What positions do we have to make improvements to this offseason? (1 Viewer)

[parlorcitysaint]

HC

 

[NUSaintsfan]

I know you said leaving the coaching staff out but I just can’t ignore Marrone. Our OLine was single biggest regression from last year to this year. Without looking at stats I’m willingly to say every single lineman both starters and backups were worst. Except maybe Peat who played well at LT. How much is penning performance on Marrone? I’d say most of it which is why I’m holding out hope he bounces back under a new coach. Marrone has to go probably even more than PC… well… at least as much as PC lol. They both need to go.

Who developed Jahri Evans? Marrone.

Who developed Zach Strief? Marrone.

Who developed Carl Nicks? Marrone.

I'd be willing to give Marrone one more year to see what comes of Penning. Remember, it was Marrone's decision to bench a first round player from the previous year. A player he had no input in drafting. A player he was stuck with that he later benched. The drafting of Saldiveri has an incomplete draft grade but he could be the next Strief under Marrone. TBD...

 

[DeuceMcAllisterFan]

This is an offense oriented league. We need to get exponentially better on offense. Allen can get his defense to play competent enough to win games. But this offense is too far behind the defense even when the pass rush was pedestrian this year. We have to be a lot better on offense.

 

[Rexman100]

Who developed Jahri Evans? Marrone.

Who developed Zach Strief? Marrone.

Who developed Carl Nicks? Marrone.

I'd be willing to give Marrone one more year to see what comes of Penning. Remember, it was Marrone's decision to bench a first round player from the previous year. A player he had no input in drafting. A player he was stuck with that he later benched. The drafting of Saldiveri has an incomplete draft grade but he could be the next Strief under Marrone. TBD...

i was crtitical of Marrone big time ealry on. But something was corrected weeks ago and they have been money ever since. Not only that, but we did it with scrubs and no elite LT. So i agree, he earned his keep. Plus we need as much continuity as we can get.

 

[Dr. Sting]

Head coach and OC.

 

[sfidc3]

Offensive line
Defensive line (specifically edge rusher)
QB
TE

We have a very, very good young WR trio (it took them midway through the season to realize that Perry could play....ugh....) and Kendre Miller if he can stay healthy will be a player.....bolster the offensive line and if the right guy is there draft the QB of the future.....

I still believe in Jeff Ireland to get value from the draft but unless there are wholesale coaching changes (DA and offensive staff gone) don't think it will matter.....

 

[Snakehead]

Meh. Demario has at least two years of high level play left in him and Werner ranges from good to very good and he still has time to become consistently very good. We could use a SAM, but they play so few snaps I don't think it's a priority over OL or DL. And we could maybe use a depth upgrade at LB but I don't think that's a priority either.

He might, but I wouldn't guarantee it and not plan for him to drop off. Father time is undefeated and DD is going into the age where the best HOF LBs fell off and retired. If PW is his replacement then get PW's replacement on the roster this offseason or get DD's replacement this offseason so he can be mentored by him for a season or two.

 

[guillermo]

Who developed Jahri Evans? Marrone.

Who developed Zach Strief? Marrone.

Who developed Carl Nicks? Marrone.

I'd be willing to give Marrone one more year to see what comes of Penning. Remember, it was Marrone's decision to bench a first round player from the previous year. A player he had no input in drafting. A player he was stuck with that he later benched. The drafting of Saldiveri has an incomplete draft grade but he could be the next Strief under Marrone. TBD...

You are talking about 3 power blockers.

Since we don't have offensive identity, I don't know if we are going to try to build an offensive line based on power or one based on agility.

What I do know is that the offensive line was our most disappointing unit.

I have lost my patience with Marrone, I think we need to go on a different way.

 

[Bayouboy]

New coaching staff is the best way to get out of this quagmire.

 

[la. champ1]

1) OL- needs lots of new blood here
2) EDGE- gotta find pass rush help, but the interior was rebuilt pretty well for the most part
3) TE- this offense could use an alpha split end that can stay on the field all 4 downs

Agree o line is first and foremost. We have a guy that had 17tds last year and a 1000 yards that couldn’t get 1td and 500 yards. Kamara didn’t forget how to run either and wasn’t consistently effective. Can’t blame Carr for everything when o line couldn’t block half of season or provide a respectable running game. Carr isnt Brees or Mahomes or Brady. He has to have protection and a solid run game to truly be most effective.

We could use a real upgrade at TE also. Someone that’s dangerous and a consistent threat.

Cam nearing the end but can still play. We need a run stopper and edge rusher.

 

[St. Widge]

He might, but I wouldn't guarantee it and not plan for him to drop off. Father time is undefeated and DD is going into the age where the best HOF LBs fell off and retired. If PW is his replacement then get PW's replacement on the roster this offseason or get DD's replacement this offseason so he can be mentored by him for a season or two.

I just don't think this team is in a position to invest heavy in terms of money or a high draft pick on a MLB/WIL in case Demario gets hurt/declines and that's what it would take to replace him. The likely plan would be to move Werner to MLB and put someone else at WIL. And it would be great to have an heir apparent start ready to go at WIL or MLB, but with all the needs we have at OL and DL, I just don't see it as a priority.

 

[Snakehead]

I just don't think this team is in a position to invest heavy in terms of money or a high draft pick on a MLB/WIL in case Demario gets hurt/declines and that's what it would take to replace him. The likely plan would be to move Werner to MLB and put someone else at WIL. And it would be great to have an heir apparent start ready to go at WIL or MLB, but with all the needs we have at OL and DL, I just don't see it as a priority.

I agree. It very well could be PW and just find a WIL to replace him since it's easier to find a WIL than it is to find a green dot guy.

 

[FLSaintzFan]

I believe the front office knows what needs to happen. The entire coaching staff should be gone. As for players and position, TE is a must. OL is also pretty high on the list. Jameis Winston should be released as his ignoring of his coach's play calling would be an offense that cannot be overlooked.

 

[Joodas Avila]

The moves that the Saints front office made last offseason were to give the team every resource necessary to win the division, and even potentially win a Super Bowl. Sadly the team fell short, and there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.

So moving into 2024 the team needs to take inventory of their talent, and make the changes necessary in order to give the team the best chance to win, and give the fans a reason not to boo the team at home games. But what are those changes? What positions can the team feel good about?

Leaving the coaching staff out of this, what positions does the team need to make improvements to?

Obviously situations change, players get cut, and that may cause changes to this question, but as of today (1/8/2024) where does the team need to make improvements?

1. EDGE/DE
2. IDL
3. OT
4. IOL
5. QB
6. NICKEL CB/SAF/DB
7. SAF
8. P

 

[Wheelo]

In order:

1. A tackle, guy who plays either left or right as both spots are currently open. Peat got hurt the last the last game of the season, given his history I'm sure that will roll over plus he's an impending free agent. Ram is most likely going to retire, and even if he doesn't, he can no longer be relied upon. So, technically, we have holes at both positions and unfortunately they're the 2nd and 3rd most important positions on an offense. We have to get Penning up to speed, sign someone in free agency, and spend draft capital. We cannot walk into another season limping on our offensive line. Teams don't let their tackles walk, so if you look at the list of impending free agents, it's pretty weak. It won't be sexy because of Penning but pick 14 should be a tackle.

2. Pass Rush - I think we finished 28th in pressures/sack rate in the NFL. Yesterday showed, you give a college level QB too much time, they'll find the wide open guys eventually. Desmond Ridder is probably the furthest thing away from an NFL caliber QB you'll find in today's NFL and his stat line was insane. Peyton Turner, Granderson, and Cam Jordan can't be the guys we rely upon in 2024. Baun had a nice stretch but he is not the answer. There are a lot of FA pass rushers who will be available, but I'm not sure how we get in the fold when all of them will be looking to break the ceiling for highest paid at their positions. I think you have to spend more high picks on an edge guy. Josh Allen or Daneille Hunter will be too expensive in my book.

3. Nose tackle/run stuffer - We spent money in free agency and drafted Breese. However, we still got gashed in the run game, especially after the bye week. In 2017 - 2020, we won games because our defense was impossible to run against. Week 12 against the Falcons, the Lions, and Rams generated an insane push against the Saints and virtually ran away with those games. Saunders and Breese were nice adds, but they did not solve our issue from 2022. I would love to see us go after Daron Payne or make a trade with the Panthers to acquire Derrick Brown. I think the Panthers will be looking to overhaul on offense and their defense is loaded with young talent we should see as commodities. Brown just finished the season with 100 tackles at the DT position. He's insane.