With the 2013 hiring cycle nearing a conclusion, the Saints are just getting started in their search for a new defensive coordinator.
But coach Sean Payton isn’t concerned about that. He says that the team will take its time in finding someone to run its new 3-4 defense.
“This one’s different because of the timing and because of the uniqueness of the situation. There’s not any one candidate in mind,” Payton tells Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “I know it appears to people that it’s late in the process. But I don’t think it is. We’ll be fairly patient, take our time in this decision. Obviously, it’s going to involve philosophically a change, as well.
“We’re going to want to be deliberate, look at our league closely. And I wouldn’t discount looking at the college game as well.”
Payton explained that the success of the 3-4 system has drawn him to it.
“For me and Mickey [Loomis] as well, some studies we’ve done and just seeing some of these teams weekly and the two teams playing in the Super Bowl, just having to attack it. It presents issues in running game, presents protection issues. I just know coaching on offense what it does to you . . . really from my own experience, when we played against a 3-4 teams a handful of teams.”
Still, Payton didn’t get to where he is without having a good plan. And there’s no reason to expose that plan publicly now, especially with teams like the Eagles still searching for a coordinator. Eventually, the Saints will make a hire -- and it’ll likely be the guy they wanted all along.