One of the few complaints we’ve had about the New Orleans Saints’ defense in recent years is their over-reliance on oversized defensive ends like Cameron Jordan, Marcus Davenport and Tanoh Kpassagnon — and their decision to close in on guys like Payton Turner and Carl Granderson ask to massage into the 280s after he turns pro. The Saints lacked an element of speed up front that caused their pass rush production to run hot and cold. When they face quarterbacks who stay in the pocket and take their time surveying the field, they can come home with power.
But when you play against the league’s young mobile quarterbacks and faster processors, New Orleans’ defensive ends haven’t done much. The team even drafted college speed rushers like Trey Hendrickson and Zack Baun, but it took years for either of them to have real chances in games. Baun plays more snaps on special teams than defense most weeks, and when he’s out there it’s his job to back off at the linebacker instead of rushing into the field.
But that could change in 2023. Defensive coach Ryan Nielsen often spoke about his penchant for tough ends, but he left for the job as the Atlanta Falcons’ defensive coordinator. And Davenport, a controversial draft pick who has modeled the grievances with this style of play, also has a $13 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings.
Enter Todd Grantham. The former Florida Gators defensive coordinator is replacing Nielsen as the group’s position coach. In four years of the Gators defense, his defensive ends have been listed at average weights of 254, 252, 260, and 257 pounds. Last season, the Saints defensive ends averaged a list weight of 274 pounds, though they both said their game weight was closer to 285. Either way, that’s a key difference.
However, it’s not as if Dennis Allen has favored these oversized edge rushers in the past. He was the Denver Broncos’ defensive coordinator in 2011 when they drafted 2nd overall Von Miller – who weighed just 246 pounds at the annual NFL Scouting Combine. A few years later, Allen was the Raiders’ head coach when they picked Khalil Mack 5th overall after weighing 251 pounds. Allen has shown us that he understands the value of these undersized speed rushers and is willing to invest significant resources in them.
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Maybe he goes back to that without Nielsen pushing for bigger players up front. Or maybe not. It could be that his defensive philosophy has changed in the last ten years and he wants to stick to that plan. However, Grantham’s attitude suggests otherwise.
If so, the Saints could be looking to free one of Grantham’s former players. The Los Angeles Rams removed Leonard Floyd as a salary cap victim last week, and he enjoyed a productive season in Grantham’s 2013 Georgia Bulldogs defense with 6.5 sacks (Grantham was his coordinator and positional coach). Floyd is now listed at 240 pounds but usually plays closer to 244, and he’s been very effective no matter the number: He’s consistently performed well in running defense while he’s gone 54, 73 and 55 with LA For Context over the past three years Pressing quarterbacks, Jordan led the Saints with just 37 presses last season, according to the Pro Football Focus chart.
Bringing Floyd up front would be a radical move for the Saints, but it kind of makes sense if we’re on the right track here. They have a manager who knows him well and Allen has used players like him in the past. Signing him wouldn’t jeopardize a lucrative 2024 draft pick either, since his last team released him from his contract. You’d think Payton Turner is ready to take the next step and start his third season, but he’s a total unknown player and neither Granderson nor Kpassagnon should be asked to start 17 games. But rotating each of them into the lineup with Jordan and Floyd, 30, could bring out the best in everyone. If the Saints change their priorities on the defensive end, Floyd could make more sense than other free-agent pass rushers on the market. It could also lead them to a surprise draft pick like Georgia Edge rusher Nolan Smith did in April.
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Story originally appeared on Saints Wire
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