Saints Defense Will Improve With Addition Of Pro Bowl Tight End Jeremy Shockey

I spent all of last night and this morning pondering the trade of Jeremy Shockey to the Saints. I for one, am ecstatic. I, like many wanted the trade to happen back during the draft, and when it did not, I was a bit upset.

But low and behold, Christmas has come early and Shockey is now a Saint.

Some say his attitude will be a distraction, I don’t think it will be. Shockey has great respect for the man that gave him his best year, and helped him become rookie of the year.

He plays with passion, and wears his emotions on his sleeve; some people take offense to that type of personality. I know this first hand.

Yes, some of his comments in the past may have been a bit harsh, and bad timing, but no one is perfect.

With the injury last year, I believe he is both humbled, and will also play with a chip on his shoulder.

I also know first hand, that a fresh start is sometimes needed. With Drew Brees' cool leadership style, a hard nosed edge in the huddle will provide a boost when the Saints need it the most.

I think he will work out fine.

So with that, let’s discuss how he will improve the Saints defense this year.

It’s not often that a offensive player can improve a defense, but Jeremy Shockey will be able to pull it off.

The Saints have had one of the best offensives the last 2 years, but there were times in 2007, that they were not able to sustain long drives, and became predictable. This left the defense with bad field position, and little rest in between series.

Shockey will make a defense scheme differently. Now not only do they have to worry about were Bush lines up, they have to worry about Shockey, and this in turn will free up Colston from double coverage.

The running game will also open up. This will equate to longer sustained drives, time off the clock, and more scoring. Just what a defense needs. Defense wins championships, just ask the Giants.

But a great offense can make a mediocre defense better also. The more time they have to rest, making a team go the length of the field to score, and having the cushion to give up a touchdown, will pay dividends in the end.

If you look back on the 2007 season, what would 10 extra points per game have done for their record? The Saints would have went 10-6 again, and who knows how the playoffs would have went?

The stories would have been about how the Saints pulled it out in the end, after a bad start.

Shockey is going to be the icing on the cake, to an already sweet offense, and we will see the Saints defense improve greatly in 2008.