Sean Payton is back with a vengeance. Less than a week after being reinstated he has fired the architect of the worst defense in NFL history, Steve Spagnuolo. Payton also announced the Saints will be switching to a 3-4 defense. That means the Saints will need a new DC and will have repercussions for all of the Saints defensive personnel.
1. Rob Ryan would should be hired as the Saints DC: Out of all the DC candidates out there, the two most well versed in the 34 defense are Rob Ryan and Romeo Crennel. I personally think Rob Ryan has the best chance of turning the Saints defense around as he has had success everywhere he has gone while Romeo has had only marginal success since leaving the Patriots. Rob Ryan is one of the best at tweaking his scheme to fit his players which is something the Saints desperately need.
Update: Rob Ryan has just been hired as the Rams Defensive Coordinator.
Update 2: Mike Florio of pro football talk has speculated Eric Mangini could be making a return to coaching this year, and he would make a an interesting fit as the Saints new DC. I'd prefer him over Romeo because of his versatility and innovative approach to football.
Update 3: ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting the Saints are interested in former Chiefs HC Romeo Crennel as well as ESPN analyst Eric Mangini. According to Schefty the Saints would prefer Romeo over Mangini who hasn't coached since he was fired by the Browns. Romeo would be a good fit and coached the New England Patriot's defense over the course of three super bowl titles. His defenses with the Browns and Chiefs were also strong units.
2. Sedrick Ellis should be released: The Saints have no use for Sedrick Ellis any more. Akiem Hicks is a better fit as a Nose Guard and Sedrick Ellis costs too much to keep and is not a good fit in a 34 defense. Akiem Hicks would be a better fit as a Nose Guard, however he could also be used as a Strong side end with Broderick Bunkley who has played Nose Guard before with the Broncos, anchoring the middle.
3. Junior Gallete/Martez Wilson will be moved to Linebacker: They will be a great fit as pass rushing 34 linebackers. Even if they can't start they can be 3rd down pass rushers right of the bat and Martez will benefit greatly as he has played linebacker before and could actually cover unlike a lot of 34 Outside Linebackers. I'll imagine since Spags got canned David Hawthorne and Chris Chamberlain will be out of a job as well, leaving the Outside Linebacker spot wide open. Other potential outside linebackers could be Braylon Broughton who despite his immense size (6'6'' 272 lbs.) could play outside and is fast enough to cover a Tight End or Running Back if he had too (he ran a 4.55 40 yard dash time at the combine.) Honestly, I'd prefer to see Braylon and Martez be the starters as they are ridiculously fast and have better upside, with Gallete being a 3rd down pass rusher.
4. Jon Vilma will be back: The Saints, by switching to a 34 have addressed the problem of having two starting Middle Linebackers, they'll start them both. Jon Vilna and Curtis Lofton could become a great tandem of Inside Linebackers next season. They could keep Scott Shanle as a backup but should continue to look for another inside linebacker. If they do decide to let Vilma go the could draft Manti Te'o at 15 to replace Vilma.
I think the Saints will be back to usual form next year, winning the NFC south and this change on defense could be a great thing for the Saints.
Magnini is an offensive coach
ReplyDeleteMagini started out as an assistant with the Patriots, then became a defensive assistant, a defensive backs coach, and finally a defensive coordinator. Mangini also served as an offensive assistant at one point with the Ravens, but Mangenius is a defensive coach.
DeleteHawthorne used to play MLB in Seattle he stays over Vilma for salary reasons. If we bring back Vilma its at a reduced salary and mostly a leadership position.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realise Hawthorne had played MLB before. For salary reasons I agree Hawthorne probably does stay over Vilma. I'd prefer Manti Te'o over both of them if he fell to 15 as he has played in a 34 defense before and has more upside than either David or Jon.
DeleteCouple of items, Rob Ryan had already accepted another job with the Rams before you posted this article. Also, the reason the Jets traded Vilma to the Saints was they switched from 4-3 to 3-4 and he was such a bad fit in the 3-4 scheme they needed to move him out of town.
ReplyDeleteYeah right after posting this article I read that Rob Ryan has excepted the job with the Rams as I had been typing this up which is why I amended it with an update. Vilma was actually traded because he had suffered a season ending knee injury and was considered to be damaged good at that point. It was originally reported he had requested a trade because he did not want to play in the 34 however he has since said otherwise and played in the 34 at times when Gregg Williams was the defensive coordinator.
DeleteI realized just after I posted that you posted this the day of Ryan's signing, not day after, apologies for that. I think Vilma is editing himself now, he said the right things about the 3-4 looks when he was trying to get back into the starting lineup after the Lofton signing but the "rumors" he wanted out of NY because he didn't like the 3-4 and didn't feel comfortable playing in that kind of defense were actually started by him. If he was a good fit I think Rex Ryan, another top flight 3-4 guru, would have kept him. I think we will find out this year how he does in a full time 3-4 though, because the cap hit is so high either way cutting or trading doesn't make much sense. Who knows, part of the switch may be to get him and Lofton on the field together in the base package.
DeleteWell we will see, I would love to see him and Lofton on the field at the same time together as I think they'll make a good ILB tandem. Gonna be an interesting season.
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