Offline
The Saints really run with a 3-safety base. They play a traditional free safety (currently played by Byrd) that plays deeper zones, a traditional strong safety (currently played by Harper, and previously Bush) that covers intermediate zones and assists in strong side run defense, and a OLB/S hybrid (currently played by Vaccaro) who plays man against opposing TEs or bigger slot receivers and assisting in strong side run defense. Bell is essentially our dime safety, serving as a second FS.
Peppers helped the Saints year one by immediately bring one of the best returners in the game. He will also be a stud on special team defense. The guy is made to be a special teams standout.
He helps the Saints year one as a defender by replacing Harper as the Saints traditional strong safety. He was absolutely made for the role. He will dominate intermediate zone coverage while Vaccaro goes man against the opposing team's TE or big slot receiver.
But where he really comes into value is year two. What happens with Vaccaro and Byrd? Having Peppers would make the blow of losing Vaccaro palatable. If Byrd is cut...Bell becomes a starting FS, and Peppers becomes even more essential as a third safety. There are some that believe that Peppers can be a free safety or CB...I don't think it would be ideal. But with Bell...the Saints wouldn't be in that position for a while.
Nooooo. Bell has been playing SS. Was playing way more snaps than Harper before Vaccaro's suspension. Bell is really good in the box. He's a lot like Vaccaro, really. I'm not sure if he should be a pure FS. He has looked good at SS. Harper is only playing a lot now because of Vaccaro's suspension. If Bell was playing dime safety he wouldn't have been getting almost 100% of the defensive snaps. If we draft a safety in the first round it should be Malik Hooker, but I think he's staying in school. He's a true ball hawking FS.