Overview
- Head Coach: Sean Payton
- Defensive Coordinator: Rob Ryan
- Defensive Back Coach: Wesley McGriff
- Base Defense Scheme: 3-4 (did switch labels to 4-3 according to ESPN)
- Transactions: Signed CB Brandon Browner and Delvin Breaux
- Draft Picks: CB P.J. Williams and Damian Swann
Projected Starters
| CornerBack # 1: | Keenan Lewis (inj)/Delvin Breaux | |
| CornerBack # 2: | Brandon Browner | |
| Strong Safety : | Kenny Vaccaro | |
| Free Safety : | Jairus Byrd | |
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The Numbers
Total Fantasy Points Allowed to WR: 398.40 Average Fantasy Points Per game against to WR: 24.90 Total Receiving Touchdowns Allowed: 20 Total Receiving Yards Allowed:2,748 Average Receiving yards per game against: 171.75
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Strengths
In what was a surprise to most the Saints decided to bring back Rob Ryan to be defensive coordinator again in 2015. Reports had indicated that him and Head coach Sean Payton did not see eye to eye. Rob Ryan has been known to run an aggressive, complicated 3-4 defense so it comes as somewhat of a surprise that ESPN is reporting the Saints defense has switched labels from a 3-4 to a 4-3. It probably is not a big deal but more then anything it could show that Sean Payton is looking to take a little more control of the defense in 2015 and could be pressuring Rob to switch up his base scheme and make things a lot less complicated starting out. Not a lot of positives are meeting Rob Ryan in his secondary to start 2015. Jairus Byrd (starting free safety) was supposed to be a key signing for this secondary in 2014 but after 4 games he was placed on injured reserve with a torn meniscus. If he can return to his 2013 and earlier days he could be the piece this defense needs to hold the secondary together. Once he went down with injury last year all hell broke lose so his return is very anticipated in New Orleans.
Weaknesses
Kenny Vaccaro has shown flashes of playmaking ability and reports out of Saints camp are that the simplified schemes being used are to his benefit. He typically moves from strong safety over to the slot corner position in nickel packages. His 2014 was disastrous in most ways but if he can rebound he could be a potential brightspot in this secondary.
#Saints have lost top CB Keenan Lewis to hip surgery & third-round CB PJ Williams to IR in last 48 hrs. FS Jairus Byrd may open year on PUP.
— Evan Silva (@evansilva) September 2, 2015
And the hits just continue to come to the Saints secondary. Keenan Lewis was penciled in as the starting corner but will now miss the first 4-6 weeks of the season. He had a very rocky 2014 season but was much better then what we should expect from Delvin Breaux. He is a former Canadian Football League player who has potential to handle slot duties on Nickel and Dime packages but is probably not comfortable starting on the outside right away. Still with the injury to Keenan Lewis he will be asked to do so. This is definitely a matchup to exploit early on in DFS action. The Saints splashy move this offseason was signing Brandon Browner and have him start opposite Keenan Lewis. Browner was a disappointment in New England last year and his best days of football could very well be behind him. He is a big physical corner but gets flagged for P.I. way more then he makes any noteworthy plays in the secondary. His use of his body does not bode well in todays NFL game.
Overall Outlook
The injuries just continue to mount in this Saints Backfield. Rafael Bush was placed on IR earlier this week. This is a secondary that is definitely worth targeting opposing receivers against especially with the loss of Keenan Lewis. Anyone that is getting consistent matchups with Brandon Browner in space will be a receiver that is worth taking a close look at each week of the DFS NFL season. It is looking like any and all receiving options against this secondary are in play until we see some indication that Ryan has improved this unit dramatically or we have Keenan Lewis return from injury.
