The Secondary

So giving up the fewest yards (by a coutry mile) does not make a unit 'elite' but creating turnovers and scoring points does? Is the NO Saints' defense 'elite' all of a sudden?

It's all about getting off the field. You can't ask for much more from a defense than what ours did last season outside of two games (@NE, AFCCG) and three 4th quarter drives (@MIA, JAX, ATL). I chalk the 4th quarter blunders up to play-calling... we strayed away from what was working.

I will be pleased if our defense repeats what it did last season, while a little more stout vs. the run. I don't expect us to break any records like some people here do and I will be surprised if we improve on 153.7 ypg allowed vs the pass. I'll be glad if I'm wrong and you're right.

 

...which still gives him a chance to compete on special teams.

He also has year of experience in the system and five years of experience in the league which gives him just enough value to allow him to come back and try and earn a reserve spot over a UDFA who would have had zero yeas in either.

 

With Revis and Cromartie in the back field the safeties are going to get a lot of balls thrown their way. Its time for someone to step up.

 

I see our defense a complete shut down. I mean I think this years defense will be one of the greatest ever. If our 3 cornors generally shut down, and we can get pressure and more pressure with our safetys blitzing we will be very scary.

 

He would have to outplay Brodney, E Smith and possibly Dwight Lowery to become the starter. I would be ecstatic if he 'wins' the starting spot.

I know a lot of the players will be cut, but one injury could cause trouble to our CB depth. After Kyle Wilson, we have Coleman and Cole as the 4th and 5th CBs at the moment. Lowery would be the one stepping in as our 4th CB in that case. I think Lowery will have a break out season this year regardless of what role he plays. I'd put him as the 'Dark Horse' for the year.

 

With Cromartie and Revis on the field, the safeties are going to be asked to do get at the QB a lot more than last season.

 

Right, but with Rex's system I can see 9 DBs. I can actually see Drew Coleman being the only cut, while Revis, Cro, Wilson, Lowery, Pool, Digs, Leonhard, Warren, and E. Smith all making this team.

All of those players, minus Warren because we don't know what he brings to the table yet, fit this system very well.

 

4 safeties will be on the field at one time at one point in this defense.

That's my prediction.

 

E. Smith, Pool, Digs and Leonhard on the field at once? You know three guys are coming at you and you can pick out Digs from the get-go, but between Leonhard and Pool, that's one choice you don't want to fuck up and Smith can be a sleeper in coverage...

I'm going to need a nightlight.

 

If Revis gets any better, he may be able to play back there by himself, and we can rush ten on every pass play.

 

lawl :beer:

 

Against which offensive set, down and distance? You mean with two cb's?

I don't figure your math.

 

I thought our run defense was inconsistent, boarding on ordinary. The Dolphins ran the ball on us and the Jags embarassed us. We do not play the run like a # 1 defense should. If we want to be elite, we need to resolve this issue because with our pass defense, you know teams are going test the run defense. I thought we got better once Jenkins went out, problem is, our pass rush suffered.

 

Our defense rarely gives up big runs. Opposing teams also had a very low YPC against us with 3.8 yards per rush.

There's a few teams in this league that have a better rush defense than the Jets, but those teams didn't lose their best defensive lineman last season.

 

Our run defense was better with Devito and Pouhua then Jenkins and overall we were inconsistent. We were 8th on run defense, 98.6 per yds. per game, almost 100 which is not so great for an elite defense. Need to bring it to another level and like the poster said, its over for offenses if we do that

 

2 WR, 2TE,1RB set/1TE,2RB set it can be done. And with Revis and Cro as well.

The LBs are taken out. E.Smith has played the hybrid LB spot. His best work was against Kevin Faulk (or was it evans?) in week 2. He just blanketed the shit out of him and took away Brady's 3rd down target.

2 normal safeties - Leonhard/Pool. And then bring in Digs for a blitzer.

2nd down is a good time to do this against a good QB. Against bad QBs, do it every play, they wouldn't have the football IQ to pick up who is who on each play. Each safety can do each others job, making blocking assignments a guessing game.