Saints Defense Beginning to Falter

Already anchored down by an anemic offense, the Saints defense has shown some concerning cracks in recent weeks.

The New Orleans Saints have a ton of problems as they head into Week 8. They sit only a game out of first place in the NFC South with a 3-4 record, but have lost four of their last five contests. 

Most of the team's struggles have been on the offensive side. The Saints average only 19 points per game, which believe it or not is still the best average in the division. They are 25th in third down conversions and 28th in red zone percentage. Play-calling, scheme, receiver spacing, in-game adjustments, and overall execution have all been major issues. 

Special teams have struggled as well. Blake Grupe has missed four field goals. Lou Hedley has the worst hang-time of any punter in the league. New Orleans even allowed a successful fake punt in last week's loss to Jacksonville. 

Of all aspects of the Saints team, defense has been by far the best. However, there are also some underlying issues that are growing with each week. 

Run Defense 

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) runs to open space against the New Orleans Saints. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans has shown tremendous improvement from a porous run defense that ranked 24th a year ago. After seven games, a 12th ranked run defense is allowing less than 99 yards per outing.

The Saints have yet to allow a rusher to hit 65 yards against them and have allowed only two runners to have as many as 60 yards. Defensive tackle is where the most noticeable improvements have been, especially with Nathan Shepherd and rookie first-round pick Bryan Bresee. Linebackers Demario Davis and Pete Werner are elite against the run, while DE Cam Jordan remains the league's best run defender on the edge. 

Despite being mostly stout, the run defense has shown cracks in recent weeks. This is especially true against shifty running backs that can get to the edge. Rookie Tyjae Spears had two key runs against them in the season opener while Houston's Devin Singletary and Jacksonville's Travis Etienne had consistent success against New Orleans outside the hashes. 

The Saints have had major problems against mobile quarterbacks. This defense has allowed only four runs of over 20 yards against them. All of them were by quarterbacks. Bryce Young, Jordan Love, Baker Mayfield, and Trevor Lawrence were all able to keep several drives alive against the Saints with their legs.

The run defense has not been a major liability. However, the Saints need to be more disciplined against quicker backs and mobile quarterbacks. This leads to a more concerning issue that's growing. 

Pass Rush

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) passes the ball against the New Orleans Saints. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

New Orleans has just 30 QB hits and 13 sacks, tied for fewest in the NFL. For a team with Cam Jordan, emerging force Carl Granderson at DE, and an improved defensive tackle spot that's unacceptable.

Jordan has 11 pressures, but only one sack so far. Granderson, the team leader with 4.5 sacks and 12 pressures, has been a consistent disruption up front but has also disappeared for stretches. Bresee looks like a potential star, but has been quiet the last two weeks. 

The lack of pass rush has been a particular problem in their four losses. They had just four sacks against Green Bay, Tampa Bay, Houston, and Jacksonville. Moreover, they had a meager six pressures and three QB hits combined against the Texans and Jaguars. 

Poor discipline has allowed quarterbacks to escape pressure and make plays with their legs. The bigger problem is not even making opposing passers feel hurried or uncomfortable.

Love was able to bring the Packers back from a 17-point fourth quarter deficit. Mayfield looked far better than the mediocre player he's been throughout his career. Rookie Stroud was able to get into an early rhythm. A hobbled Lawrence was unbothered throughout the game. 

The lack of consistent pass rush has highlighted another issue in a recent two-pronged New Orleans problem with pass defense. 

Coverage 

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (12) runs after a catch against the New Orleans Saints. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

The Saints have intercepted eight passes, already surpassing their total from all of last year. They've allowed less than 58% completion percentage to opposing quarterbacks and have yet to surrender 260 yards through the air in a game.

So why the concern over a defense that ranks fourth against the pass? Aside from pass rushing inconsistencies are a pile of penalties and frustrating coverage breakdowns from their secondary.

The penalties are just as much a product of ''Goodell's NFL''. Concerning breakdowns from a secondary that should be elite with top-tier CBs Marshon Lattimore, Alontae Taylor, Paulson Adebo and a safety tandem of Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Maye is a different story. 

Jaguars WR Christian Kirk ran away from Mathieu and through the Saints secondary for a 44-yard game-winning score on Thursday. Jacksonville pass catchers Kirk, Evan Engram, Jamal Agnew, and Tim Jones combined to catch 17 of their 22 targets for 188 yards against New Orleans. 

Houston's Nico Collins, Dalton Schultz, and Noah Brown combined for 10 receptions and 158 yards. Tampa Bay's Chris Godwin caught eight balls for 144 yards, but more baffling was that Deven Thompkins, Trey Palmer, and Cade Otton caught nine of 11 targets for 59 yards and two scores.

Not exactly a 'Who's Who' of NFL receivers. An underwhelming group of Green Bay pass catchers also sliced through New Orleans coverage, enabling Love to throw for 104 fourth quarter yards and pick up another 67 on questionable interference penalties. 

New Orleans has arguably the most talented secondary in the league and almost certainly it's best set of cornerbacks. A better pass rush would certainly help, but an elite defensive backfield should not have crucial breakdowns in critical situations, especially to mostly unheralded receivers.

New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson (96) tackles Houston Texans receiver Noah Brown (85). Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY

Again, defense is far from the biggest problem on the 2023 New Orleans Saints. It's a defense that ranks fifth overall, second on third downs, and has held five of seven opponents to 20 points or less.

This unit has played well enough to win most weeks. Unfortunately, their shortcomings are exaggerated by their own offensive ineptitude. With such a bad offense, a usually very good New Orleans defense must play at an elite level to have a chance to win.

The pressure of having to play at an unrealistic level just to have a chance is grueling. Perhaps the cracks are beginning to show on a defensive unit that looks like they could be regressing just a bit. Even a slight falloff would turn an already rough season into an abysmal finish for the Saints.