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Lets realistically talk about our needs on defense

Posted on 9/27/16 at 11:55 am
Posted by Rand AlThor
Member since Jan 2014
9472 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 11:55 am
It's a cop out to say "we're terrible and just need everything!" because we can't just address everything at once.

So what do we go for?

DT - We haven't seen Rankins yet so we don't know if he is going to be the answer. Fairley looks legit but isn't extended. Davison honestly looks pretty good and may be a long-term starter. Jenkins is a bum and will be a FA. So we probably will need some bodies here.

DE - Jordan is the guy. Kruger hasn't looked good so far. Could be a scheme thing, time will tell. Everyone else is replacement level. This is the biggest need on the defense.

LB - I don't know what to think here. Robertson has been great, especially against the run. Lauranitis has looked OK. He is definitely managing the calls better than Anthony was last year. Ellerbe might be our 3rd best defender when healthy. The rest of our LBs are very solid depth IMO. I don't think we need to do much here...

S - Byrd might need to go, but we need to find out what we have in Bell. Vacarro should be around for a while. Harris is good depth. Probably need to find another backup somewhere.

CB - Lots of disagreement here.... I think this is a very solid group when healthy. No one in the league is 7 deep at starting corners. Breaux, Williams, and Swann are seemingly a fantastic 1-2-3 combo. Wilson has proved he can be a great nickel corner, hopefully he signs another 1 year deal. Crawley has struggled but he definitely has potential for us. Harris is good depth. This is a great group. If we drafted a CB I don't even know if they could make the roster assuming everyone is healthy.


So where does this leave us? We need a DE for certain. We might need depth at DT and S. What the hell else do we need? I think health + a good scheme and this D is pretty close to good personally.
Posted by Hulkklogan
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Oct 2010
43305 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 11:56 am to
quote:

Lets realistically talk about our needs on defense


A hospital ER unit in the locker room
This post was edited on 9/27/16 at 11:56 am
Posted by burdman
Louisiana
Member since Aug 2007
20689 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 11:59 am to
Another DE for sure. Probably another LB too. I guess more DBs as well since they always seem to be hurt.
Posted by TDcline
American Gardens building 11th flor
Member since Aug 2015
9281 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 12:00 pm to
Draft only O and D lineman for the next 2 drafts... Sprinkle some LBs here and there. Sick of getting our shite pushed in on the lines.
Posted by SuperSoakher
Member since Jun 2012
4585 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 12:02 pm to
Stud DE and more lbers. I dont trust kikaha staying healthy
Posted by TTsTowel
RIP Bow9den/Coastie
Member since Feb 2010
91653 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 12:10 pm to
quote:

Breaux, Williams, and Swann are seemingly a fantastic 1-2-3 combo
Let's pump the brakes.

There are very, very few teams that are "fantastic" with their top 3 corners.

Delvin Breaux is awesome, though.
Posted by Riseupfromtherubble
You'll Never Walk Alone
Member since Jun 2011
38382 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 12:11 pm to
Outside of CB, I don't think it's a stretch to say every other position unit on defense is bottom 5 in the league at their respective unit, which is baffling

That said- you start rebuilding up front
This post was edited on 9/27/16 at 12:12 pm
Posted by Tingle
1173 Tallow Tree Lane
Member since Sep 2013
4558 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 12:13 pm to
DE and a new defensive coordinator are the biggest needs on our team. We could also use an upgrade at MLB and some safety depth.
Posted by goatmilker
Castle Anthrax
Member since Feb 2009
64484 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 1:15 pm to
Ellerbe gone. best we have but can no longer depend on him.
Bryd get the f@ck gone.
Kruger gone. seen nothing from him.
Lauranitis gone.
Fairly may be gone as he may command to much in FA. Would like to keep him.

So...

Pass rushers cost to much in FA so first two picks in draft if possible.

Need two solid mid level LB'ers in FA. Draft best you can find mid-late rounds.
Robinson looks good. Anthony may find his role and Kikaha comes back.

Mid level veteran FA safety to compete for starting job.

CB's. Can't draft enough and UDFA CB's I like our CB's and our safeties minus Bryd.


Oh and CSP let Allen pick his guys...your guys suck!
Posted by bountyhunter
North of Houston a bit
Member since Mar 2012
6340 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 1:21 pm to
I've been wanting them to draft a decent OLB since Fujita left. Richardson is doing very well because our other linebackers are either out of place or out of the game. Kind of accentuates a good/decent MLB. That is another reason why Anthony's tackles were so high even though he had a lot of glaring issues last year. Don't get me wrong, I think Anthony will be good but I kind of want to see him work at OLB a bit more.

I think depending on how he acclimates I would love to see a top pick spent on a good player at LB, hell I would even try to get some depth with Free Agency. Corner is not nearly as bad as it seems, we have young guys with raw talent. I'd let this season work to give them a bunch of experience for next year.
This post was edited on 9/27/16 at 1:24 pm
Posted by Kafka
I am the moral conscience of TD
Member since Jul 2007
142485 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 2:13 pm to
draft Fournette and play him at RB/LB

STTD Gordie Lockbaum
Posted by Laaz2750
Los Angeles
Member since Aug 2008
8384 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 2:29 pm to
If Brees' deal really did free up a ton of cap space, I think you try to draft stud DEs and DTs and then go out and sign one of the best CBs on the market, whomever that is. We need to stop fricking around with that position. We have a ton of young promising guys, but we need an elite veteran with a history of staying healthy to anchor that group with Breaux.

Maybe?
Posted by uptowntiger84
uptown
Member since Jul 2011
3929 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 2:33 pm to
If we are talking strictly defense then we need a pass rusher first then I would say a MLB that is athletic. The wrestler isn't the answer. He's slow and gets washed out of the play way too many times.
Posted by Barbellthor
Columbia
Member since Aug 2015
8637 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 2:35 pm to
A witch doctor.

On the real, you can't not draft the number one corner out of college ball, not if you're the saints. Then, you can't not start replacing our talented-but-now-geriatric/misplaced offensive line, starting with left tackle.

From there, who knows!
Posted by Pendulum
Member since Jan 2009
7057 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 2:39 pm to
We need depth everywhere, a DE and another CB.

The defense looked ultra impressive to me before they lost half their guys, and we had no one behind them.
Posted by Hoodoo Man
Sunshine Pumping most days.
Member since Oct 2011
31637 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 3:15 pm to
I can honestly say I have no idea how talented our defense is.

We're too injured.



We may actually be a solid D with Rankins, Kikaha, Davison, Ellerbe, Breaux, Williams, Wilson, and Vaccaro healthy.
Jesus, typing that out really makes it seem bad how injured we are.
This post was edited on 9/27/16 at 3:17 pm
Posted by D011ahbi11
Member since Jun 2007
13625 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 6:23 pm to
quote:

Ellerbe might be our 3rd best defender when healthy.


But he's never healthy,we can't count on him
quote:


DE - Jordan is the guy. Kruger hasn't looked good so far. Could be a scheme thing, time will tell. Everyone else is replacement level. This is the biggest need on the defense.



Agreed

quote:

S - Byrd might need to go


No, he has to go. Has to. Put his arse on the bench ASAP.
Posted by Jcorye1
Tom Brady = GoAT
Member since Dec 2007
71506 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 6:56 pm to
James Lauranitis is, and has been, fricking awful as a linebacker. He looks mean, and he celebrates after every tackle so people think he's good, but he just isn't.
Posted by saintsfan22
baton rouge
Member since May 2006
71794 posts
Posted on 9/27/16 at 7:45 pm to
quote:

Breaux, Williams, and Swann are seemingly a fantastic 1-2-3 combo.


Swann has played 7 games and is one hit from CTE. Williams has played 5 quarters in two seasons.
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