Last year for thanksgiving (or a bit before even) I bought myself a sweater with #44 Kikaha on it. I wish I had not. Not that I do not love the player, but ever since I have gotten that he was injured and right now his 2016 season is over. Whenever he played he was good for a special play, Sack or Fumble. He was the highlight of this defense going into next season for me. But his 3rd ACL tear in his young career has ended those dreams for now. So what to do now at the DE position.
Marijn Pessers (@Monedula_)
Kikaha moved form OLB to DE this off-season. They clearly needed some extra help there and they signed a lot of LBs and moved them around so he was available for that position. Whenever I saw him play last year he was awesome rushing the passer. High motor, never giving up. He also did his best to cover the pass and I loved his effort but he was not build to do that. So with him moving there and being the #1 guy opposite of Cam Jordan, at least in my mind, he leaves a huge hole. What are your thoughts on his performance last year?
Brian Bauer (@SaintBrian9)
He was a pleasant surprise along with Stephone Anthony and when I heard the news, it honestly made me sick to my stomach. He was a dynamic, high energy player who looked like a freakin steal by mid-season. We’ve covered on this blog my thoughts on some recent Loomis drafts, and last year’s was finally looking like one of the better ones … Kikaha’s injury doesn’t diminish that, obviously, but it’s a swift kick in the pants and a reminder just how thin the Saints are at certain positions, especially on defense. For me the question becomes how do you address it. I have a hard time believing Kikaha’s replacement is hanging out on the current roster … so what’s the play? If we go with an undrafted player or an unknown, this defense could continue to regress. How are we fixing this Marijn?
MP
Well there are a couple of options. To me the most viable right now seems to be Dwight Freeney. It depends if he wants to come back for a minor salary, but I would certainly consider him.
Ok. Shocker. While writing this I looked him up to see what his stats were, and then I found out this, which if it is true, I think I could be the one to break it on twitter lol.https://twitter.com/Monedula_/status/742410815370887168
Well let’s assume it is true. Later we will know and if it is not true (it still is wikipedia) we will discuss that then. Signing Freeney would be AWESOME in my opinion. A hugely respected guy who can teach a LOT. Big locker room character. Let’s not hope he is the next Browner who also was supposed to be a locker room character. … a special kind of character. Physically he is no longer what he used to be, but that is exactly what we said about Williams last year and he performed admirably. If this is true, are you as excited as I am?
BB
I am … in fact, I was massaging the conversation precisely to make this very point. Hole at DE, established vet in Freeney sitting out there … am I missing something??? The guy had 8 sacks last season after signing as what the cards basically assumed was a seat filler. I’ll definitely be happy to roll the dice on a guy like him and man, I really really really hope it’s true. Can I add that if it’s not true we could find out the hard way whether it was a mistake – he’s been talking to the Falcons … we really want a front row seat to this? Anyway, it’s 4:15 on the east coast and there’s still no confirmation. Marijn, I think we have to consider the fact that it MIGHT be a Wikipedia savvy Saints fan having a little fun. If that’s the case, what’s next?
MP
Yes it would be really nice to have him but I would settle for not a Falcon.
So next… Supplemental draft? But seldom something good comes from there. So lets see what we have on the D-line compared to last year; No Williams. He might be back though. Still a free agent. But we have gotten Fairley for him. Then we have Rankins, Onyemata and Tull who is hopefully healthy and we lost Kikaha. Overall we are in the plus on D-line guys. Onyemata is a DT but has played a fair amount of DE. I think his inexperience might be best suited for pass-rush. That is go after the QB and do not care too much about anything else. Only think he has to watch is to contain the RB. but he will know soon enough in the play. So I think you put him in the rotation over there he could be ok.
BB
I mean, you’ve got some answers there but I don’t think any of the guys you mentioned are suited to play DE, so to me, the answer is clearly not on the team. Onyemata was a project to begin with and moving him over to DE just sounds like a disaster in the making. He’d get dominated all over the field his rookie year and his confidence would be shattered. He needs to be mixed in with Fairley and Rankins for best results. That means looking at the free agent market (and around Freeney apparently) … that horizon is pretty glum, but Jason Jones, formerly of the Lions, rises to the top of that pack for me. Jones had 4.5 sacks last year to go along with 27 tackles. He’s 29, and has started 31 games of 32 the last two seasons. He would also come at a pretty cheap premium. I think at a minimum you bring a guy like Jones in for depth and if gets outplayed by someone like Tull or Onyemata, so be it.
The question is – how much of a splash do you want to make? Because there’s a veteran DE sitting out there that makes a ton of sense and, it’s been reported that as soon as a team has a major injury at DE, that’s when he gets picked up. Yeah, I’m talking about Greg Hardy. I think you could sign him to a one year prove it deal, the question is, do we have the staff to keep a guy like him motivated, and is he truly more trouble than he’s worth? Marijn?
MP
Oh please not Hardy! If the Saints do that they should also contact the Redskins if they would like to trade for Galette. Payton gets rid of guys that are bad for the locker room. After 2012 it is rumored Johnny Patrick was the guy leaking locker room stuff to the press on Spags. He basically got cut as soon as Payton returned not even bringing him back for camp. In Februari he was gone! After 2013 Payton lost the lock room because the vets were gone. Possibly because he was gone a year and enough time with the guys that stayed to make them think they way they should. Only high character guys now. They take guys of the draft board for character issues, as they should! Freeney is a way better option, and yes, indeed he now again is a Free Agent according to Wikipedia, though it could still change.
BB
Hey, I’m not advocating it, I’m just saying, the best player available at that point is Hardy. IT’s amazing how many lockerroom cancers learn to cap it for a year to further their own interests, and Hardy certainly seems like a further his own interests kind of guy to me. Frankly, I think I’d be willing to take that chance. The leadership on this team, from Payton to Brees down to the defense is solid, and I think they could keep him under control. Yes, I’d rather have Freeney, because admittedly, a guy like Hardy is a wild card. But every now and again you gotta be willing to take a chance.
MP
So.. You ARE advocating it haha!
Now training camp is over it seems like Tull was pretty good. So that is a nice thing at least. Overall I am fairly confident they will sign a vet and see what he can do. Just to have more competition and experience for rookies at that position. Speaking of veterans; they did sign Harper back. He has limited speed but could be the nickle guy. Even more so, they could use him to blitz often! He has made great plays playing as a LB from the safety position. How do you think he could answer some of the questions we have at DE?
BB
LOL yes, I talked myself into it. Harper … I have to admit I was a tiny bit excited to see him back, but that excitement waned quite a bit. His production last year was bottom third of the league at his position, and this was with him playing behind one of the league’s best defensive lines and right next to Josh Norman. I honestly would not be surprised at all if he’s let go late in camp, Champ Bailey style. I guess it depends on guys like Swann etc and how they do in terms of injury at the position. One thing’s for sure, it’s been the Bermuda Triangle back there of late, and if Harper has anything left, they sure could use it. Anything to add Marijn?
MP
Bermuda Triangle, sounds like a nice name for 3-3-5 lineup with 3 safeties, 2 high and 1 in the box, a.k.a. Roman Harper. I think the guy could do what he is best for at this point, run support and blitzing the gaps that are created by our new offensive DTs. If he makes the team and he is used in the way he should, put me down for 5 sacks this year.
BB
He gets five, the Kraaken gets 12, hell, we might just make the playoffs!
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