Why did Spagnuolo stink as Saints' DC? (merged) (2 Viewers)

[WilliamBrees]

Long article on The Athletic today about how Spagnuolo improved the Chiefs defense and how he's been a great DC everywhere he went. Of course, it fails to mention Spags' terrible stint as Saints' DC. Why did Spagnuolo fail in New Orleans?

Here's a comment from a reader on The Athletic (maybe a SR.com member?)


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He went on record saying something about not being able to wait for Payton to get back when we were dealing with the fallout that year.

 

[rsmith2783]

Man, I still remember reading about how the Honey Badger was on the same plane as Rob. This was before he got drafted. I think the speculation was that everyone was hoping we would draft him and somehow it was a sign. Those were the days.

RR was telling him how he'd make him a star, etc. Going into that season I felt like we could move Corey White to safety, but if we really needed to draft one, then I was hoping it was Honey Badger.

Mike Detillier said it wasn't a fit. For what it's worth.

That pretty much sums it up. Remember the game against the Eagles that year? Spags allowed the defense be more attacking and it was a night and day difference. After the game one of the reporters asked him if that was going to be the scheme going forward and his answer alluded to "no".

 

[blackadder]

When CSP returned from suspension, he fired Spags if you recall. Obviously, he and Spags did not agree on how the defense was being run or what was needed.

What might have been needed was a fresh perspective. When Spagnoulo has gotten the chance to do it his way it's worked out well everywhere else. Probably Payton's cronies also gave the bureaucratic resistance and got in Payton's ear to influence him to end it too. They probably all felt threatened.

And those guys only ever underperformed and Payton ultimately had to can them all, too late.

GIven all the outcomes observable in the fullness of time, Payton made the wrong choice, but there is more too it. Spagnoulo working for Payton may not have been a fit anyway just because of who Payton is. Rob Ryan did a good job in 2013. Then Payton comes in and orders Ryan to change it all up, take Jairus Byrd, draft some people he didn't want in an effort to try to copy cat Seattle scheme. That was a disaster and probably would have driven Spagnoulo out anyway.

 

[Saint KayBee]

IMHO Spags is a crap D-Coordinator even with the Chiefs. Its masked by the fact theirs not many good offensive teams in the AFC,

Even after Mahomes (who is on their team) it could be argued that the next seven best QBs are in the AFC. Burrow, LJax, Allen are three for sure, then Stroud, Tua, Lawrence, and Herbert could all be in the mix before even mentioning Prescott, Hurts, and Purdy in the NFC.

but to Spags credit, the Defense has a habit of standing up against good offenses at certain points through the year or playoffs. Theirs also a huge degree of luck in Spags defenses where their is a couple star players that carries those defenses much how Tom Brady was carrying offenses. Most everything in NY was ran through Tom Couglin regardless Spags there or not, similar to how everything runs through Andy Reid regardless if Spags is there or not, its also now Eric Binenemy hasnt gotten a HC job, his departure from KC changed nothing.

I’m not sure what most of this even means, but standing up to good offenses doesn’t happen by accident

 

[Boy_of_wonder75]

He's been so good everywhere else, how could he have been so historically awful?

 

[Saint Jack]

No HC that season.

 

[Devildog]

He has to have the exact perfect players to run his system. Throw him in anywhere else and he’s awful.

 

[Doug B]

I don't know about now ... but back then, Spagnuolo's defense was heavily dependent on having the right kinds of players. Specifically, his defensive front seven had to get consistent pressure on the QB with only four rushers. Spags was like the anti-Gregg ... allergic to blitzing. Without having four studs up front, the rest of his Spagnuolo's scheme fell apart.

 

[Saints 318]

the players on defense that year was very bad

 

[BreesusSaves]

The Saints had a defense lacking talent and terrible position coaches and no Head Coach. Spags was never given the chance to actually rebuild the defense here. It's that simple.

 

[HouseCall]

the players on defense that year was very bad

Perhaps, but that same group performed very well under Rob Ryan the next season.

 

[Doug B]

I don't know about now ... but back then, Spagnuolo's defense was heavily dependent on having the right kinds of players. Specifically, his defensive front seven had to get consistent pressure on the QB with only four rushers

Well, looking it over ... six-time All-Pro DT Chris Jones is a nice centerpiece for the Chiefs. Dude is going to be one of the All-Decade DTs and waltz into the HOF.

 

[ChopperSaint]

Google Jason David

 

[tim martin]

everyone is bad here lol jk but it’s starting to feel like it

 

[Mojomajik9]

I want to say something happened behind the scenes. Guys like Shanle were pretty outspoken in not liking Spags for whatever reason.