First, having a #1 offense means little if you cannot finish games.
Secondly, our front seven was pretty solid. The achilles heel of our defense has been the backside of our defense. The mere fact that you bring up some of the big plays that have happened affirms this point. We were beat over the top a lot the last three years. This offseason, we have some key pieces to both the front seven and back end of the defense. It does not mean that we cannot continue to upgrade the defense and I suspect the organization will make every effort to do so. But it should not be with just any defender for the sake of going defense. Some people want to see a LB taken. I doubt we see that happen. I think even with the additions to the secondary, we are more likely to see a guy like Jenkins taken than, say, Matthews or Cushing. The Saints have a steady, though unspectacular group of linebackers. If Dan Morgan stays healthy, you have a really great starting group off he and Vilma alone. Of course, you cannot rely upon that. But as much as we lack a superstar on the outside at linebacker, it has been more of our secondary that has caused problems. I think our front four has to generate more pressure. I do think Gregg Williams' scheme will help in that it is designed to attack the QB more. The players still have to make the plays. And that is the reason why you could even see the Saints take a DE if the right secondary player is not on the board. So, I think we ought to be very clear on what an upgrade might look like. It might follow along the same continuum as what we have already seen this team do this offseason to address our defensive woes. But I do not know why people are led to believe that if you do not take a defender in the first round you are ignoring the defense. Even more, I do not understand why taking a defender in the first round promises anything. You could take a defender and regress.
Last year, the Falcons did not do anything spectacular to address their defense. Neither did Carolina, whose defense had struggled in the season or two before last season. But they both beefed up their running game and ended up with the #11 and #12 ranked defenses, respectively. Atlanta's secondary was more porous than ours in terms of talent. Outside of John Abraham, and maybe Dominique Foxworth (who they got in a trade during the season), they really did not have any major impact players. But they were able to stay fresh and play sound defense. I think people underestimate just how good a strong running game can be for a defense. When it is the fourth quarter and your offense is not able to touch the football--LIKE THE EAGLES DID NOT DO IN THE LAST 9 MINUTES BACK IN 2006 BECAUSE WE RAN DEUCE UNTIL THE CLOCK RAN OUT--than it is very difficult to make those last minute, big plays over the top against our defense. And with improvement from having a Darren Sharper as opposed to Kevin Kaevishorn or Josh Bullocks, you should not see those big plays anyway.