CSC All-Time Saints Team Nominations: Defensive Tackle No. 1

maybe not a fiercely talented individual, but an important part of the Saints’ best front four ever: the 2000 D-line. I kinda wish they could be elected like the Dome Patrol was, but they definitely all deserve to be nominated.

Derland Moore – One of the top two or three Saints defensive players of the 1970s. Played from 1973-1985. His 171 career games ties Wayne Martin for the most ever played by a Saints defensive player. Played all but one game of his career with the Saints and was one of the first seven players elected into the Saints Hall of Fame.

Norman Hand – One of Randy Mueller’s first moves as a Saints GM was signing the “Big Wiggle” to an UFA contract. Hand played three seasons for the Saints — just as long as he played anywhere else — and was an integral part of the 2000 defense that helped earn the team their first ever playoff victory. He recorded 9 sacks and a forced fumble during his tenure.

Grady Jackson – Teamed with Hand to form the “Big Lunch Bunch” in 2002, undoubtedly one of the heaviest interior defensive lines in the history of professional football. Jackson was only with the Saints 1 1/2 years, yet still managed to rack up just as many sacks as Hand (9) in half the time. He also forced a fumble and recovered three as a Saints. Currently a Detroit Lion, Jackson (36) remains one of the preeminent run stuffing DTs in the NFL. He can also chomp the F out of a hamburger.

Earl Leggett – Unsung member of the Chicago Bears “Monsters of the Midway” during the late 1950s and throughout most of the 1960s. Played alongside former Bear teammate Doug Atkins as a Saint in 1967 and 1968, before finally hanging ’em up.

Robert Goff – Starting NT through much of the 1990 playoff season. Played six seasons with the Saints during the Mora glory years, albeit primarily as a backup (think Willie Whitehead). Versatile athlete who contributed as a defensive tackle and end in both a 3-4 and 4-3 alignment. His nickname was “Pig”, which should be enough to earn a nomination in and of itself.

Les Miller – Starting NT through much of the 1993 playoff season. Primarily a backup as well, but a key contributor in that capacity. No cool nickname, but he’s one of the few Saints players to ever wear #69. Think Loomis could work a quick Jason David-for-Jared Allen swap to diminish that distinction? Probably not.

Also, Tony EllioTT has two T’s in his surname.
El-e-yuTT … T.E. phone hoooome!! points to Superdome gondola.

for information on this beloved Saints personality, click here

and Dave Rowe are two other DTs that at least stand out as notable. Price played his entire career with the Saints (eight seasons). Rowe was one of our first draft picks ever, playing 12 seasons total for several NFL teams. He’s also been a long time color commentator for SEC football.

Jonathan Sullivan is also notable, primarily for the two squandered first round picks Mickey Loomis slipped Arizona to land him. Kind of diminishes the luster of that Marques Colston selection, eh Mick? Oh yeah, you’re an executive gem. And to think I pulled for the Dolphins the entire season prior, just in hopes that Ricky Williams would gain enough yards to land us that extra first rounder.