New Orleans Saints: Defensive Position-by-Position Breakdown and Analysis

There's a tried and true adage in football that claims defense wins championships.

The New Orleans Saints front office has apparently taken this maxim to heart this offseason, as the team has executed a major roster overhaul on the defensive side of the ball.

New Orleans boasted the NFL's top-ranked offense in 2014, but the team's No. 31-ranked defense played a big hand in the Saints' 7-9 record.

This wasn't lost on general manager Mickey Loomis, who oversaw an extensive housecleaning of the New Orleans defense. While the Saints used free agency and the draft to get both younger and more athletic, improving the unit's physical toughness was also a major point of emphasis.  

Despite the changes, coordinator Rob Ryan will still have a small but proven group of veteran players returning from last season, some of whom played key roles on the defense that ranked fourth in the league in 2013.

Continue reading for a position-by-position rundown of the Saints' defensive personnel for the coming season. Of course, more than a few of these positions are still up for grabs in the coming months.

Defensive Line

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The New Orleans defensive line saw fewer changes than the other position groups in Ryan's unit this offseason.

That hardly means this group isn't looking to improve in 2015, however, as opposing offensive lines had their way with the Saints more often than not last season.

Ryan has implemented a 3-4 alignment as his base defense for the majority of his time in New Orleans, although it's quite common for New Orleans to mix in some four-man fronts.

At nose guard, Brodrick Bunkley will be back for his 10th NFL season. The 31-year-old veteran has experienced his share of success through the years, but it's not unrealistic to think the Saints could do better at this spot.

Behind Bunkley is 360-pound third-year man John Jenkins, whose play dipped last season after a strong showing as a rookie in 2013. If he can keep his weight down, this could be the year in which Jenkins finally overtakes Bunkley as the starter in the middle.

Lawrence Virgil officially rounds out the depth chart at this position, but newly acquired utility lineman Kevin Williams is capable of seeing the field early and often, and it's entirely possible he could end up starting.

After spending 11 years with the Minnesota Vikings, the 34-year-old lent his services to the Seattle Seahawks last season, contributing 30 tackles and three sacks. At 311 pounds, Williams is capable of playing multiple positions in Ryan's hybrid scheme, and nose guard is most certainly one of them.

Coach Sean Payton weighed in on Williams during June minicamp, and he was quoted as follows by Larry Holder on NOLA.com:

"He's someone who's real smart, so he understands football and played a lot of it. We've just got to be smart about how many snaps we're getting him considering the offseason program and where these guys are at."

At one defensive end slot, Cam Jordan is looking to rebound from a disappointing season in which he recorded just 7.5 sacks. The former first-round pick is capable of much more from a pass-rushing standpoint, and he'll attempt to bounce back and deliver for the Saints this coming season.

The other starting end should once again be Akiem Hicks. At 6'5" and 325 pounds, the three-year veteran has the size to play on the inside of a four-man front, and he has the quickness and athleticism to play end in a 3-4 alignment. Like the other members of the New Orleans defensive front, Hicks underperformed last season, and he'll undoubtedly be focused on upping his play in 2015.

The first man off the bench will likely be Williams. As stated earlier, he can substitute in at multiple positions along the line, and his experience is a huge plus as far as depth goes.

There's also soon-to-be third-year man Glenn Foster, who's played in 17 games over the past two seasons. The 285-pound end has totaled eight tackles and three sacks, and he's looking to rebound from an injury-shortened campaign in 2014. 

As for the newcomers, the Saints drafted only one defensive lineman this year, and that was fifth-round selection Tyeler Davison. The former Fresno State Bulldog could prove to be one of the draft's biggest steals, as he boasts a deadly combination of quickness and brute strength.

Davison is a prototypical 3-technique tackle, but it's entirely possible he could get a shot at playing nose guard in New Orleans. Don't be surprised if he finds his way onto the field early on this fall.

Undrafted free-agent acquisitions Tavaris Barnes, Kaleb Eulls, Ashaad Mabry and Bobby Richardson will also look to impress the New Orleans coaching staff in the coming months.

The Saints don't exactly have an abundance of depth along the defensive front, but they do have some versatile linemen who can play multiple positions. If Jordan and Hicks perform up to their potential this season, the New Orleans front line could serve as a tone-setter for a formidable defensive unit.

Outside Linebacker/Edge

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While it's vital that the Saints defense receives high-quality play at the point of attack, the unit must also perform well on the edges in order to establish itself as a truly dominant defense.

The outside linebacker position is one that has been addressed extensively this offseason, and Ryan is looking to generate a fierce pass rush in 2015.

The most prominent player at this spot is New Orleans' 2014 sack leader, Junior Galette. The five-year veteran got to opposing passers 10 times last season, but that number was still a bit of a drop-off from his 2013 sack total of 12.

It must also be noted that Galette has had a troubled offseason in 2015. Given his off-field issues, it's possible that he could face disciplinary action from the NFL. If he's forced to sit out some games, the Saints should be able to atone for his absence, as they now have a rather sizable collection of talent on the edge.

Veteran Parys Haralson is back for his third season as a Saint, and he should begin the season once again as a starter at outside linebacker.

Another name to remember is Anthony Spencer. The 31-year-old longtime Dallas Cowboy signed with New Orleans this offseason, and he provides the Saints with a capable, experienced pass-rusher. He tallied 22 tackles with the Cowboys last season, and his versatility makes him a nice fit for Ryan's hybrid scheme.  

Galette, Haralson and Spencer give New Orleans a trio of seasoned edge defenders, but the young outside 'backers on the roster can't be overlooked, either.

After registering 22 tackles as a rookie, Kasim Edebali heads into his second season looking to garner more playing time. The Hamburg, Germany, native waltzed into camp and earned a roster spot as an undrafted free agent last year, and his two-sack performance against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football confirmed his status as a promising young defender.

Second-round 2015 draft pick Hau'oli Kikaha should see action early in the season as a situational pass-rusher. The former judo champion dropped opposing quarterbacks 19 times for Washington last season, and his game film suggests he has the natural pass-rushing abilities to make an immediate impact this coming season.

Kikaha possesses extraordinary hand strength, and he's also an extremely intense, relentless competitor. If he can improve as a run defender, he could see the field on early downs as well as obvious passing downs.

Second-year man Ronald Powell will have to make his mark early this preseason if he's to avoid getting lost in the shuffle. The 2014 fifth-round pick and former Florida Gator didn't see much action a year ago, but he provides Ryan with yet another athletic defender who can fly off the edge.

Then there's Davis Tull, who was selected in the fifth round of this year's draft. The Chattanooga product turned heads at the 2015 scouting combine, and his game tape is equally impressive, albeit against less than elite collegiate competition.

Inside Linebacker

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Inside linebacker is yet another Saints position group that will sport a different look this coming season.

Gone is starting "Mike" linebacker Curtis Lofton, who tallied close to 400 tackles in his three years spearheading the New Orleans defense. In a salary-cap move, the Saints released Lofton this offseason, and he's since signed on with the Oakland Raiders.

In OTAs, David Hawthorne started at the "Mike" spot with the first-team defense. The seven-year veteran out of TCU played next to Lofton on the inside last season, and having him slide over into Lofton's vacated slot makes sense, at least in the short term.

In the long term, however, the position will likely be taken over by rookie Stephone Anthony, who was the second of the Saints' two first-round picks this year. Tough and physical, Anthony packs quite a punch as a run defender, and his speed and athleticism should come in handy in pass coverage.

Another new addition is Dannell Ellerbe, who was acquired via offseason trade with the Miami Dolphins. The 6'1" 245-pounder excels as a pass defender, and the Saints linebacking corps could certainly stand to improve in this department after getting torched for the majority of the 2014 season.

Also in the mix on the inside will be experienced veteran Ramon Humber. The 27-year-old started six games last season, and with his run-defending abilities, he'll provide this group with some quality depth. 

Meanwhile, journeyman Jerry Franklin will lend his services to the special teams coverage units, while undrafted rookies Markus Pierce-Brewster and Henry Coley will look to showcase their skills in training camp in hopes of grabbing a roster spot.

Cornerback

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The New Orleans defense is peppered with new acquisitions from this offseason, but no other position group has as many fresh faces as the cornerback spot.

After fielding an atrocious pass defense in 2014, it was glaringly evident that the Saints needed to inject some new blood into their secondary this offseason.

The group's biggest splash in free agency this year was Brandon Browner, who earned a Super Bowl ring last season with the New England Patriots. The 6'4" Browner is expected to start on the outside opposite New Orleans native Keenan Lewis, thus giving the Saints two proven corners capable of lining up in press-man coverage.

The nickel position is much more intriguing, however. Multiple cornerbacks have emerged as viable candidates to claim the job, and the matter likely won't be settled until well into the preseason.

Free-agent acquisition Kyle Wilson was the early favorite, but in June minicamp, rookie Delvin Breaux stepped up and wrestled away the position. A former CFL star, the 6'1" Breaux appears to have huge upside, and he could eventually develop into a longtime starter.

Another rookie corner who could be in for a bright future in New Orleans is P.J. Williams. The former Florida State standout was selected in the third round this past May, and he has the physicality and athleticism to see the field early on this season.

Damian Swann, another 2015 draft pick, will look to work his way onto the field this fall, as will 2014 second-round pick Stanley Jean-Baptiste.

Young corners Brian Dixon and Terrence Frederick, both of whom saw extensive action toward the end of last season, are also vying for roster spots and playing time.

Things could get very interesting among the Saints' cornerbacks this preseason, as a host of talented young cover men attempt to separate themselves from the competition.

Safety

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Headlining the Saints defensive backfield in 2015 is three-time Pro Bowler Jairus Byrd. The 28-year-old free safety possesses elite range on the back end, and with his outstanding ball skills, the former Buffalo Bill should make a major impact this season in the New Orleans secondary.

Of course, the same was said about Byrd heading into the 2014 season, but things didn't work out as planned.

After being heavily courted by a multitude of suitors in free agency, he inked a lucrative deal with the Saints last offseason. A knee injury suffered in Week 5 cut his season short, however, and he never settled into his new role as the ball-hawking center fielder in Ryan's aggressive scheme.

Byrd will be back this season, however, and he should provide the Saints pass defense with a top-notch coverage safety.

After turning in an impressive rookie season in 2013, strong safety Kenny Vaccaro will also be looking to bounce back after last year's sophomore slump. The former first-round pick has undeniable playmaking abilities, and with his hard-nosed style of play, he gives the Saints secondary an extra dash of toughness and physicality. 

The top backup at this position will be Rafael Bush. The four-year veteran is a well-rounded defensive back with the ability to fill in at either free or strong safety, and he can also line up in the slot as an extra cover man.

While Bush will be the first safety off the bench, the Saints boast additional quality depth at both safety positions. Twenty-two-year-old Pierre Warren provides New Orleans with range and playmaking abilities at the free spot, while journeyman Jamarca Sanford gives Ryan a hard-hitting thumper who can prowl the box in run support.

The always-physical Vinnie Sunseri gives New Orleans even more depth at the safety position, and he also provides the special teams coverage units with an enthusiastic head-hunter.