Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.Gregg Williams hasn't informed a free agent decision for New Orleans yet, hasn't hand-picked the inevitable defensive playmaker the Saints choose with their 14th-overall selection this year, hasn't installed a single scheme in a minicamp. Yet Williams' reputation has preceded him to the Crescent City, and his hiring as defensive coordinator is already considered one of the most important moves in team history.
After almost two decades of guaranteed defensive putridity, the last three of which have revolved around Gary Gibbs' lack of talent identification and bland scheming, the idea of Williams and his history of intelligent, hard-working, active, complex defenses coming to the Superdome is music to the ears. It also might finally push the Saints over the top.
Since agreeing to become the Saints' new defensive coordinator, Williams has talked about the excitement of being able to lead the unit opposite of Sean Payton's and Drew Brees' weekly fireworks show. After all, for a guy like Williams, who has coached alongside of pedestrian offenses in Washington and Jacksonville recently, having an offense that can get a lead quickly has to be liberating. It allows Williams to push his defense to maximum aggressiveness.
Moreover, Williams' fire and passion -- mirroring Payton in those traits -- should go a long way in motivating the team's talented but oft-uninspired defensive ends, Will Smith and Charles Grant. If he can find a way to maximize their potential, something Gibbs failed to do, it would be helpful since, you know, those guys are making a ridiculous $130 million between them.
The bottom line is that if Williams can push his unit from "slightly talented but awful" to "moderately talented and average," the Saints are in the playoffs this year. And with their offense, who knows where that can lead.
Free Agents: Marvin Mitchell (ERFA), Jonathan Vilma (UFA), Troy Evans (UFA), Aaron Glenn (UFA), Michael Lehan (UFA), Leigh Torrence (RFA -- tendered), Chris Reis (ERFA), Josh Bullocks (UFA), Garrett Hartley (ERFA), Martin Gramatica (UFA), Joey Harrington (UFA), Aaron Stecker (UFA), Devery Henderson (UFA), Mark Campbell (UFA), Jon Stinchcomb (UFA), Jahri Evans (RFA -- tendered), Lance Moore (RFA -- tendered), Zach Strief (RFA), Antwan Lake (UFA), Matt Lehr (UFA), James Reed (UFA), Courtney Roby (RFA), Montavious Stanley (RFA)
Draft Picks: 1 (14), 4 (112), 4 (114), 7 (205)
Needs
1. Free Safety. While many have found it fun to bash Fred Thomas and Jason David for their cornerback play of recent years (I'm one of the many), the truth is that Josh Bullocks and Kevin Kaesviharn, who have shared the starting free safety job for the last two seasons, have been horrendous. Both take terrible angles to the ball, both blow assignments, both bite on moves and get caught on the big play.
Roman Harper is serviceable as a strong safety, if he has someone who excels in coverage next to him, and he hasn't had that. A playmaking free safety will boost his performance and ensure the corners have a security blanket over the top. Rumor heavily links the Saints to Darren Sharper as soon as free agency arrives. He's an immediate improvement (if not the player he once was), but if they sign him the Saints will need to address the long-term future of the position early in the draft as well.
2. Outside Linebacker. Vilma was everything we thought he'd be for the Saints in 2008, but he needs better help next to him (assuming the team re-signs him, which is pretty much a guarantee at this point). Scott Fujita (strongside) and Scott Shanle (weakside) are workmanlike but unspectacular. Shanle, particularly, doesn't have the speed to cover fast tight ends or backs and be successful in rushing the passer. The team doesn't consider this as big of a need as I do, so I don't expect them to make any significant changes to either spot, but it needs addressing.
3. Cornerback. Adding Randall Gay and Tracy Porter last offseason went a long way in fixing this group, and it's no longer the albatross it was a year or two ago, but those two are not enough, especially with Mike McKenzie aging and coming off of his second serious knee injury in two seasons.
Still, Gay, Porter and McKenzie (assuming he's back at full health as expected), make a nice top-three, so the Saints don't need to break the bank bringing in one of the bigger free agents on the market. I expect that they'll add a young, cheaper corner like Ron Bartell, Domonique Foxworth, or Jabari Greer, and draft either Vontae Davis, Malcolm Jenkins or D.J. Moore with their first-round pick.
