The Saints have landed their man. New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been hired to "fix" a unit that has played poorly the last two seasons.
If he doesn't, head coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis will be on the clock.
Last off season, the team fired personnel chief Rick Mueller. This month, defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs got the boot. If WIlliams can't master a defensive turnaround, Payton and Loomis should be next in line.
There's two schools on Williams. One: he's an outstanding coach with an attacking scheme that will spell immediate improvement. Williams has a ton of experience. And, he didn't come cheaply. In Washington, he was signed to a three year , $8 million dollar deal to coordinate the Skins defense.
School two is this: With better players at Jacksonville than the Saints in '08, the Jaguars were actually ranked one spot lower than the Saints in pass defense. The Saints were 23rd, the Jaguars 24th. In 2006, the Redskins finished 31st in the NFL in defense. Greg Blache then took over the Washington defense. Said Blache of the transition, "We will have fewer packages because this is about the players. This is not about building the perfect castle, of whatever."
Williams inherits a defensive roster with lots of money tied up , up front (Charles Grant, Sedrick Ellis, and Will Smith) that has been unable to get consistent pressure up front. The Saints linebackers are as a group, adequate. The secondary is poor.
The Saints don't appear to be big players this year in free agency, they have only four draft picks (1, two 4's, and 7) . And, the head coach loves to throw the football, which keeps the defense on the field longer.
Let's hope Gregg Williams has the answers. If he does, the Saints can make the playoffs. If he doesn't , then it is time to hold the head coach and general manager accountable.
Ed Daniels