New Orleans Saints 2009 Expectations: Defense Is The Key

One of those Buddhist magazines- the Shambhala Sun - says cease expecting and you have all things.

With all due respect to my Buddhist colleagues, my guess is that if a Buddhist takes ownership of an NFL franchise, his viewpoint will change and that his expectation level will be as high or higher than all the other owners in the league.

In all probability, Tom Benson and Sean Payton probably have not read the article on expectations in the Shambhala Sun. I doubt it would change their perspective on the subject.

"The NFL is an expectations league." "You are your record." "You're paid on results and not good intentions." Blah, blah, blah.

Suffice to say, expectations are high for new New Orleans Saints Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams. Benson felt Williams' price tag was pretty steep for an assistant coach. Payton offered to sacrifice some salary to snag the rockstar coordinator.

My guess is that it was the right move and in December it will be regarded as a stroke of genius as the Saints make a deep playoff run.

We can talk for days about Brees and Bush, and Shockey and Colston, and the high-octane offense but it all comes back to the fact that two years of Brees' prime have been wasted as a result of a horrific Saints defense. A defense that can not make a play on third down. Always putting its offense behind the proverbial eight ball.

"Our time is now with Brees," said Payton on Draft Day.

Brees is one of the game's elite quarterbacks- 5000 yards passing last year. He has led an offense that has ranked at the top of the NFL two of the past three years. Nevertheless, Brees is not getting any younger.

How much longer can he maintain his high level of play?

"You never know how many chances you have left. Eventually, you run out of next years," said Brees.

And, so, enter Gregg Williams, a man who learned his craft from Buddy Ryan. Williams assembled a Super Bowl defense at Tennessee. A top three defense in Washington. A top 10 defense in Buffalo.

He has attitude. You piss him off and you may find yourself playing defense in Detroit.

Williams will implement a variation of the "46" defense in New Orleans- a scheme that requires extreme pressure from the defensive ends.

Will Smith and Charles Grant are the incumbents at DE. Smith dropped to a career low in sacks in 2008 while battling a  sports hernia. At full-strength, he is one of the league's best. Grant is less physically gifted but he is a skilled pass rusher. If Grant stumbles, Williams will not hesitate to turn to speedy Bobby McCray.

Last year's first-round pick Sedrick Ellis, a former USC star, is one of the game's rising stars and should continue to excel under the aggressive Williams.

Jonathan Vilma, an acquisition from the Jets last year, did not disappoint, leading the team in the tackles. Aggression in spades. Slicing through defenders to blow up ball-carriers. Vilma and Williams should get along just fine. Both of them have a nasty streak.

First-round pick Malcolm Jenkins, Tracy Porter, Randall Gay and Jabari Greer are the top four corners. Porter and Greer are fast Jenkins and Gay are physical. With the departure of Mike McKenzie, all four starting positions are up for grabs. Nevertheless, expect all of them to receive significant playing time. The "46" requires cornerbacks who can cover which means Jason David's days are numbered in New Orleans.

The Saints biggest problem are last year was safety. Look for Roman Harper to start at SS. In the "46", the strong safety plays far up with the option of blitzing or dropping off into coverage. Harper has shown flashes of brilliance but he is inconsistent and may be one of the veterans who benefits most from the presence of Williams.

Veteran Darren Sharper is the new free safety. He is long in the tooth but a definite upgrade over the departed Josh Bullocks and Kevin Kaesviharn. Sharper will be challenged by rookie Chip Vaughn and Usama Young, a third-year player converted from safety. Veteran Pierson Prioleau will also be in the mix.

Realistic expectations? In a defense where last-to-first has become an annual tradition, anything is possible. My guess is that Gregg Williams will change the defensive culture just enough to pave the way for a deep Saints playoff run in 2009.