Saints Defender Explains the Tough Leap from 'Good to Great'

Saints defensive end Carl Granderson broke down the details of how to go from good to great as an edge defender.

NEW ORLEANS — Player development is always a big time focus throughout training camp.  How do rookies grow into their roles?  How do veteran players take the next step?  But there are varying degrees and levels of improvements.  Going from novice to good is one thing.  Usually that leap is easy to see without much of a trained eye.  A player going from looking lost on the field to having command of their role is demonstrable, hard to miss.  But a player going from good to great is a smaller yet more challenging hurdle.

Jan 8, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson (96) reacts to making a tackle against Carolina Panthers running back D'Onta Foreman (33) during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Saints defensive end Carl Granderson explained what it takes to make that leap. "Going from good to great is details," Granderson said.  "Every detail matters.  You've got to stand your gap and focus on the little things that matter.  If you do that from defensive end, defensive tackle, linebackers, corner and if we're all on the same page, that's when we have a great defense."

Details, details, details.  Any painter can put the broad strokes on a canvas to create an interesting collection of colors.  But only a talented few can execute the details to go from interesting to masterpiece.  That is the jump that many NFL players are trying to make over the course of training camp, Granderson included.

The fifth-year defender saw his snap counts boost from anywhere between the teens and thirties up to the forties and fifties by season's end in 2022.  Including finishing the year with three consecutive starts and three sacks in the last four games.  Granderson made the climb to good last year.  In 2023, he looks to be in position to be great with the support of a strong defense around him.

"The difference is doing your job," Granderson said.  "We're going start off by doing the job. Everybody's got a part to do one through eleven.  So everybody's got to be on the same page."