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Perhaps a defensive staff transition not what you expected coming into the 2023 New Orleans Saints season, but the team was tasked with undergoing exactly that.

After former co-defensive coordinators Ryan Nielsen and Kris Richards vacated the defensive coordinator, defensive line coach and secondary coach positions, New Orleans had a lot of work to rebuild its staff on the defensive side of the ball. Nielsen was hired by the Atlanta Falcons as their defensive coordinator with Richard and the Saints parted ways over “philosophical differences” per neworelans.football’s Nick Underhill.

The...

In an underwhelming year for the New Orleans Saints, Demario Davis still showed he’s aging like wine. We saw no fall-off in his game whatsoever.

34-year-old Davis led the Saints with 109 tackles in 2022, his fifth season with New Orleans. It was his sixth straight year recording at least 100 stops and the eighth such achievement in his 11-year career.Not only did Demario put together a career-high in sacks (6.5), he showed consistency/improvement in pass coverage. He effectively shadowed tight ends and running backs from sideline to sideline all year.

This was Davis’ third straight...

This might be concerning. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that New Orleans Saints assistant coach Cory Robinson is a free agent after letting his contract expire following the 2022 season. Robinson has coached the secondary in New Orleans and managed the defensive backs room last year. He recently worked at the Senior Bowl, coaching several safety prospects on the American Team roster.

Robinson should have options. He could go join Aaron Glenn on the Detroit Lions defense or get a look with Sean Payton on the Denver Broncos, or get a fresh start entirely somewhere else. Depending on...

Draft season is in full swing, with everyone having their take on what the New Orleans Saints should do in the upcoming 2023 draft (you can find our mock draft here). The Saints have holes to fill at quarterback, defensive tackle, running back, in the secondary, in the skills positions, and many other areas — that’s going to be the case for a team that was lucky to finish with 7 wins last season. New Orleans has a lot of work to do if they’re going to compete for the NFC South title in the fall.

And the latest projection comes from ESPN’s Matt Miller, who has the Saints doubling down on...

Add another name to the New Orleans Saints coaching shuffle this offseason.

NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reports on Monday that New Orleans Saints defensive assistant Cory Robinson will no longer be with the team.

Robinson was with the Saints for three seasons. He's been assisting with the team’s defensive backs and was the Safety Coach for the American Team at the Senior Bowl last weekend. New Orleans ranked second against the pass in 2022, but their 7 interceptions were 30th in the NFL.


New Orleans Saints coach Cory Robinson. Credit: neworleanssaints.com

The Saints named Joe Woods as their new defensive coordinator on Monday morning. Last season's co-defensive coordinators, Ryan Nielsen and Kris Richard, will also not be back with the team. Nielsen, who also oversaw the defensive line, left to become defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons. Richard, who oversaw the defensive backs, has had several interviews this offseason.

Woods, 52, had previously been the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2020-2022) and Denver Broncos (2015-2018). He has also been the defensive backs coach for three different NFL teams.

Newly hired Todd Grantham may be put in charge of the defensive line, where most of his experience lies. Linebacker Coach Michael Hodges and Pass Rush Coordinator Brian Young are currently still on the staff.

The Saints also parted ways with TE coach/Running Game coordinator Dan Roushar this offseason. They have not to date made any other changes to their offensive staff.

NEW ORLEANS — The Saints may have found their next defensive coordinator in Cleveland Browns’ former DC, Joe Woods.

According to an ESPN report says Woods is expected to be reunited with Dennis Allen as the team’s next defensive coordinator. Allen and Woods first worked together when Woods was the defensive back coach for the Oakland Raiders in 2014.

While Allen was the defensive play caller, the Saints split defensive coordinator duties between Ryan Nielsen and Kris Richard last season.

The Saints parted ways with Nielsen and Richard. Nielsen left for a defensive play-caller position...

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the New Orleans Saints are expected to hire former Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Joe Woods for the same position; Woods interviewed with New Orleans last week after the team moved on from co-defensive coordinators Ryan Nielsen and Kris Richard. He was dismissed from Cleveland after a three-year run in which the Browns defense ranked 20th, 13th, and 21st in points allowed and 14th, 5th, and 17th in yards allowed. Woods previously worked as a defensive assistant on Dennis Allen’s 2014 Raiders team.

So what will Woods’ role be...

Dennis Allen is reshaping his coaching staff with the New Orleans Saints, and the latest addition will reunite him with one of his staffers from his days with the Oakland Raiders.

According to an ESPN report, the Saints are expected to hire Joe Woods as their defensive coordinator for the 2023 season. Woods spent one partial season on Allen's staff as a defensive backs coach with the Raiders in 2014.

Though Allen was the defensive play caller, a role he's expected to hold again in 2023, New Orleans split its defensive coordinator title between Ryan Nielsen and Kris Richard last year...

The Saints are bringing on Joe Woods as their defensive coordinator, according to a Monday morning report by ESPN.

Joe Woods is expected to become the new defensive coordinator for the Saints, according to

The Saints have reportedly found their new defensive coordinator.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that the Saints are expected to hire Joe Woods after interviewing with the team last week. The Saints had co-defensive coordinators last season, but they dismissed Kris Richard and Ryan Nielsen left to become the defensive coordinator for the Falcons.

Woods spent the last three seasons as the Browns defensive coordinator, but he was fired after the end of the regular season. He has also worked for several other clubs, including a 2014 stint as the Raiders defensive coordinator that came when...

Will Levis (Kentucky)

If you watched any UK games this year, you probably observed that Will Levis was the Kentucky offense. Just him. He might have the strongest arm in the draft class and is typically very accurate and reliable. He has the potential to make an immediate impact on whichever team picks him up.

Levis draws plenty of similarities to Josh Allen. A thick-framed gunslinger with a low running-threat ceiling that makes up for it with his quick release and power. His stock continues to rise, and he’s currently rated as a first-round prospect that could be gone far before the...

Last week’s report regarding the annual compensation to new Broncos coach Sean Payton was technically premature but ultimately accurate.

Yes, Payton will land “somewhere between” $17 million to $20 million per year. Peter King reports in his Football Morning in America column that Payton will make “in the neighborhood” of $18 million annually.

Of course, if that’s his official pay, there’s a chance he’ll get more, via off-the-books payments that often are made to high-end coaches, in order to keep the curve from blowing wide open at the lower end of the scale.

Is he worth it...

Like in nearly every other area in 2022, New Orleans uncharacteristically struggled on special teams throughout the year.

From 2017 to 2020, the New Orleans Saints had one of the best special teams units in the NFL. An often overlooked aspect of football, the Saints won several games with the clutch kicking of Wil Lutz. Field position was often a big advantage because of the legs of punters Thomas Morstead, then Blake Gillikin. Swarming kick coverage also provided an underrated advantage, as did the explosive returns of Deonte Harty.

The Saints struggled in some aspects of special teams in 2021. Gillikin had a fine year replacing beloved veteran Morstead. However, Lutz underwent season-ending surgery in training camp, forcing the team to go through four different kickers with little success. The coverage units were still adequate, but suffered a drop-off in performance, and Harty wasn't nearly as effective as a returner.

Lutz was back in 2022. New Orleans, as they often do, also placed priority in the athleticism of their special teams with their offseason personnel moves. Would it make a difference?

Saints 2022 Special Teams Grade​

New Orleans Saints kicker Wil Lutz (3) attempts a 61-yard field goal out of the hold of punter Blake Gillikin (4) against the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings defeated the Saints 28-25. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The 28-year-old Lutz is one of the most successful kickers in New Orleans franchise history. He sits in second place in franchise history for extra points and just three field goals away from second in that category, behind only Hall of Famer Morten Andersen. His 84.6% field goal percentage is the best in franchise history for kickers that have played at least two years with the team.

Whether not fully recovered from his surgery or something else, Lutz didn't look like the same kicker in 2022. He converted just 74.2% of his field goal attempts, by far the worst of his six-year career, and missed multiple kicks in two contests.

Lutz still has excellent range, even though his 64% touchback percentage on kickoffs was his lowest since 2018. He converted 4 of 6 field goals from beyond 50 yards, with one being a near-miss at 61 yards. However, Lutz misfired on six attempts between 30 and 49 yards and went just 4 of 8 between 40-49 yards. Those inconsistencies further handcuffed an already poor offense.


New Orleans Saints punter Blake Gillikin (4) against the Arizona Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Blake Gillikin also wasn't as effective in his second season as he was his first. Gillikin's gross average (46.4 yards) and net average (41.4) were both lower than his 2021 performance. He also shanked some punts in key situations during the year to put the defense at a field position disadvantage.

Gillikin's 7 touchbacks were three more than he had in 2021, but he did place 32 kicks inside an opponent’s 20-yard line. His pinpoint accuracy and booming leg just weren't as consistent as they were during his initial season with the Saints.

Coverage units have consistently declined in each of the last two years. After leading the NFL in fewest yards per punt return (2.3) and kickoff returns (17.2) in 2020, both areas have dropped to just average since. In 2022, New Orleans allowed an average of 8.9 on punt returns and 22.6 on kickoffs.

The Saints have some outstanding athletes on kickoff and punt coverage. J.T. Gray remains one of the league's best. Versatile Taysom Hill, linebackers Kaden Elliss, Zack Baun, and Andrew Dowell, along with S Daniel Sorensen also made key contributions.


Carolina Panthers safety Sam Franklin Jr. (42) waits for the punt against New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor (27) and safety J.T. Gray (48). Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Similarly, New Orleans couldn't swing the momentum of any game with their return teams. The normally explosive Deonte Harty averaged 22.8 on kickoff returns, but a measly 2.8 on punt returns with a fumble until being lost for the year after four games. Hill and RB Dwayne Washington made little difference as kick returners,while WR Marquez Callaway wasn't much of an impact returning punts.

Undrafted rookie WR Rashid Shaheed developed as a valuable offensive threat after the mid-season point. He'd also emerge as the team’s primary returner, averaging 9.7 on punts and 22.9 on kickoffs.

Shaheed some judgment mistakes in fielding some punts, but that should improve with experience. His explosive speed and open field elusiveness could make him a viable threat if Harty, an unrestricted free agent, doesn't return.

Look for New Orleans to continue focusing on their coverage teams. It also wouldn't be a surprise if both Lutz and Gillikin faced some training camp competition after off years.

Outside of a blocked field goal by DE Payton Turner to preserve an opening week win at Atlanta, the special teams units just didn't make up for struggles that the Saints had in several other areas of their team in 2022.

Saints Special Teams Grade = D​

The Saints are reportedly hiring Alabama Crimson Tide defensive analyst Todd Granthan as an assistant coach.

Sean Payton’s trade to the Denver Broncos is now official.

Cameron Jordan recently said that, without Tom Brady, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will “probably go back to… where Tampa Bay has been.”

A look at the Saints safeties in and their performance in 2022.

Recapping Marcus Maye’s 2022 season, his first with the Saints.

Looking at how Derek Carr’s current contract siutation could lead him to the Saints.

A recap of Bradley Roby’s second season with the Saints.