The defense could be on the edge of something big.

[CRA]

The potential is there, but not under McDerp. Even with Rivera helping out they need a stellar DC and we will have a top notch D.

McDerp basically is playing w/ 2 DEs and a LB corp of late.....the rest is poo.

McDerp is a young DC. How is what he doing not impressive?

[jarhead]

If we can slow Brees down and keep him off the field we have a chance.We will need to have some sustained drives cut some time off the clock and score.

[iamhubby1]

The thing that have me the biggest chubby wasnt our stellar DE's, but Luke hitting McFadden at the LOS, standing him up, then knocking his ass back a few yards. McFadden runs through shitty tackles often, but Luke must have wrapped him up 6-7 times and didnt ever even let him fall forward a couple of feet. It was always hit, wrap up, stop, move backwards.

Or the hit where McFadden took two or three steps sideways like a drunken sailor before falling on his butt?

He really is the real deal at Mike.

[pantherclaw]

I like how the majority say the saints defense doesn't scare them.

With our patch work oline, every defense can have big plays against us.

Love our defense

[Frizzy350]

The thing that have me the biggest chubby wasnt our stellar DE's, but Luke hitting McFadden at the LOS, standing him up, then knocking his ass back a few yards. McFadden runs through shitty tackles often, but Luke must have wrapped him up 6-7 times and didnt ever even let him fall forward a couple of feet. It was always hit, wrap up, stop, move backwards.

Luke has by far some of the best form tackling i've ever seen. Even with a full head of steam he doesn't look for the flashy dramatic hits but instead wraps up. Sure it LOOKS like he isn't leveling guys like other high profile LBs/safeties but he is absolutely lighting guys up.

Remember the second game against ATL where Roddy caught a pass that looked like an easy catch and run into the endzone and luke comes flying over to make the stop and injuring Roddy? Watch that play in slow-mo, at first it looks like Luke didn't hit him that hard but when you see Roddy's body hit the dirt and the jolt that shot through his neck and head you can see the punishment he delivers.

[panthers55]

By early what do you mean?

Early in the week?

Early 2 years deep into the Rivera/McDermott era?

Just curious.

Early as in the development of the players into a cohesive unit using the players who are currently on the field. I don't think we can assume that heavy cap guys like Beason or Gamble are guaranteed to be back with a new GM coming on board. I think that a number of the recent additions to the secondary and the defensive line are likely to stay unless we upgrade significantly. Otherwise they are playing well given they were recent cheap pickups and practice squad guys.

As far as the scheme with Rivera and McDermott, it has taken a while to get things together. Given the 35 guys on the IR list over the past 2 seasons and the difficulty keeping the same guys on the field for several game sin a row, that is not surprising. The defense is also considered a high accountability defense where everyone has to be disciplined and stay within their roles on each play. Frankly Kuechly and Davis have been major additions this year which have really helped the defense immensely.