While the Saints’ offense doesn’t seem to have the same sizzle that is displayed last year, the more glaring problem is the defense.
The switch from Gregg Williams to Steve Spagnuolo coupled with personnel deficiencies that have become more and more troubling have kept the Saints from getting to the quarterback.
Through four games, the team has six total sacks.
“Yeah, that bothers me,” interim-interim coach Aaron Kromer said, via Nakia Hogan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “That bothers the defense, mostly. Coach Spagnuolo is working on it with [defensive line] coach [Bill] Johnson. They’re working at pass rush and how to get there with a blitz, how to get there with a four-man rush and how to get there and contain them with a three-man rush. They’re definitely on it.”
They need to get on it, because the Saints rank last in yards allowed.
“It doesn’t matter where you are or what players you have or what scheme you run,” Spagnuolo said. “Offenses are pretty good and affecting the quarterback is the thing you have to do whether you do it with four or three [players]. I believe in just mixing it up. We have to find a way to mix it better and find a way to win a couple of these one-on-one matches.”
The last time Spagnuolo was a first-year defensive coordinator, it took a while to get things rolling, with the Giants allowing 80 points in their first two games. In New York, however, Spagnuolo had players with the talent to win those one-on-one matches.
In New Orleans, he simply doesn’t.
