The Saints have a Simple Kind of Plan

The second week of OTA’s wrapped up today and a theme is emerging in regards to the defense.

Simple.

Last week corners Brandon Browner and Stanley Jean-Baptiste both made comments about the defense being stripped down and simplified. Coach Payton was asked at Thursdays practice if the defense was indeed being simplified. Coach Patyon:

“Yes to improve execution, reduce the variables, reduce the quantity, the amount that we are doing, I think that is something we talked a lot about in the offseason.  It is something that we have to do.  You are playing snaps a man or snaps a zone but in order to play with speed, improving the fundamentals and all the little things I think you have to look closely at the amount and if you can reduce the amount I think you have a good chance at improving the efficiency.”

Kenny Vaccaro stated that a lot of the confusion last year came from pre-snap checks reacting to motions and change in formations they saw in the offense. This year they’re just going to line up and make people beat them. I personally like the approach. Seattle has one of the best defenses in the league and they run a very simple scheme, primarily a cover 3.  They draft well and play with good fundamentals, which has been a big theme so far in the Saints OTA’s.
The Saints drafted 6 defensive players in this years draft, and for the defense to rebound, they need them to contribute. Coach Payton said as much before the draft. This could go a long way in making that happen, easing the strains of an already high learning curve. It’s early but rookie middle linebacker Stephone Anthony has already made an impression in pass coverage, intercepting a pass last week and getting his hands on several on Thursday. Pass rusher Hau’oli Kikaha has been taking some first team snaps at SAM, but he’s been blitzing from different spots along the line. P.J. Williams could vie for the starting nickel corner spot. Kyle Wilson has been running with the first team but has been reportedly getting beat quite often. If I’m betting on it, I’d say P.J. Williams is the starting nickel corner and Wilson doesn’t even make the team.

Second year players could benefit as well. Vinnie Sunseri of Suneri and Sons was the only rookie defensive player to see any significant snaps last year. Stanley Jean-Baptiste has been running with the second team so far, miles ahead of where he was last year. Ronald Powell and Kasim Edebali will have an opportunity to be in the rotation with the injury to Junior Galette.

Davis Tull is another option, but he’s still rehabbing from shoulder surgery and has yet to participate in any of the OTA practices or the rookie mini-camp. He’s coming from a small school, so it’s unfortunate that he’s falling behind at such a valuable learning period for rookies. If he does contribute this year, I’m going to stick with my original prediction of special teams player and occasional pass rusher.

Perhaps this will finally get the team over the turnover hump. They’ve been preaching it for years but haven’t been able to deliver on it. An improved running game could eat up more clock, keep the defense fresh and force teams to through it more.