Why 0-4 Saints Need a Complete Defensive Overhaul

Drew Brees can't do it himself. 

OK, Brees hasn't been masterful in all four of the New Orleans Saints outings to start the year, but the defense, well, it's been downright awful and has severely hindered Brees' bunch en route to a stunning 0-4 record. 

Actually, Brees has down enough for his team to win. 

He went for 339 with three touchdown tosses against the Washington Redskins in Week 1. His defense allowed 459 total yards to Robert Griffin III in defeat. 

The next week, Brees threw a costly interception inside his own 10-yard line, but did his defense help out? 

Hardly. 

They surrendered 219 yards on the ground to Cam Newton's Carolina Panthers. 

Against the winless Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3, Brees went for 240 yards and three touchdowns. New Orleans' defense allowed 510 total yards and 273 yards rushing in the loss. 

Heading into Week 4's showdown with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, only the Tennessee Titans had allowed more average yards per drive and points per game than the Saints. 

It is time. For a defensive overhaul. 

The only problem is, that may not be possible this season. The collection of personnel is so weak from defensive tackle to safety. 

Yes, Tracy Porter and Jon Vilma are missed.

Up front, the defensive line of Cameron Jordan, Broderick Bunkley, Sedrick Ellis and the veteran Will Smith is clearly getting mauled at the point of attack against the run. As a team, the Saints have only generated six sacks in four games. Opposing signal-callers have averaged over a 101 QB rating against New Orleans. 

Yikes. 

The way the front seven has been dominated is the key to the defensive woes. 

No semblance of a pass rush and a feeble push against the run will doom any team, regardless of who's playing quarterback.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo simply doesn't have the players in the trenches like he did when he coached the likes of Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora with the New York Giants. 

He needs to make significant schematic changes—quickly—if the Saints and their elite quarterback have any shot to even be in playoff consideration at any point of this season.  

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