Saints D-Line is terrible (20 Viewers)

[BreesusSaves]

IMHO Bresee should be a DE in somewhat of a JJ Watt Role, meanwhile Granderson is doing that despite taking more snaps at LDE, while accommodating Young at RDE.

Part of me wants to think Grantham doesn’t have the guys to do what he wants, but he’s the one who brought in this philosophy a year ago, that had us asking guys to lose weight on the DL.

He’s not developing the DL talent in a way that Nielsen did.

The DL just looks bad. They can't disengage blocks which is a fundamental issue.

To quote the GOAT Bill Belichick, "If you can't do fundamentals why are you even worried about scheme?"

 

[Optimistic Ozzy]

DA will not make any changes. Grantham should have been fired Thursday night.

 

[kcirdor]

I just told yall Penning was our best lineman.

 

[Artifactual]

All training camp all we heard was how dominant and disruptive the D-Line was

When he returned to practice we were told Chase Young was unblockable and Breese looked like he could be a top 10 DT

Cam was hurt last year and while he wasn't going to be what he was at his peak he was supposed to be miles better than last season

What happened?

First, we have to consider who they were going up against in practice. It was the Saints offensive line group which consisted of a rookie playing left tackle for the first time in his life, a journeyman at left guard, an above average veteran at center, a below average veteran at right guard, and a bust to that point trying a new position at right tackle. It was a unit that was returning only 2 out of the 5 starters from 2023. Then there were the backup offensive linemen.

Most of the noise we heard in camp about Chase Young being unblockable was not when he was going up against Fuaga. Anyone else was just a turnstile. That should have been factored in and expectations tempered until the level of competition increased. The big test that could have been was the scheduled practice against the 49ers. SF cancelled because they had 23 players injured and not practicing at that time. Had they been healthy and scrimmaged the Saints that might have been a bigger tell early in the offseason, more so than what a preseason game shows.

The Saints defensive front just isn't disruptive. They can't shed blocks. The get stonewalled at the point of attack in the passing game and moved in the running game. They look slow. They get pressure on the QB at times but can't make the plays needed to get off of the field. About the only thing the Saints defense is doing very good at is Red Zone defense. If that collapses the entire dam will break. They have got to get better at stopping the run and on 3rd down.

 

[504gks]

Just a total lack of talent across the board. And the guys with talent are either over the hill (Cam) or just lazy (Chase Young). What is the deal with Bresee though. I feel like he really flashes, provides a nice pass rush...but gets horrible grades? Is he terrible in run support?

I feel the sportswriters are mostly bloggers/you tubers who really arent that aware. They all say the same thing

 

[Saints 318]

O-Line and D-Line biggest needs

 

[BayouSAINTJoe]

All training camp all we heard was how dominant and disruptive the D-Line was

When he returned to practice we were told Chase Young was unblockable and Breese looked like he could be a top 10 DT

Cam was hurt last year and while he wasn't going to be what he was at his peak he was supposed to be miles better than last season

What happened?

They had to play against someone else's o line

 

[Rouxble]

Meanwhile, several former Saints that don’t have the last name Davenport are doing well this year.

Malcolm Roach 80.0
Trey Hendrickson 75.5
David Onyemata 67.7

 

[WhoDat?DrewDat]

Just a total lack of talent across the board. And the guys with talent are either over the hill (Cam) or just lazy (Chase Young). What is the deal with Bresee though. I feel like he really flashes, provides a nice pass rush...but gets horrible grades? Is he terrible in run support?

He is god awful in run support and rushing the passer.

He has a single digit pass rush win rate... which for a one dimensional guy is terrible.

 

[B4YOU]

IMHO Bresee should be a DE in somewhat of a JJ Watt Role, meanwhile Granderson is doing that despite taking more snaps at LDE, while accommodating Young at RDE.

Part of me wants to think Grantham doesn’t have the guys to do what he wants, but he’s the one who brought in this philosophy a year ago, that had us asking guys to lose weight on the DL.

He’s not developing the DL talent in a way that Nielsen did.

We don’t stack and shed anyone. Not at DL or at LB but especially at DL. I feel bad for our LBs in how often we ask them to take on a G or C 1 on 1 in the running game.

Which is fine if you’re going to be a penetrating line, but the DL isn’t disruptive in the least bit on run downs. They get stood up and attached to single blocks, while another opposing OL freely climbs and puts his 300lb body all over my 235 lb Linebacker.

It’s cray cray

100% agree. Bresee fits our LDE mold and Granderson should play where he has been most productive RDE. Bresee played every DL position at Clemson out of need, but he is going to be a pass rush IDL who needs a true NT for early downs or can be a LDE.

 

[meily]

All training camp all we heard was how dominant and disruptive the D-Line was

When he returned to practice we were told Chase Young was unblockable and Breese looked like he could be a top 10 DT

Cam was hurt last year and while he wasn't going to be what he was at his peak he was supposed to be miles better than last season

What happened?

They were going up against Patrick, Pennings and other reserves.

 

[nolasteve]

All training camp all we heard was how dominant and disruptive the D-Line was

When he returned to practice we were told Chase Young was unblockable and Breese looked like he could be a top 10 DT

Cam was hurt last year and while he wasn't going to be what he was at his peak he was supposed to be miles better than last season

What happened?

Ryan Nielsen left

 

[9thwardvet]

The worst part is most starters are at the bottom of the list. Jordan, Young, Bresee, and Shepherd are eating significant snaps and just pooping the bed. How is Ridgeway the 2nd best DL added for a 7th on Aug 28th and has the lowest snap % of all active IDL (exclude Vikers and Boyd)?

If we are going to stink at the front 4, then at least play the young guys.

This is a major problem. We typically play man on the back end. If our front 7 can’t get it together the season is over. We are looking at a top 5 pick. Teams are killing us on down and distance by running the ball and long runs.

 

[sainthood]

Jordan is a hall of famer but he needed to retire before the extension. It was feel good and a bad on the field decision. Turner and Foskey were horrible draft picks in line with the fundamental flaw in drafting bulky big defense ends for this scheme that are supposed to stop the run and set the edge and are just too slow. It is part of why we struggle so mightily against mobile quarterbacks. Cam Jordan dominated Matt Ryan for a reason. This scheme is about holding containment on an archaic version of what an NFL quarterback is. Our DE concept is a dinosaur for today's NFL quarterback. Granderson and Breesee are the only keepers in the entire line. Young has shown what he is a player living on his draft position post injury who rarely gets home. I am not opposed to him staying for a mediocre salary to be part of the line but defensive line for a true pass rush threat is the first place I would use our first rounder next year. Jordan needs to retire and we just need speed over size. There is a reason Baun started to flash last year and Hendrickson was the best pass rush threat. If we still had Hendrickson this entire defense would be better.

 

[9thwardvet]

Meanwhile, several former Saints that don’t have the last name Davenport are doing well this year.

Malcolm Roach 80.0
Trey Hendrickson 75.5
David Onyemata 67.7

Losing Roach was a huge mistake imo. He was violent and disruptive.