New Orleans Saints: Why Can’t They Fix the Defense?
With a 4-7 record and no chance of winning the NFC South, the New Orleans Saints are hoping they can still mount a late playoff run. But can their much-maligned defense assist in any way?
Nov 15, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) at the line of scrimmage against the Washington Redskins during the first half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
It seems to be a problem that has had a hard time going away.
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Back in 2009, the New Orleans Saints won their first 13 games and eventually walked away with a 31-17 win in Super Bowl XLIV over the Indianapolis Colts.
While quarterback Drew Brees was the headline act that season and eventually captured Super Bowl Most Valuable Player honors, Sean Payton’s club was also one of the more opportunistic in recent memory.
While the defense was ranked 25th in the NFL that season in terms of yards allowed, Payton’s squad came up with 39 takeaways in the regular season and then forced eight more turnovers in three postseason games. Saints fans will forever have the image of cornerback Tracy Porter heading toward the end zone with a Peyton Manning interception on Super Sunday.
Of course, this was far from a flukey season for the team from the Big Easy. Payton, Brees and the revitalized Saints reached the playoffs once again in 2012 and 2011 and while the defense held its own, that unit didn’t have that usual opportunistic touch and that proved costly more times than not.
Nov 29, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen during the first half of a game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Then came 2012, the year head coach Sean Payton was suspended by the league for his role/knowledge in the “Bountygate” controversy, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was at the helm of a unit that would wind up giving up the most total yards in a season in the history of the NFL.
Enter Rob Ryan in 2013 and the New Orleans defense was seemingly revived. The Saints allowed the fourth-fewest total yards in the league and only three clubs gave up more points.
But it quickly came apart this past season. Ryan’s defenders allowed the second-most yards in the league and the Saints finished 7-9, dropping their final five games at home. The issues continued into this season as Ryan and Payton never appeared to be on the same page while the defense remained porous.
Following a 47-14 loss to the Washington Redskins in Week 10, Ryan was replaced by Dennis Allen. Last week, the Saints fell at Houston, 24-6, as New Orleans failed to score a touchdown for the first time during the Payton/Brees Era.
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Yes, the New York Giants (ironically, with Spagnuolo as its defensive coordinator) are dead last in the NFL in total yards per game this season. But ponder the Saints, who are 31st in the league in total defense and have been consistently bad across the board in terms of trying to stop the run and the pass. Only two teams in the NFL have allowed more rushing yards and only the Giants have allowed more yards through the air.
All told, the Saints have allowed a league-high 339 points, with an astounding 154 points surrendered in the team’s last four outings. New Orleans has given up 38 offensive touchdowns in 11 contests, 30 of those through their air, while the club has totaled only 23 sacks and forced a mere 14 turnovers.
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So what will it take to turn this thing around? A few more draft choices like the team picked up this spring would be a step in the right direction, albeit baby steps. Rookie linebackers Stephone Anthony and Hau’oli Kikaha are among the team leaders in tackles and the latter ranks second on the team with four sacks.
It will be interesting to see what this team looks like in 2016, especially on the defensive side of the ball.