Great CBs vs. superior pass rush (discuss and poll) (1 Viewer)

Better Secondary? Or Better front 7?

  • Better the secondary

    Votes: 13 12.9%
  • Better the front 7

    Votes: 45 44.6%
  • More blitzes (keep personnel intact)

    Votes: 1 1.0%
  • Combo of better secondary and more blitzes

    Votes: 14 13.9%
  • Combo of better front 7 and more blitzes

    Votes: 28 27.7%

  • Total voters
    101

Saint Droopy

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I'm having a discussion with a fellow Who Dat... and we both want to see our Saints make it to the promise land.. but we both have our opinions on what would be better for us to try to accomplish this offseason.

We both fell that defense is our numero uno priority heading into february... but we have different views on how to fix them (our Armchair GM moment).

He feels that we should go out and spend big $$ on a solid CB... and mabe draft the best CB on the board at #10. He seems to think that flooding our secondary would eliminate the issue we have with watching opposing WRs run free through our swiss cheese secondary... and I do agree that we need an upgrade back there with MM out with that ACL, and David not playing up to his contract.

Me on the other hand... I feel that a better pass rush could help. Sure I'd like an upgrade at CB... hell I think we need 2 CBs... MM won't be 100% any time soon... and we have older guys like Craft and fred T that may not be on the roster much longer... Young is unproven... and David is "proven".

My point to him (and you all) is... if we could generate some good pressure on the QB we wouldn't need to overspend on a FA CB that won't be any better than the CBs that we already have without pressure on the QB.

My boy and I were teenagers during the Dome Patrol days, so we watched as Swilling and Rickey jackson used to kill QBs... and hurry them into mistakes... and the whole time we had CBs like Toi Cook, and Brett Maxie... and Dave Waymer.. not the first names that come to mind when you mention CBs... but with the pressure we generated it made these guys look outstanding (for the most part).

So I ask you all... if we cant get both (salary cap constraints)... which direction would you go in order to better our situation against the pass... would you go out and spend the $$ on CBs (Samuel and Trufant hypathetically)? Or would you spend money on the front 7 to get better athletes to generate pressure (Briggs and a passrushing specialist DE)?

Here's the catch... the draft does not play a part in this... its one or the other... and if you choose to upgrade the front 7 then we keep the secondary guys we have. And vice versa... if you choose to upgrade the secondary we remain stat quo with our front 7.

Our debate is pretty much based on this past season... and if we had great CBs or a better front 7... how different would our season have been?
 
Front seven. There's a reason JD didn't get burnt every week as a Colt. Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis and Booger McFarland getting to the QB. Our defensive line is alright, but weren't at their best in terms of generating pressure this past season. Our linebackers aren't great either. I hope we pickup some good pass rushers because we can call as many blitzes as we want if players can't get there quick enough or break blocks.
 
Blitz's don't matter. If you're front 4 can get consistent pressure you don't need to blitz.

The battle is won in the trenches. Period.
 
I voted for better the front seven with the understanding that the Saints only have three corner-backs on the roster and must sign another to start the season.

If they don't sign any more as you say they will have huge problems with only three corner-backs.
 
I am not much of a football X and O's guy. But, it seemed like me that our D-line, specifically Grant and Will Smith were holding back to compensate for our linebackers' lack of abilty. Basically, making an effort to stop the run because our LBs were unable to get off blocks at meet the RB. This all led to subpar pass rush.

I say fix the linebacking position, let Grant and Smith get after the QB, which will help our secondary. I still think we need a corner especially with MM's injury. But I would put LBs at the top of the priority list, then secondary, then D-line.
 
In free agency, go after at least one CB. Use the draft to improve the DL.
 
We need a disruptive DT who will command double teams to free up our DE's to get to the QB. Smith and Grant are better than they played this year but when you constantly get doubled then it's hard to get a pass rush. That being said we need a CB bad or it won't matter who we have rushing the QB.
 
Renaldo Wynn and Josh Cooper outplayed our two starting D-ends, who are supposedly "pro-bowl" types. If they play to the level they are expected there wouldn't be so much need to address the pass rush issue. We already have guys who should be making it happen on the line. In the secondary we don't have anyone. Mike was the only one and he will never be the same and even without the injury how long will he go before he starts to decline? Addressing the secondary should be the #1 priority.
 
Renaldo Wynn and Josh Cooper outplayed our two starting D-ends, who are supposedly "pro-bowl" types. If they play to the level they are expected there wouldn't be so much need to address the pass rush issue. We already have guys who should be making it happen on the line. In the secondary we don't have anyone. Mike was the only one and he will never be the same and even without the injury how long will he go before he starts to decline? Addressing the secondary should be the #1 priority.


Your right, Smith and Grant were both below average at best, as far as pass rush goes. We got too much money in those 2, to be generating a below average sack total. Based on last years stats, EVERY position on the d line should be up for grabs come training camp. Maybe the new d line coach will help.
And yea, we need at least 2 starting caliber corners, and at least one more for depth. McKenzie's injury was the absolute worst thing that could have happened to our D.
 
Because the draft is excluded, I go with secondary/blitzes. An instant experienced DB will be an impact at that position that will ripple back to the front 7. Tighter coverage forces the the QB to hold on to the ball too long, which makes the front 7 appear better than advertised.

As I have said about the recent success of the Giants secondary is due to the front 7's pressure. In our case, it's the opposite. 2 dominant corners combined with 2 ballhawking/hardhitting safteys can make the front 7's job SO much easier.

If the draft is the case, then I go with DL.
 
Renaldo Wynn and Josh Cooper outplayed our two starting D-ends, who are supposedly "pro-bowl" types. If they play to the level they are expected there wouldn't be so much need to address the pass rush issue. We already have guys who should be making it happen on the line. In the secondary we don't have anyone. Mike was the only one and he will never be the same and even without the injury how long will he go before he starts to decline? Addressing the secondary should be the #1 priority.


:plus-un2: :plus-un2: :plus-un2:
 
Front seven. There's a reason JD didn't get burnt every week as a Colt. Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis and Booger McFarland getting to the QB. Our defensive line is alright, but weren't at their best in terms of generating pressure this past season. Our linebackers aren't great either. I hope we pickup some good pass rushers because we can call as many blitzes as we want if players can't get there quick enough or break blocks.


jasond didnt get burnt deep for the colts becauce he always had safety help over the top(cover two) and he also lost his job to a guy they drafted. hell he was the nickle guy on their superbowl run and that was the only time that defense was good with him on it.
 
Renaldo Wynn and Josh Cooper outplayed our two starting D-ends, who are supposedly "pro-bowl" types. If they play to the level they are expected there wouldn't be so much need to address the pass rush issue. We already have guys who should be making it happen on the line. In the secondary we don't have anyone. Mike was the only one and he will never be the same and even without the injury how long will he go before he starts to decline? Addressing the secondary should be the #1 priority.

No they didn't outplay our starters but I do agree the biggest hole is in the secondary and hopefully we address this before the draft so we don't have to rely on a rookie corner to start.
 

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