ESPN Article on Saints secondary (1 Viewer)

[Saint Droopy]

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You don't have to look at advanced statistics like Football Outsiders' DVOA ratings (explained here) to know the Saints had the worst pass defense in the NFL last year. It was pretty obvious any time the Saints took the field.

New Orleans allowed 54 pass plays of 20 yards or longer, and most of those came with starting cornerback Jason David in coverage. David signed a four-year, $15.6 million contract to leave the Indianapolis Colts for New Orleans before the 2007 season, then went out and underperformed for most of the year.

Linkage

 

[BlackNGoldblood]

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Good article. He does assume McKenzie will miss most of the '08 season, though, and that has been disputed by his trainer.

 

[Dart]

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Thanks for the article Droopy. As the Football Outsiders guys would be the first to tell you, all of their statistical analysis must be taken within the context of the team on which the guy in question played but it is interesting nonetheless. Basically, IMO Florence has been way overpaid. He had a decent 2006 but he was a liability this past year and ultimately lost his starting job, however with the lack of talent available at CB in FA the Texans just got robbed. To all those on here who wanted him; be thankful you didn't get your wish (aka Jason David mk. 2)!



Regarding our situation at Corner, I agree with the article; as far as I'm concerned we still need help. With only one good quality starter (McKenzie) and an aging (and currently injured) one at that currently on the roster we seem to be loaded down with nickel backs. For all those predicting David will have a huge year; you may be right, I truly hope you are, but his problems were exposed for all to see last year and I'm not sure they're things that can be corrected in one Off Season. I lost count of the number of times I yelled "Look back!" at the TV screen as the ball winged it's way towards him...


So if the season started today we'd have David, Gay, Craft and Young at the top of our depth chart, while I think we'd all agree, none have yet shown any aptitude for adequately filling a starting spot in our system. For that reason I think, hope, pray we draft a CB (and highly). I wouldn't say it has to be in the first round, I'd have to see the board at #10 to say who I'd take. In an ideal world, like most people here, I'd love to see one of the two DTs in black and gold. But I do think there is a danger in the "Just improve our front seven and that'll make our secondary look amazing" argument because, in my opinion, even with a great new DT and a really effective pass rush, we'll still need more at CB.

 

[Consigliere]

Great article. This is scary:

According to the Football Outsiders game charting project, the average pass caught in a hole in zone coverage gained 11.6 yards. The average pass caught when David was in man coverage gained 13.2 yards -- meaning that in 2007, receivers did better against David than in empty space.

 

[Bee Rad]

Interesting article.

This really grabbed my attention:

Worst Cornerback Success Rate
Cornerback Team Success Rate
Jason David NO 36 %
Travis Fisher DET 37 %
Leon Hall CIN 38 %
Lito Sheppard PHI 41 %

Lots of folks around here want to trade for Lito. Buyer beware.

 

[ndcc]

Interesting article.

This really grabbed my attention:

Worst Cornerback Success Rate
Cornerback Team Success Rate
Jason David NO 36 %
Travis Fisher DET 37 %
Leon Hall CIN 38 %
Lito Sheppard PHI 41 %

Lots of folks around here want to trade for Lito. Buyer beware.

You just had to bring that up, didn't you ... :scared:

 

[BLUE_DOG_MAN]

I still like Shepard if it doesnt cost us a lot to get him from Philly. BDM

 

[SaintsJunkie]

we need Mike Jenkins, DRC or cb if no Ellis or Dorsey to pressure the pocket.

 

[BoNcHiE]

Interesting article.

This really grabbed my attention:

Worst Cornerback Success Rate
Cornerback Team Success Rate
Jason David NO 36 %
Travis Fisher DET 37 %
Leon Hall CIN 38 %
Lito Sheppard PHI 41 %

Lots of folks around here want to trade for Lito. Buyer beware.

And some people wanta give up 1st round value for the guy. I think the stats are misleading. He is a good man corner. But he has been injured and missed at least 3 games for 4 straight years now. Noway do I give up anything more then a 3rd for him. If the Eagles really wanta trade him they'll do it on draft day I think.

 

[Beast]

And some people wanta give up 1st round value for the guy. I think the stats are misleading. He is a good man corner. But he has been injured and missed at least 3 games for 4 straight years now. Noway do I give up anything more then a 3rd for him. If the Eagles really wanta trade him they'll do it on draft day I think.

Yep.. They'll probably draft someone they can let play nickelback for a few years and then send Sheppard on his way..

 

[REALCHRISM]

And some people wanta give up 1st round value for the guy. I think the stats are misleading. He is a good man corner. But he has been injured and missed at least 3 games for 4 straight years now. Noway do I give up anything more then a 3rd for him. If the Eagles really wanta trade him they'll do it on draft day I think.

I tried to point this very thing about Sheppard ranking as the fourth worst cornerback in terms of success rate on the other thread about trading down with Philly. I think Sheppard has talent and could be good at the right price. But I think we overvalue CBs a lot around here simply because our secondary has been such an achilles heel for us.

 

[BlackNGoldblood]

I don't like how the NFL page link is called "The Saints big mistake" but the article says you can't blame the Saints for paying for two linebackers ahead of a big name corner because there was only one available in Samuel and they went after him and was apparently in the lead to get him before he signed with Philly.

 

[meily]

All I can say is..."what a difference a year makes"....the Saints will bounce back, David wont be as bad as last year...

 

[Furor]

They say the linebackers we signed do "nothing to solve the Saints' biggest defensive weakness -- their porous secondary". That's not true, if because of them the D is better able to stop the run and apply more pressure on the QB, they will help out the secondary tremendously...even with the same starters back there as last year.

 

[BoNcHiE]

They say the linebackers we signed do "nothing to solve the Saints' biggest defensive weakness -- their porous secondary". That's not true, if because of them the D is better able to stop the run and apply more pressure on the QB, they will help out the secondary tremendously.

This is the same ESPN that bashes the 49ers for paying Clement a ton of money without fixing the pass rush.

Talking outa both sides of their mouth is the norm.