Fixing the Defense (1 Viewer)

David Robbins

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Well, the Saints have been very busy and have done a good job at starting to fix the defense. However, they should not be done. The offense is pretty much fine, but the defense still needs some work. In the 1st part of the draft, I would do this:

Round 1: Dominique Rogers Cromartie CB - Bringing in Gay was a good move. He can play the Nickle slot very adeptly and in a pinch can fill in as a starter in case McKenzie can't go early in the season. Cromartie has the blood lines to make it in the NFL. I watched the combine and I can't remember seeing another corner with his athletic ability and how smooth he is as a defender. We also have Usama Young who was drafted last year, and will only get better with more experience. Jason Craft is a fine backup if he doesn't have to start. By adding Cromartie, you have fixed the secondary.

Round 2: Pat Simms DT - New York proved the old maxim - Defense wins championships. We must continue to fix our D-line. Grant and Smith are really good ends, but they are not double digit sack masters without help. We need more pass rushers and run stuffers to take the pressure off Smith and Grant. This will free them up and allow them to become more active in the pass rush.

Round 3: Marcus Harrison DT - Keeping the Linebackers clean has become a priority so we need beef up front. We also need to keep everyone fresh by having a good rotation. By adding Simms and Harrison, to go along with Bryan Young and Hollis Thomas, then adding in either Kendrick Clancey or McKinley Boykin you then have a very good DT rotation.

Some of you may wonder why I left Safety out of this plan. I feel we already have a great safety situation. I would move Josh Bullocks to SS and let him compete with Roman Harper for the starting slot. Both are more suited to the SS position as both are very good against the run and very good tacklers. Kevin Kaesviharn got better and better as the year went along and should be primed to compete for the starting FS position. Chris Reis proved to be a playmaker and should push KK real hard. If Payton made these moves, I believe the Safety position would be a lot better.
 
Good post, D.R.

However, I don't see a rookie CB "fixing" our corner situation. Not many come into the league and start right away. Due to the lack of free agents, we may have to rely on that, I'm afraid.
 
Good post, D.R.

However, I don't see a rookie CB "fixing" our corner situation. Not many come into the league and start right away. Due to the lack of free agents, we may have to rely on that, I'm afraid.

True. We are in a tight spot regarding the CB position. We need a top notch CB in the draft, but I have to wonder if we need to spend the #10 pick on one.

If we pick DRC and he becomes a BEAST, I'll gladly eat crow if I could find one in these parts. I may have to eat pigeon. Given the FA moves of McCray, Gay and Vilma, a top notch CB would be such a great addition that could make us better than we think.
 
anyway I am sure that this year we will get in NFC CG at least ... SP knows that our offense is great, and our problem is only at the defense ... reggie will be a playmaker this year, wait and see ^^
 
I like it and I would love to get those player, but I don't think Payton will draft Marcus Harrison because he has had some drug issues.
 
I like Pat sims but he has character issues, which makes me think he will drop like rock in this draft:

"Needs to get stronger...Was basically a One Year Wonder...Does not always play with good leverage...Doesn't have a lot of playing experience...Inconsistent...Raw and has a ways to go when it comes to technique...Questionable conditioning and stamina...Marginal instincts and awareness..Has some pretty big character issues."

"Quit the football team two games into the 2005 season...Could project to either a 4-3 or a 3-4 scheme...Teams have to determine how coachable he is and whether or not he really loves the game....Interesting prospect who really started to come into his own as a junior and most will agree that his best football is still probably ahead of him...Has all the physical tools that you look for and a team will likely fall in love with his upside and take him earlier than his play might otherwise indicate."

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/dt/patsims.html
 
We have to remember that we did a terrible job of run blocking for reggie. perhaps with faine being gone it will change.
 
I like Pat sims but he has character issues, which makes me think he will drop like rock in this draft:

"Needs to get stronger...Was basically a One Year Wonder...Does not always play with good leverage...Doesn't have a lot of playing experience...Inconsistent...Raw and has a ways to go when it comes to technique...Questionable conditioning and stamina...Marginal instincts and awareness..Has some pretty big character issues."

"Quit the football team two games into the 2005 season...Could project to either a 4-3 or a 3-4 scheme...Teams have to determine how coachable he is and whether or not he really loves the game....Interesting prospect who really started to come into his own as a junior and most will agree that his best football is still probably ahead of him...Has all the physical tools that you look for and a team will likely fall in love with his upside and take him earlier than his play might otherwise indicate."

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/dt/patsims.html

Yikes! no thanks!

I'm really hoping for Tevor Laws. That guy is Brian Young part 2, except he's younger and can penetrate through the line more.
 
Some of you may wonder why I left Safety out of this plan. I feel we already have a great safety situation. I would move Josh Bullocks to SS and let him compete with Roman Harper for the starting slot. Both are more suited to the SS position as both are very good against the run and very good tacklers. Kevin Kaesviharn got better and better as the year went along and should be primed to compete for the starting FS position. Chris Reis proved to be a playmaker and should push KK real hard. If Payton made these moves, I believe the Safety position would be a lot better.

??????? The Saints are hardly "great" in this position. To me, Josh Bullocks proved that he simply couldn't play the position; Kevin Kaesviharn played marginally better, but not much. Roman Harper is another one who hasn't proven that he can play at a high level--ever since his injury in 2006, he hasn't really been the same. And how has Chris Reis proved to be a "playmaker?"

I actually think the Saints maybe putting themselves in a position to draft a safety in the first round--one of the main problems with the secondary stemmed from safety play.

The Saints' safety position was comparable to its linebacker position sans the addition of Vilma; an infusion of talent and/or young playmakers is desperately needed here--moreso, I think than the DT position. Bottom line is that the Saints are hardly "great" at safety.
 
why everytime theres talk of drafting a cornerback in the first people say no because they dont make an instant impact.:covri: every good cb in this leauge was a rookie at somepoint so y not pick one now and really "fix" our secondary issues. instead of just picking up cast offs and 2nd/3rd tier players that are marginal at best. im a true "front seven guy" because i know it all starts with the battle in the trenches. but we still NEED playmakers in the secondary. if we get a guy who can create turnovers off the dline pressure than that will lead to more wins. and thats what is all about winning.

our dline is in no way in worse shape than our secondary! when we pick at ten it should be the best cb on the board. if ellis or dorsey fall that changes things but if we cant get one of those two bca imho.
 
why everytime theres talk of drafting a cornerback in the first people say no because they dont make an instant impact.:covri: every good cb in this leauge was a rookie at somepoint so y not pick one now and really "fix" our secondary issues. instead of just picking up cast offs and 2nd/3rd tier players that are marginal at best. im a true "front seven guy" because i know it all starts with the battle in the trenches. but we still NEED playmakers in the secondary. if we get a guy who can create turnovers off the dline pressure than that will lead to more wins. and thats what is all about winning.

our dline is in no way in worse shape than our secondary! when we pick at ten it should be the best cb on the board. if ellis or dorsey fall that changes things but if we cant get one of those two bca imho.




YOU HATE THAT TO??!!!..............and why do they talk like because your a rookie your gonna get beat on every play, like you never covered a WR before?....its not that hard of a transition, not any harde than any other rookie at any other position, you take the good with the bad, until its all good (so to speak)....we seen veteran corners get beat early and often....its not that much different than a rookie, except the rookie has "0" on his "NFL Experience resume"....he's not seeing stuff he never seen before, granted he can be taken advantage of by a NFL Vet, but what NFL Vet doesnt take advantage of a rookie infront of him?
 
i havent read all the post but here it goes. I think objectively if we remove all this new blood we brought in we can safely say pass defense was horrible. If we sit back and say well if none of these new players make a impact or never see the field we can be confident that we can stop the run and still have a bad pass defense. I think it is either CB or Safety that is the problem. the bullocks video is very scary if anyone has seen it. Well, if we miss out on a DT to get more pressure then get a CB.

Think about it why do we want a DT? so teams have less time to throw. well they had all the time in the world to throw last year but our Cb and safety were weak. so by default CB fixes a major need if we dont get a DT. Remember it was pass defense not run stuffing that was a problem. we can alway get a DT in round 2 or 3. We can still try to get haynesworth if he is cut. We can cherry pick best Cb or LB in the draft. i would rather a CB who can be a ball hawk and one who has great speed and for god sakes someone above 5'4.

I still want a DT either Ellis or Dorsey if we have a shot at them via trade up or stay put but if not LB or CB. most likely CB.
 

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