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As we enter into the final weeks of the 2013 off-season and inch closer to the start of training camp, we're examining this year's Saints roster to see if the front office's hard work in free agency and the draft has paid off. So we're going position by position to determine whether the team has improved in 2013 compared to last year.
2012 vs. 2013: Did The Saints Improve?
We continue our series with the safety position. Here's a look at last year's Saints roster and their current roster as it stands right now.
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2012
Malcolm Jenkins, Roman Harper, Isa Abdul-Quddus, Rafael Bush
2013
Malcolm Jenkins, Roman Harper, Kenny Vaccaro, Jim Leonhard, Isa Abdul-Quddus, Rafael Bush, Jerico Nelson
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Nobody has left and everyone from last year's crop has returned this season with a couple of notable additions. The Saints used their 2013 first round draft pick on Kenny Vaccaro, arguably the best safety available this year, so the they had damn well better be improved. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan also brought in veteran Jim Leonhard, a Ryan family favorite who played for Rex in NY and Baltimore. It will be tough for Bush and Nelson to crack the roster this year but all the better for the Saints defense if they outplay expectations.
The Edge: 2013