New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton promised to make significant changes involving every element of his football program following a disappointing 7-9 2014 season. The Saints did part ways with Tight Ends Coach Terry Malone, Receivers Coach Henry Ellard and Assistant Defensive Backs coach Andre Curtis.
Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan’s status was also in limbo, his unit one of the worst in the National Football League. The black and gold defense finished in the bottom five in the NFL in total yards, in rushing, in takeaways, in third down conversions and red zone percentage.
In the Saints’ defense, the squad did suffer some critical injuries last season, namely losing marquis free agent safety Jairus Byrd to a season-ending in knee injury in Week Five. The defense was struggling mightily even with him in the lineup.
A combination of missed tackles, blown coverage assignments and a failure to generate a consistent pass rush were some of the problem. However the biggest issue — and one that gets overlooked — is the fact that the defense lacked talented depth at key positions. Also, having no pass rush allowed opposing team offenses to pick apart the secondary. They were 31st in the league in opposing team third-down efficiency. They allowed an average of 26.5 points a game.
Ultimately, the Saints decided to keep their defensive coordinator (he had a fantastic 2013 season in his first year, leading the “New Orleans Saints Fearless”).
Even though the unit as a whole managed to get 34 sacks, the majority of those sacks came from the linebacking corps. Junior Galette led the team in sacks with 10 in 2014. Defensive end Cameron Jordan led the guys in the trenches with seven and half. These numbers are nice but no other guy in the front seven of this unit had more than three sacks.
If a defensive line is not consistently pushing the pocket, an opposing quarterback will pick a secondary apart. But generating a pass rush through the blitz does not come without its risks. Trying to get pressure only through the blitz can leave a weak secondary exposed. This was especially true for a Saints’ secondary that suffered from an inability to play man coverage as well as the aforementioned problems.
The New Orleans brass spent six out of its nine 2015 draft picks on the defensive side of the ball.
In the first round (31st overall), the team selected Clemson University linebacker Stephone Anthony. The 6′ 3″, 243 lbs. linebacker led his college team in tackles (90), 10.5 of those for a loss. He logged two-and-a-half sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles in 13 games in 2014.
Anthony will likely play inside linebacker in the Saints 3-4 scheme. He not only provides this team with quality depth behind veterans David Hawthorne, Dannell Ellerbe and Ramon Humber, but could even push for a starting role.
The Saints chose University of Washington All-America linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha in the second round (44th overall). In college, he managed to rack up 206 tackles (51.5 for a loss), seven forced fumbles and one recovery in his 44-game career.
Kikaha could be used at linebacker or as a pass-rushing defensive end. He might not be much help against the run in his first season as a Saint but again, what the team has been lacking is the ability to rush the passer. The former Husky had 19 sacks last year.
New Orleans also took linebacker Davis Tull with the 148th overall pick out of the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga. The three-time Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year also has the potential to play defensive end as well.
The Saints also selected a defensive tackle in the fifth round by grabbing Fresno State’s Tyler Davison. The team really needed depth on the defensive front line especially after losing end Tyrunn Walker. Davison has been compared to the Buffalo Bills Pro Bowler Kyle Williams and, at 6′ 2″ 309 lbs., the former Bulldog could do more than just add depth.
There’s one thing that is for sure… with the addition of these four guys along the front seven and the depth provided by drafted corners P.J. Williams and Damian Swann,the black and gold has added some significant firepower for Rob Ryan and defensive assistant Dennis Allen to work with.
Ryan now potentially has what he was lacking last year to finally be successful: young, quality talent that not only has the potential to start but a group that can provide a healthy rotation of guys. When a defense has those things going for them, it allows a defensive coordinator to keep the front lines fresh and brew up some complex schemes to confuse and attack an opposing team’s offense.
The figurative gun is reloaded. Combine that with the passion, support and “buy-in” from his players and Rob Ryan seems to have enough ingredients to brew up a lethal concoction that will have this defense back to its successful ways.