to rushing defense or passing defense, because neither one was very good.

It'll be a whole new secondary, though, with first-round draft pick Michael Jenkins(notes) hopefully taking over at one corner spot while free-agent addition Jabari Greer takes over the other. Darren Sharper is a nice veteran addition at safety, too. It might not end up being a great secondary, but it will at least be different. And when you're awful, different is good.

Show me a bad secondary, though, and chances are, it's accompanied by a weak pass rush. The improvement there is going to have to come not from personnel so much, but from the new defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams. Additions like Paul Spicer and Anthony Hargrove provide some depth, but if opposing quarterbacks feel any real pain, it's going to be because of scheme and the coaching up of Saints such as Will Smith and Charles Grant(notes). That gets harder to imagine when you consider that both of those guys will likely miss the first four games of the season due to a suspension.

Progress: The Saints don't need their defense to turn into the 1970s Steelers. The Saints don't need to win games 6-3. As long as Drew Brees(notes) is there, he has some weapons around him, and and the Saints keep turning him loose on opposing secondaries, the offense is going to be a force. If Gregg Williams wants to make everyone on defense wear T-shirts that read, "LET'S BE AVERAGE," and they can live up to that, the Saints will be in the playoffs.

Plus two games. 8-8 last year, 10-6 this year.

(Note: I didn't forget the Patriots. They're coming later today. Sometimes, I just need to mess with alphabetical order, so the alphabet remembers who's boss.)

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23 Comments

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  1. Stop looking at me.
    1. Posted by Stop looking at me. Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:17 am EDT

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    Saints make the playoffs this year. That's a given, considering they'll be better on defense with new players and a proven leader in G Williams. Who dat nation will be behind the team as we are every year. Go Saints!!!
  2. Scott E
    2. Posted by Scott E Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:19 am EDT

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    One wonders if they should consider slowing the offense down a bit to control the ball. I had the impression last year that they would fly down the field and score and then watch their D get crushed in return.
  3. Good Guy
    3. Posted by Good Guy Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:21 am EDT

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    that's right MJD, don't let the alphabet get too cocky now.
  4. el diablo
    4. Posted by el diablo Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:48 am EDT

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    Drew Brees should be in the Pro Bowl this year, and MVP he has all the stats but no respect
  5. swanson_71
    5. Posted by swanson_71 Tue Jun 09, 2009 10:20 am EDT

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    The Saints are good! They played a couple of games last year that they should have won they didn't! If they could get a defense that's not great but that can get pressure on the QB and make some plays kind of like the Colts Defense this team would be a championship caliber team because their offense is unbelieveable and Drew Brees is an outstanding QB!
  6. Scott K
    6. Posted by Scott K Tue Jun 09, 2009 10:32 am EDT

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    I think you mean Malcolm Jenkins, not the receiver from Atlanta- Michael Jenkins..... same college though- The Ohio State University!!!!
  7. rePHIned2
    7. Posted by rePHIned2 Tue Jun 09, 2009 12:40 pm EDT

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    He really hit the nail on the head about the pass rush...I've been saying it since mid season last year...our weakness that should have been addressed was the defensive front...sedrick ellis needs an interior compliment...in 2006 smith and grant caught people off guard....as a result teams focused on our book ends because they realized our interior (hollis thomas) wasn't effective. As a result we had no pass rush which then means (in this league) any average QB can look above average....
    There are only four corners that I know of that can cover regardless of pass rush, Champ Bailey, Darrel Green, Lem Barney, and Deion Sanders...
    If we want to make our secondary better...it starts with understanding how to create scenarios for your bookends and one of your line backers to make plays when running a 4-3 base package like the saints do...this means
    having a TRUE NOSE TACKLE...people think that Haynesworth was this great DT...he was ok...but what made him great was the other players on his front...you couldn't just game plan against him...he created opportunity's for his linesmen because he pulled a doubleteam on every down...this doesn't require talent as so much it does SIZE and STRENGTH....Haynesworth is 6'6" 340+lbs ...there are plenty of these guys available in the league that can do the same thing!!!
    If New Orleans get's a Nose tackle to play backup to Ellis, Coleman, and Pressley...I can assure you that interior rotation will be unstoppable...and will add SO much versatility to that line...that only superior QB's will be able to adjust and make plays despite...and I mean REALLY Superior...not Jake Delhomme's or Gus Ferrot, etc...
    I hate Dan Morgan left...but Derrick Brooks is still a free agent...why are we not getting him while he's cheap to cover our weakside....he along with Vilma and Fujita (a very underated LB) would be nice!!!
    Again our problems last year was 30% bad secondary and blown coverages and 70% bad D-linesmen play and lack of passrush...
    ERGO...FIX THE PASS RUSH = BETTER SECONDARY = BETTER DEFENSE!!!
  8. FunkButt
    8. Posted by FunkButt Tue Jun 09, 2009 6:31 pm EDT

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    Yeah, I'll give them 11-5. They will surprise a lot of people this year.
  9. YGM
    9. Posted by YGM Tue Jun 09, 2009 6:40 pm EDT

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    good alphabet the Pats rule
  10. Tut
    10. Posted by Tut Tue Jun 09, 2009 7:30 pm EDT

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    I hate that picture.
  11. christian p
    11. Posted by christian p Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:27 pm EDT

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    Geaux Saints,I;m from New Orleans,Go Saints.
    I'm predicting if everyone is healthy 12-4
  12. hodie
    12. Posted by hodie Tue Jun 09, 2009 10:18 pm EDT

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    hell yeah GO SAINTS! I say 11-5, win the division, get the first round bye but miss home field adv.
    D is gonna be great. Gregg Williams is aggressive, I LIKE IT!
    Pierre Thomas has put on more weight, not fat but muscle. New Power back maybe? i think so
    Draft picks were great, best draft in a while.
    Offseason additions to the D, i think many people will be suprised at one of our new safeties, not Sharper.
    Pierson Prioleau-hes a legitimate safety but has been overshadowed througout his career.
    All the Saints have to do is balance out the offense a bit more and not give up the run so easily, shaves time off the clock and will make an even better pass game.
    Defense was good until our key players got hurt last year but we can be incredible this year.
    oh and one more thing Roman Harper is comin unleasehed like he did his second season!
  13. Scotty
    13. Posted by Scotty Tue Jun 09, 2009 10:19 pm EDT

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    They lost 3 games last year cuz they didn't have a kicker early on, every week the i.r. list read like a book, if they can get anything that resembles a pro football secondary and limit the injuries, they got a legit shot to win it all with brees
  14. edward k
    14. Posted by edward k Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:48 pm EDT

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    Saints sucks!
  15. edward k
    15. Posted by edward k Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:48 pm EDT

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    Saints sucks!
  16. edward k
    16. Posted by edward k Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:48 pm EDT

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    Saints sucks!
  17. Tony
    17. Posted by Tony Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:48 am EDT

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    Geaux saints geaux!!!!!
  18. Tony
    18. Posted by Tony Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:48 am EDT

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    Geaux saints geaux!!!!!
  19. Superman
    19. Posted by Superman Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:19 pm EDT

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    I will believe it when I see it. Lived in Louisiana my entire life and have never been a real fan. In my 32 years I have attended two Saints games. It is my belief that it is some sort of curse that they have not been more successful. Until they are sold by Benson, possibly moved, and renamed the curse will continue. It would take three years of consistant success to get me to join the bandwagon.
  20. Scotty
    20. Posted by Scotty Wed Jun 10, 2009 9:32 pm EDT

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    geaux. go saints! amen and who dat!
  21. Ted B
    21. Posted by Ted B Thu Jun 11, 2009 7:42 pm EDT

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    A good point was made above in that last year's offense scored too quickly. Yes, the offense was great, and we want the offense to score. HOWEVER, when the offense is so potent that it can fly down the field and score quickly that means the defense doesn't get much of a rest and a VERY important statistic starts working against the defense ... TIME OF POSSESSION. The Saints have a great offense, but too often they didn't control the ball long enough for the defense to get a rest, and time of possession would work against the entire team. This is because Payton is Pass Happy and wants to score like lightening. This looks good most of the time, but winning games depends on WEARING OUT OPPONENTS DEFENSES. And the only way to do that is with more ball control. Don't get me wrong, we want to score early and often, we just want more ball control and to lengthen our time of possession. A defense on the field too much, even if the offense is scoring regularly, is a bad thing and a losing formula.
  22. Dr Zaius
    22. Posted by Dr Zaius Mon Jun 15, 2009 6:26 am EDT

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    Did you mean Malcolm Jenkins was the first round pick? You human turd.
  23. Calvin B
    23. Posted by Calvin B Tue Jul 28, 2009 8:46 pm EDT

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    Saints need to go pick up vick for brees back up

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Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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