Article Saints interested in Brandon Staley and George Edwards for defensive coordinator (4 Viewers)

[Hedon James]

100% I wonder what guys like Foskey have in them. Might not be too late to find out.

Foskey, Turner, Rico Payton, maybe Stallbird?

Our ST units have been pretty good under a ST coach who is widely respected around the league as one of the top ST coaches, so I'm inclined to think we've got some good players waiting in the wings. For some reason, they're not transitioning to or breaking out on the offensive and defensive units. I believe that is more likely a coaching issue than a talent issue. But if it's a talent issue, that speaks to what GOOD coaching can provide with average talent!

Either way, I'm VERY interested to see how the new regime views the roster and individual players. Wouldn't that be an amazing BONUS for the new regime to uncover talent that is already in place, but had simply been mismanaged. Jeff Ireland has a pretty impressive track record drafting defensive talent....for the Saints and the Dolphins...can't imagine that he slowly lost that ability. It's gotta be coaching....but I'm whipping a dead horse there. And I'm liking what I'm learning about Coach Kellen Moore (CKM), and hoping that he'll have an eye for offensive talent like CSP did. The Saints best drafts seemed to be a result of Ireland identifying defensive talent and CSP identifying offensive talent. If we have duplicated that tandem arrangement, this could be exactly what we Saints fans have been begging for?!

 

[SailorJerrysHorse]

I'd rather do that regardless. The retread market is THIN.

How about someone like Larry Johnson from Ohio State. Was the coach for both Bosa's and Chase Young.

This is where I’m at. Look at college, look at DB/D Passing game coordinators (a la Christian Parker), it’s a risk I know but now’s the time. If Staley can be considered a bridge till better candidates are available in subsequent years then why not have that same mentality with a young up and comer?

Again I get the positives of having an experienced play caller and previous HC, and I WANT to be wrong about Staley, but I just can’t get excited about him.

 

[Rouxble]

My main reason to go with Staley is that he would bring the Fangio 3-4 with 2 high shell. And I also think it would be good for Moore to have a DC that he knows well and who has been a HC and knows all the things they did wrong.

But, it we can't get that, I'm all for giving a young guy a shot that is the defensive equivalent of Moore as the "smartest guy in the room". If we do that we can take care of the experience with an assistant HC position or with some of the position coaches. I honestly don't know much about specific names but there are up and comers like Blake Baker that do some really inventive stuff against modern offenses. (I mentioned last night that Underhill said Moore likes some LSU coaches). I'd also look at whoever is running the defense at Georgia. Not sure if that's all just talent but someone is using it right and developing it.

Whoever it is, I just want someone who can figure out a way to use all those fast 6'2" to 6'4" 245 lbs. edge rushers that we could not draft because they would not fit into DA's scheme. I also want someone that at least knows how to mix in 2 high shell and matchup zone against young mobile QBs.

Given the prevalence of nickel packages in the NFL, we don’t necessarily need a base scheme change to implement MOFO concepts. What we need the most is a talent upgrade on the DL.

 

[St. Widge]

Given the prevalence of nickel packages in the NFL, we don’t necessarily need a base scheme change to implement MOFO concepts. What we need the most is a talent upgrade on the DL.

I hear you that the biggest thing is a talent upgrade on the DL. And I know Fangio runs a lot of 4 man lines. I just want someone who can use those smaller/faster Edge guys that DA couldn't or wouldn't use and someone who can use the two high shell and matchup zones to confuse QBs and stop mobile QBs. I think there are a lot of those tweener guys out there in the draft that you can get good value on beyond the first. And we haven't been able to tap that market before.

But, I do want to get more speed on the field to counteract quick passing games and mobile QBs and I think there is some value in the draft for guys that are fits for the 3-4 and not so much the 4-3.

I also tend to think you can disguise things better and confuse QBs better out of a 3-4 look, but I don't really care if we are in 3 or 4 DL in base, nickel, or dime as long as we are attacking the gaps, using a 0 Tech NT, and getting speed on the field. That could be a 3-4 base or it could be a 4-3 Over. Although I could have that name wrong.

 

[3ParStillDriver]

If we don't get Staley, I'd rather go with a young promotion from a position coach or a college DC than the other retread DC options.

This is what I would prefer from the start. I personally would really like to see Aaron Curry looked into. He did some really good things in Seattle then went to the Steelers as LB coach and turned a position of weakness into a position of strength for em.

Another good option would be the Eagles Dline coach Tracy Rocker.

 

[MikeyF]

The argument is that it's just different being a HC vs. being just a DC.

Dennis Allen was *immediately* snapped up as the hottest DC on the market despite last year's defense being really bad under him. Staley would be able to focus on defense here while providing technical advice to Moore. It's nice to have a former HC on the staff because there are things even a failed HC learns that's valuable.

Amen Brother!

 

[soggymoss84]

I get what you're saying. But there are big tells that we can watch for. Theres a big different between putting players in position to succeed who fail vs not putting players in position to succeed. If the opposing offense is constantly a step or two ahead in play calling, and he's always playing catch up. He's failing. Example, blitzing up the middle when the offense dialed in a halfback screen (And before you ask, yes this actually happened in the 1st half when the Raiders put up 66 pts) vs say calling a cover 2 when the opposing offense dials in a halfback screen. 1 is pure failure as a play caller and the other is putting your players in position to make plays. If the players are put into position to make plays, and don't, then you have to look at positional coaching and ask if they're being properly coached up. Or look for talent elsewhere (FA, Draft, Trade etc).

This is what I'm going to be watching for. What I don't understand is why with the Rams was the play calling like checkers where players knew exactly what they should be doing, vs the Chargers the players were constantly confused on their assignment. The simple truth is we'll never know. But its scary to think that he could bring that Chargers defensive philosophy here.

One big thing you need as a DC is a smart player on the field adjusting to offensive lineups, not sure if he had that with the Chargers or not

 

[3ParStillDriver]

One big thing you need as a DC is a smart player on the field adjusting to offensive lineups, not sure if he had that with the Chargers or not

He had Eric Kendricks, one of the better (some will say among the best) LB's in the NFL who was massive boon for the Commanders this year.

 

[jeromed1936]

https://athlonsports.com/nfl/new-orleans-saints/kellen-moore-saints-coaching-staff-decisions-center-stage

 

[RaisingTheBar]

The argument is that it's just different being a HC vs. being just a DC.

Dennis Allen was *immediately* snapped up as the hottest DC on the market despite last year's defense being really bad under him. Staley would be able to focus on defense here while providing technical advice to Moore. It's nice to have a former HC on the staff because there are things even a failed HC learns that's valuable.

Agreed. I’d want him no where near the HC position, but as a DC I think we could do much worse.

 

[Saintly Marine]

Todd Bowles has always given his teams a lot of trouble on offense. Not sure who in his tree is worth a look if any.

Yeah, Bowles would not be a bad choice either.. Just wondering who and how does he build is staff as Priority. DC FIRST? OC? (although likely will retrain more control on how and what is being called}. if hes Offensive Minded, and hes already found a line coach? Could it be Offensive Side first? Then DC? Or does it go with Best Available Coach..Hey draft is around the corner..just saying the term is appropriate.

 

[Mr. Coach Klein]

Yeah, Bowles would not be a bad choice either.. Just wondering who and how does he build is staff as Priority. DC FIRST? OC? (although likely will retrain more control on how and what is being called}. if hes Offensive Minded, and hes already found a line coach? Could it be Offensive Side first? Then DC? Or does it go with Best Available Coach..Hey draft is around the corner..just saying the term is appropriate.

Don't think he's gonna leave his HC gig lol. I just went through all of KMs games by offensive epa and saw bowles teams on there a few times.