Near Unquestionable Need to Make a SB Run in 2017 (1 Viewer)

[Swimmer]

Without saying, this is an opinion.

In watching the elite teams down the stretch and the 1st week of playoffs, what jumped at me was that each of the top teams had something in common, whether the team was primarily offense or defense oriented.

On defense, every team has at least one "Disruptor." By disruptor, I mean a player who makes game changing plays often.

In 2009, our LBs were not the best. Shanle got roasted regularly on SR. The D-line was in no way great. The DBs were pretty good. But we had a major Disruptor, Darren Sharper. We are all disappointed in his off-field behavior; but on the field, he made us a SB team. His 2009 season was insanely great. 9 Interceptions, 3 Pick-Sixes, 1 Fumble Recovery for a TD and when he blitzed on QBs, even though he didn't have any sacks, he created fear with his fierce hits.

Besides the 24 points he scored on his own (when was the last Saints defensive TD?), he gave the ball back to the offense 6 more times.

I believe this is the real key to a SB run. I think this is how SP needs his defense, one that creates turnovers and gets the ball back into Brees hands.

Of the FAs out there and the draft class, who has the potential to be a Disruptor of games- this year? I think that's who we need to go after.

 

[Meachemdat]

Without saying, this is an opinion.

In watching the elite teams down the stretch and the 1st week of playoffs, what jumped at me was that each of the top teams had something in common, whether the team was primarily offense or defense oriented.

On defense, every team has at least one "Disruptor." By disruptor, I mean a player who makes game changing plays often.

In 2009, our LBs were not the best. Shanle got roasted regularly on SR. The D-line was in no way great. The DBs were pretty good. But we had a major Disruptor, Darren Sharper. We are all disappointed in his off-field behavior; but on the field, he made us a SB team. His 2009 season was insanely great. 9 Interceptions, 3 Pick-Sixes, 1 Fumble Recovery for a TD and when he blitzed on QBs, even though he didn't have any sacks, he created fear with his fierce hits.

Besides the 24 points he scored on his own (when was the last Saints defensive TD?), he gave the ball back to the offense 6 more times.

I believe this is the real key to a SB run. I think this is how SP needs his defense, one that creates turnovers and gets the ball back into Brees hands.

Of the FAs out there and the draft class, who has the potential to be a Disruptor of games- this year? I think that's who we need to go after.

That was the key reason to signing a player like Byrd and getting rid of Jenkins, only it didn't work out for us because our d-line has created little to no pressure since.

Despite our d-line not being amazing, we created a TON of pressure in 2009.

I believe we have those difference makers on this team in Robertson, Vaccaro and Byrd. I think that Von Bell (once he learns the game) will be a ball hawk for us. We need a play making Corner though.

All of these things come with getting pressure out of the d-line and forcing the QB to make mistakes.

We didn't just have sharper we also had a great shutdown corner in Greer which caused QB's to target Porter and allowed him to make some game changing plays of his own. Don't forget Vilma who also had some game changing moments due to d-line pressure.

Also we scored on defense last season.

 

[Slaw]

Of the FAs out there and the draft class, who has the potential to be a Disruptor of games- this year? I think that's who we need to go after.

Malik Hooker is a turnover machine. Many are calling him the next Ed Reed and I agree. If he's still on the board at 11, he just might be the BPA. We would even have the luxury of easing him into the rotation. I think he would definitely be our starting FS at some point in the regular season.

 

[blackadder]

Without saying, this is an opinion.

In watching the elite teams down the stretch and the 1st week of playoffs, what jumped at me was that each of the top teams had something in common, whether the team was primarily offense or defense oriented.

On defense, every team has at least one "Disruptor." By disruptor, I mean a player who makes game changing plays often.

In 2009, our LBs were not the best. Shanle got roasted regularly on SR. The D-line was in no way great. The DBs were pretty good. But we had a major Disruptor, Darren Sharper. We are all disappointed in his off-field behavior; but on the field, he made us a SB team. His 2009 season was insanely great. 9 Interceptions, 3 Pick-Sixes, 1 Fumble Recovery for a TD and when he blitzed on QBs, even though he didn't have any sacks, he created fear with his fierce hits.

Besides the 24 points he scored on his own (when was the last Saints defensive TD?), he gave the ball back to the offense 6 more times.

I believe this is the real key to a SB run. I think this is how SP needs his defense, one that creates turnovers and gets the ball back into Brees hands.

Of the FAs out there and the draft class, who has the potential to be a Disruptor of games- this year? I think that's who we need to go after.

whats a Super Bowl run?

Super Bowls are hard to win. I'll be satisfied with a competitive season with a winning record, a playoff berth and good showing in the post season.

But most of all visible improvement on defense and special teams, more complementary and balanced football and some successful personnel moves.

And pretty quickly a post Brees option needs to appear in house.

 

[TurboWhoDat]

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I believe we have those difference makers on this team in Robertson, Vaccaro and Byrd. I think that Von Bell (once he learns the game) will be a ball hawk for us. We need a play making Corner though.

really? i mean robertson is a nice piece but he's not some feared playmaker. byrd was a difference maker in buffalo but hasn't really done squat here. he looked better down the stretch but also looked like he took a step back against atlanta. vaccaro definitely has the potential but has yet to match his performance in his first season. bell looked ok for a rookie but hasn't shown any signs of being a playmaker.

aside from vaccaro, i'd put cam jordan and rankins above everyone else you've mentioned in regards to players who have the potential to make a difference on this defense. maybe once we get a legit pass rusher and some solid corners it will elevate all of these guys. this defense suffers from always having atleast one position to exploit, and at times we look helpless because of it. fill in those gaps and there are a handful of guys who have the potential to be unstoppable.

 

[Saintshizzle]

There is only one need...A defensive coach. A real one. Either a Head Coach (preferred), or a strong DC. One strong enough that SP would be scared to even venture on his side of the ball.

 

[AshleyShaffer]

Champions have a "difference maker" on every level of their defense. Our '09 team had Will Smith up front, Vilma at LB, and Sharper in the secondary. Those guys made the guys around them better and not only made big plays but created opportunities for other guys to make big plays.

Our defense has Cam Jordan and a few guys with "potential". That doesn't cut it for a legit contender.

We were missing that in 2011 and it cost us another championship.

I hate to say it, but the Falcons have all the pieces in place... Beasley up front, Deon Jones at LB, and Trufant on the back end. Hopefully Trufant being on IR is enough to keep them from winning it all.

 

[Swimmer]

There is only one need...A defensive coach. A real one. Either a Head Coach (preferred), or a strong DC. One strong enough that SP would be scared to even venture on his side of the ball.

Shizzle - Happy New Year!

It sounds like you are describing Wade Phillips. I wonder why Denver is letting him go. That seems insane.

 

[Meachemdat]

really? i mean robertson is a nice piece but he's not some feared playmaker. byrd was a difference maker in buffalo but hasn't really done squat here. he looked better down the stretch but also looked like he took a step back against atlanta. vaccaro definitely has the potential but has yet to match his performance in his first season. bell looked ok for a rookie but hasn't shown any signs of being a playmaker.

aside from vaccaro, i'd put cam jordan and rankins above everyone else you've mentioned in regards to players who have the potential to make a difference on this defense. maybe once we get a legit pass rusher and some solid corners it will elevate all of these guys. this defense suffers from always having atleast one position to exploit, and at times we look helpless because of it. fill in those gaps and there are a handful of guys who have the potential to be unstoppable.

Vaccaro was having his best year hear until he was suspended, I mentioned Robertson because he had an Int this year and several opportunities at others despite being the only starting caliber LB on the field for most of the year. Byrd showed what he can do with legit pressure on the QB against Tampa.

Bell was a ball hawk in college and showed the same ability during training camp, he just needs to learn the game mentally and have solid pressure from the d-line.

Get more pressure on the QB and you will see ints from the secondary.

Cam is the best player on our defense and he, Rankins and Fairley are key cogs to that d-line, we have to get outside pressure from the other side though and it needs to be an elite pass rusher.

and yes having a legit pass rush and not using our 5th string corners will help the defense tremendously.

 

[Meachemdat]

There is only one need...A defensive coach. A real one. Either a Head Coach (preferred), or a strong DC. One strong enough that SP would be scared to even venture on his side of the ball.

I think Allen is getting that freedom this year, it's evident in the firing of Vitt, Johnson and Willis.

 

[dtc]

That was the key reason to signing a player like Byrd and getting rid of Jenkins, only it didn't work out for us because our d-line has created little to no pressure since.

Despite our d-line not being amazing, we created a TON of pressure in 2009.

I believe we have those difference makers on this team in Robertson, Vaccaro and Byrd. I think that Von Bell (once he learns the game) will be a ball hawk for us. We need a play making Corner though.

All of these things come with getting pressure out of the d-line and forcing the QB to make mistakes.

We didn't just have sharper we also had a great shutdown corner in Greer which caused QB's to target Porter and allowed him to make some game changing plays of his own. Don't forget Vilma who also had some game changing moments due to d-line pressure.

Also we scored on defense last season.

I think this is another good post from you. 2 in a row even.

I also think we probably have the "disruptor" already on the squad in Byrd, Vaccaro and Robertson. What we haven't had is pressure on the QB and a shutdown corner like we had with Greer.

That extra second we give QBs that we did not give in 09 seems to me to be the key and if we move the QB off his spot and disrupt him even slightly it will lead to errant throws and adjustments where our DBs can make those plays. JMHO, but Junior reminds me of Will Smith. He's not flashy, but he's very solid in all facets. If there was one more pressure coming without flooding the box our last year changes drastically.

 

[Optimistic Ozzy]

We have a glaring weakness, it's called team speed. Watch the teams that are still in the playoffs. Their team speed is much better than ours.

 

[HobBeh]

Anything less than a 11 win season and a playoff win means a coaching change must be made.

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

There is only one need...A defensive coach. A real one. Either a Head Coach (preferred), or a strong DC. One strong enough that SP would be scared to even venture on his side of the ball.

The fact that after 4 coordinators SP is finally allowing one to choose his own guys actually shows that he's finally comfy enough to leave DA alone. He may also trust Pete enough to give full reigns to the offense as well so he can focus just on coaching, making the right calls, and motivating guys. Its all subjective but the fewer things on his plate the better.

 

[saint_drago]

That was the key reason to signing a player like Byrd and getting rid of Jenkins

The FO was trying to recreate the magic that was Darren Sharper by bringing in Byrd. At the time Byrd was recognized by most as the second best FS in the league behind Earl Thomas. We weren't just bringing in a good player, we were bringing in a great player. Jenkins on the other hand was up and down his entire career. He was solid but he was nowhere near the player Byrd was so it seemed like an obvious upgrade. It just didn't work out the way it was supposed to.

So the FO knows how important it is to have an impact player who can disrupt the game and create turnovers. They have been trying to add play makers but those guys are hard to find. I think they'll add one at #11 though. Some defensive studs are going to be on the board at #11.

If the top pass rushers are gone then it's possible the top two Safeties could be on the board. Some people will prefer Jamal Adams and I think he is a great prospect but I prefer Malik Hooker. Adams is the better all around player at this point and he offers a lot of versatility. I can see him playing both Safety spots and being a force in the run game. But if you're looking for a ball hawking Safety who can flat out cover, then Hooker is your guy. A three Safety set with Hooker/Bell/Vaccaro would be a handful.