Congrats are in order for the Saints and much of their fan base. They have identified the problem, and eliminated him.
The Saints have fired defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs. Finally, the minions can rejoice and sleep easy. Problem solved!
Really? It was obvious late in the 2006 season that the Saints had issues defensively. In the NFC championship game, the Bears, at one point, ran the ball on 10 consecutive plays to score a touchdown. So, what did the Saints do the following April? Draft wide receiver Robert Meachem in the first round. Three of the first four picks in the 2007 draft were offensive players.
Last April, the Saints finally got busy on defense drafting nose tackle Sedrick Ellis and cornerback Tracy Porter with the first two selections. Both may be very good players, but injuries and inexperience limited their production in 2008.
Face it: the Saints don't have a defensive playmaker on the field. Their two big money guys, Charles Grant and Will Smith underperformed in 2008. Did Gary Gibbs give those guys $46 million in guaranteed money? Why wasn't outgoing line coach Ed Orgeron blamed for the failures of the Saints defensive line?
This offseason, Saints fans pointed to Green Bay and Houston firing their defensive coordinators as proof that the Saints needed make such a move. But, Green Bay and Houston have playmakers. The Packers have end Aaron Kampmann, cornerback Rod Woodson, and linebacker AJ Hawk. Houston has end Mario Williams, tackle Amobi Okoye, and cornerback Dunta Robinson.
The Saints have no such players.
When linebacker Jonathan Vilma is your best player on defense, you aren't good enough. Vilma had a fine year, is a solid veteran, and a good tackler. But he is not a difference maker.
I keep hearing that Gibbs' defense was too simple. That the Saints needed to blitz more. Really? Leave the Saints corners in man coverage?
Last year , secondary coach Tom Hayes walked the plank. This year, Gary Gibbs. Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis are running out of scapegoats.
But, in the short term , the Saints fan base rejoices. Gibbs gone, problem solved.