Continuity of Defensive Coaching (1 Viewer)

[Randy Jones]

Many here are talking about the need for upgrades at this position and that. However, I believe we have almost all the right personnel now to have a good to adequate defense. What we haven't had is continuity in scheme and style on the defensive side of the ball. Bringing back Coach Allen is the single best action the Saints have made. With 4 DCs in 5 years is it any wonder that the personnel and the scheme are a mess.

Add to that that we haven't really been able to "coach" the players into a single stable modus operandi in defense over the last few years. Look at the perennial winners. They have coaching stability. Pittsburgh, New England, Seattle, Green Bay. They are very or relatively stable.

I hope the Saints hire some defensive coaches who all be on the same page and are good teachers who can teach players how to play at the NFL level and play as a team.

 

[Meachemdat]

2 things we have to have:

1. Legit Pass Rusher opposite Cam.
2. Two legit starting Corners.

 

[insidejob]

2 things we have to have:

1. Legit Pass Rusher opposite Cam.
2. Two legit starting Corners.

Two legit starting corners who can stay healthy. We've had legit starting corners going into camp for the past few seasons but haven't made it to the regular season with more than one since 2013.

 

[Swimmer]

2 things we have to have:

1. Legit Pass Rusher opposite Cam.
2. Two legit starting Corners.

Our LBs are probably the worst group in the league. I tend to think we also need to address LB and bring in speed.

 

[Randy Jones]

Please read what I said. Coaching will be the single most important factor to the improvement of out defense.

 

[Saint_Ward]

Two legit starting corners who can stay healthy. We've had legit starting corners going into camp for the past few seasons but haven't made it to the regular season with more than one since 2013.

Well, we could argue we have at least two legit guys on the roster, but health is always a question mark. With so much time spend in Nickel, even if Big Nickel, with the teams in the NFCS (and NFC in general), we need 3-4 quality corners. That way if one goes down, it's not as big of a deal.

Who we get where will be the entertaining part, but the reality is we need another edge rusher, we need a Line backer, we need a corner, and then I'd look at the RG and RT spot. RT is more of a if they can win it now, great, if not, they're the future. Same to a point with RG.

 

[insidejob]

Well, we could argue we have at least two legit guys on the roster, but health is always a question mark. With so much time spend in Nickel, even if Big Nickel, with the teams in the NFCS (and NFC in general), we need 3-4 quality corners. That way if one goes down, it's not as big of a deal.

Who we get where will be the entertaining part, but the reality is we need another edge rusher, we need a Line backer, we need a corner, and then I'd look at the RG and RT spot. RT is more of a if they can win it now, great, if not, they're the future. Same to a point with RG.

I'm totally with you on this.

Going into this past season, we were thinking we'd be starting the year with Breaux, Lewis, Williams, Swann, Wilson as the top 5. That would be a legit top five corners. All of those guys should be back (minus Lewis, of course) next year unless we don't re-sign Wilson and Crawley actually looked like a bright spot by the end of the year. Add Sterling Moore and possibly Webb to the mix as potential candidates to battle it out next camp, we're already somewhat "deep" but that wouldn't stop me from trying to upgrade the position either via FA or the draft.

I agree with your assessment of the order of importance for team needs. Definitely need an edge rusher to pair opposite Cam (who knows if Kikaha will come back 100% ever, although I believe Payton said that this injury, though to the same ACL, affected a different part of the ligament that wasn't injured or repaired previously - something like that...I'm definitely not a doctor - and that he expects him to come back 100%.) and then a linebacker who's good in coverage and not just a thumper (a younger/healthier Ellerbe would be nice) then corner and OL. Hope we can fill some of these needs via FA and go into the draft with a straight up BPA attitude.

 

[Meachemdat]

Please read what I said. Coaching will be the single most important factor to the improvement of out defense.

Every post in this thread is about how to improve the defense. We are allowed to expand on your OP.

Having better position coaches to get the best out of what we have is important and definitely important in developing players (see our LB unit). Also sticking to one scheme instead of changing again for the 5th time since 2012 would also help, which has been brought up numerous times.

My point: You could have the best DC and staff in the world in here and he would look just as terrible with our lack of pass rush and starting 4th string CB's.

 

[CantonLegend]

Please read what I said. Coaching will be the single most important factor to the improvement of out defense.

It was said in the thread about Gregg Williams, but we have been switching schemes nearly every other year since Payton was brought in

We draft players to fit a certain scheme, then fire the coach that brought them in

A year or two later, the fans cry out about how terrible that player is and how we wasted a pick.

The question that needs to be asked is, if the coach that brought them in was still around, would those players be flourishing in the system they were drafted or signed to play in?

 

[Brad7642]

Many here are talking about the need for upgrades at this position and that. However, I believe we have almost all the right personnel now to have a good to adequate defense. What we haven't had is continuity in scheme and style on the defensive side of the ball. Bringing back Coach Allen is the single best action the Saints have made. With 4 DCs in 5 years is it any wonder that the personnel and the scheme are a mess.

Add to that that we haven't really been able to "coach" the players into a single stable modus operandi in defense over the last few years. Look at the perennial winners. They have coaching stability. Pittsburgh, New England, Seattle, Green Bay. They are very or relatively stable.

I hope the Saints hire some defensive coaches who all be on the same page and are good teachers who can teach players how to play at the NFL level and play as a team.

I agree 100% with this...it makes it an easier pill to swallow on draft "misses" we've had on the defensive side of the ball...for me at least.

With another year under DA and a healthy roster...It's easy for me to get pretty excited about our roster...especially before Free Agency and the Draft...and then add in the fact that we are gonna have some money to spend...

Anyway, great topic, thanks.

 

[Saint_Ward]

Please read what I said. Coaching will be the single most important factor to the improvement of out defense.

A good and consistent vision is the most important factor in any sort of business success, not just football. You have to have an overall vision, and then a clear role for each individual. You should play to their strengths and help them grow beyond it.

If you have a thumper LB, then you let them play as a thumper, but you teach them how to be more. Hopefully better coaching and consistent coaching and help these guys who are already here grow.

I think even the biggest naysayers would love to see S. Anthony click this coming off season and become a heat seeking missile all over the field. If they can teach him to better understand coverage assignments and not be so eager on the run when his eyes tell him otherwise, it would be great.

But, at the same time, one variable alone doesn't tell the whole story. The success of a player, of a scheme, of a team is wound by multiple variables and are all fair game to discuss.