The Hall of Fame Game will be the first look at new Saints defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Defensive consistency has been an issue for the majority of the Sean Payton era, and Spagnuolo’s arrival is a welcome one that will hopefully bring positive change to the entire unit. The defense will get its first task this year by facing the Arizona Cardinals, a team that possesses perhaps the best all-around wide receiver in the league today.
Saints fans will get a peek on Sunday at what new DC Steve Spagnuolo has in store for 2012.
PASS DEFENSE
The hiring of Spagnuolo in January of this year was a clear indication that the front office wanted to move in a different direction in regards to scheme and philosophy. Gone are the blitz-happy days of Gregg Williams, and with good reason. The high-risk, high-reward tendencies of Williams both showed moments of brilliance (2009 NFC Championship Game) and ineptitude (last year’s Divisional loss to San Francisco).
Spagnuolo’s defensive philosophy can be best seen by watching a replay of Superbowl XLII. The Spagnuolo-led New York Giant defense mercilessly applied pressure to Tom Brady and the New England offense, leading to the eventual defeat of one of the greatest teams ever in NFL history. Throughout the entire game, the Giants were able to apply pressure through the defensive line, and without sending additional blitzers from either the linebacking corps or secondary.
That same philosophy will be instilled into a leaky Saints pass defense, and hopefully with similar results. New Orleans allowed a paltry average of 259.8 yards per game through the air last year; only two other teams fared worse. Moreover, the defense only registered 33 sacks all of last season and forced only 9 interceptions, again ranking near the bottom of the league.
Pressure from the defensive line will be counted upon from DEs Will Smith and Cameron Jordan. Jordan, who had a decent rookie season last year, will need to step up in a large way this season. Will Smith will be out the first four games of the season due to the Bounty suspensions, making Jordan’s production all the more important. Second string defensive ends Turk McBride and Junior Galette will also see a ton of snaps against Arizona, as they rotate in to keep the starters fresh.
To say that the Saints’ defensive back situation is thin would be a bit of an understatement. That depth, or lack-thereof, will be surely tested this week, as starting CBs Patrick Robinson and Jabari Greer will not suit up due to injury. Johnny Patrick and Marquis Johnson will most likely be the starting cornerbacks, with Elbert Mack and Corey White splitting time at the nickel position.
The Cardinals posted the 17th highest ranked passing attack in the NFL last season, averaging 222.9 yards per game. Nonetheless, the team possesses somewhat of a controversy at quarterback heading into training camp this season. Kevin Kolb played only nine games last season, missing time with a bevy of injuries. Backup John Skelton played well in his place, leaving the starting job up for grabs.
The Saints secondary will face a huge task in covering stud WR Larry Fitzgerald, whom many consider to be the best pass catcher in the game. Although Fitzgerald should be the Saints’ main concern, Arizona possesses other talented options at receiver; Michael Floyd, the thirteenth overall pick in the draft this past year, will take some pressure off of the Cardinals’ number one receiver. Early Doucet is turning out to be a very good pro. Even the speedy Andre Roberts has had moments of occasional brilliance.
Only one other team gave up more sacks than the Cardinals in 2011. Arizona allowed 54 sacks to their quarterbacks last season, leading to a disappointing 8-8 record. G Adam Snyder joins the squad this season as a free agent, coming over from the rival 49ers. Snyder should help to provide stability to an offensive line that desperately needs it.
Arizona will try to test the Saints’ pass defense early and often in this one. The vast depth at wide receiver will help the Cardinals make this game competitive. The key for New Orleans will be to apply pressure to the pocket, forcing the quarterback to throw inaccurate passes. If the Saints can do that consistently throughout the game, mission accomplished. A good showing from the Saints’ pass rush will give Spagnuolo and the rest of the defensive coaching staff a great base to build from.
RUN DEFENSE
Stopping the run was one of the largest issues for the Saints defense a year ago. The statistics for the Saints’ run defense from last season are a bit skewed; teams ran the ball the fewest amount of times against New Orleans, but still managed an average of 5 yards per carry. The low amount of carries against the Saints can be correlated to the team’s strong offensive numbers, as opponents abandoned the run in favor of passing the ball, attempting to get back into the game.
Nonetheless, New Orleans must improve the run defense in order to remain competitive in the NFC this season. The 5 yard per carry average hurts the entire defense as a whole by adding a play-action dimension to the opponents passing game. That added offensive dimension stretches the defense even thinner.
Changes to the Saints’ run defense for this season have started with the defensive line. Gone are defensive tackles Shaun Rogers and Aubrayo Franklin. Replacing their spots on the rotation will be up to newcomer Brodrick Bunkley and rookie Akiem Hicks. Bunkley, signed as a free agent from Denver, and Hicks, the Saints’ third round selection this season, will join veteran Sedrick Ellis to try to bring some stability to a sometimes leaky run defense. The very versatile Cameron Jordan, who mainly plays at defensive end, could also see some playing time at defensive tackle.
The Saints’ linebacking corps will also have a very different look heading into this season. Newcomers Curtis Lofton, Chris Chamberlain, and David Hawthorne are all expected to be starters, and should be very impactful in stopping the run. All three players are sure tacklers and know how to get to the ballcarrier cleanly.
Arizona ranked near the bottom of the league last season when it came to running the ball. Even worse, the team enters Sunday’s contest with their running back rotation in shambles. Last year’s main threat, Beanie Wells, is still on the team’s PUP list and will likely be out for the next two weeks. CBS Sports reports that second year player Ryan Williams, who missed all of last year due to a knee injury, will not play against the Saints.
Those injuries leave the Cardinals with a backfield of LaRod Stephens-Howling, Alphonso Smith, Javarris James, and William Powell. Nonetheless, look for the Saints to make a conscious effort to limit the running game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Saints CB Johnny Patrick
With the absence of CB Jabari Greer, who suffered a groin injury that will require surgery, Johnny Patrick will be inserted into the starting lineup on Sunday. He is expected to be the team’s nickel corner option this season, and starting against the Cardinals will give Patrick more seasoning as the regular season approaches.
Saints DE/LB Martez Wilson
Wilson’s transition from linebacker to pass-rushing defensive end will be one of the more fascinating on-field stories this preseason. He will be mostly used in passing and 3rd down situations, but he should be able to have a regular rotational spot along the defensive line. Applying pressure to the quarterback is essential in a Steve Spagnuolo defense, and if Wilson can contribute by doing so, his role will increase substantially in 2012.
Saints LB Curtis Lofton
I am interested to see how Lofton takes control of the defense from a leadership standpoint. His physical abilities are unquestioned – he is arguably the most athletic linebacker that the Saints have had for a while. Still, he is the new kid on the block in the New Orleans locker room. As the middle linebacker, Lofton will be called upon to lead the defense in the huddle and make adjustments as necessary. It remains to be seen how the defensive starters from last year will react to Lofton’s leadership style. He isn’t as experienced as the departed Vilma, and the transition for the defense might take a little longer than expected. Thankfully, the Saints have an extra preseason game to work out any kinks before the beginning of the regular season.
