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[DaBearsrule4ever]

Gregg Williams is not to blame to the shitty defense the Saints have. As it's already been mentioned, the Saints have some aging players on defense. Time to start building that defense through the draft.

[Saintsfan1972]

40 seconds remaining and only 1 timeout and the 49ers are 45ish yards away for a game tying FG,.....6 man blitz, single man coverage on Vernon Davis....one of the worst defensive calls in NFL history.

The ironic thing is this same defensive mindset brought us a Super Bowl. Lack of turnovers this year killed us.

[Saintsfan1972]

p.s.

How in the hell can you go 18 games this year with no ints......that is the stat line on Jenkins and Harper

[SteveRobWhatever]

The Saints stuck to their strength and lost. If they don't blitz they don't generate pressure. Time to find another end that can bring it off the edge besides Will Smith. Cameron Hayward is not a 4-3 end, the pick still puzzles me.

[adammwilson]

Originally Posted by SteveRobWhatever

Cameron Hayward is not a 4-3 end, the pick still puzzles me.

you mean Cam Jordan LOL. Who played pretty well and can play 4-3 end.

[SteveRobWhatever]

Played pretty well....but got how many sacks?

[Saintsfan1972]

this is from a discussion on a saints board.....thought it went well here

I think the Saints are in a perfect position to transition to a 3-4 defense and do so smoothly and it will be easier to maintain than any 4-3 defense we could run.

Many of the key pieces of our 4-3 defense are aging and under performing. Will Smith is due nearly 10 million dollars this offseason and his play is declining. Vilma's play has declined over the past 2 seasons and Ellis hasn't been what we drafted him to be and is on the final year of his contract. Replacing these players can be an expensive endevour with either big contracts to FA's or early round draft picks.

Meanwhile, many of our up and coming defensive players seem to be ready made for the 3-4 defense.
-Jordan was thought to be one of the best 3-4 ends in last years draft and played in that system his senior year of college.
-Martez Wilson was rated as the best ILB and has the size to dominate on the inside of a 3-4 defense.
-Galette has been our best pass rusher in a situational role and is a ready made pass rushing OLB.
-Franklin might not be young but prior to coming here he was the best run stuffing NT in the 3-4 defense. His transition to the 4-3 hasn't gone as smoothly as many hoped but there is no reason to believe he can't go back to being an elite NT.
-Tom Johnson and Ellis could easily man the other DE spot opposite Jordan. Johnson was drawing interest from 3-4 teams before coming here. If Ellis can't make the tranisition he's a free agent after that season.

We would have spots to fill but there are plenty of cheap options in free agency.
-Manny Lawson could man the OLB position accross from Galette. He might not be a pass rusher extrondinaire but he's solid against the run and in coverage. And did I mention he was drafted by Mike Nolan of all people.
-Jerry Hughes has been a failure as a DE but he still has tons of upside as a pass rusher in the 3-4 defense. The Colts are expected to cut ties with him and he'd make a cheap developmental pass rusher. Our scouting department apparently loved him in the 2010 draft.
-Bart Scott is expected to be cut by the Jets and could make a nice 2 down thumper for our new defense. Attitude could be an issue but I'll leave that for our coaching staff to decide.

We already have a lot of the personnel in place, filling the holes will be cheap, and we could even save money by cutting ties with some of our older, overpaid players. Is it just a coincidence that the top 5 defenses in the NFL run a 3-4? Now could be the perfect time for the Saints to approach their ranks.