Saints Clean House, Now What

Okay, we’ve cleaned house. Vitt and Johnson gone along with their assistants, and McMahon is outta here as well. We are all rejoicing and most have been hollering for these heads to roll for a couple of years at least. I’m not rejoicing at anyone being fired by any means. Don’t worry about these guys though. Most have earned enough with the Saints that they wouldn’t have to work again if they didn’t want too. Thanks for the SBXLIV memories, but it was plainly time to look to the future.

Now the real question is who do they bring in. I’ll give a few candidates that come to my mind and you can give who you’d like to see in the comments.

First I’m going to look to the Rams staff who were all recently released along with Jeff Fisher. Forget G-Dub of course, but the Rams had a decent defense. First candidate is defensive line coach Mike Waufle. Waufle served as defensive line coach for the Oakland Raiders from 1998 to 2003, and again from 2010 to 2011. Waufle was a member of the 2007 New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. He was the Giants' defensive line coach from 2004 to 2009.

College career: Defensive line coach for Alfred 1979, Utah State, 1980 and 1983 and 1984 (Coached O-line in 1982), Fresno State 1985–1988, UCLA 1989, Oregon State 1990–1991, and California State 1992–1997.

I’m also thinking about their linebackers coach, Frank Bush, who has 2 SB rings with the Denver Broncos. Also must point out he was fired by the 2010 Texans, then DC, who finished with the 3rd worst defense. As a linebackers coach he has a pretty long resume. Cardinals 2004–2006, Texans 2007-2009, Titans 2011–2012, and the Rams, 2013-2016. Played for and was a scout and coach for the Oilers as well.

I guess I need to mention Mike Singletary. While a terrible HC Mike was good as a linebackers coach. Just don’t see this as a good fit, with his temperament and Sean Payton’s.

Now for poaching some of the leagues top defense’ staffs we could look to the top five, Patriots, Giants, Seahawks, Broncos, or Cowboys, but unless we are willing to spend major dollars, not many would be tempted to come to New Orleans.

A former Patriot we could consider would be Mike Vrabel. After retiring from the NFL in 2011, Vabrel became linebacker coach at Ohio State in 2011. He then coached the D-line from 2012-2013, before joining the Texans in 2014 as linebacker coach. We’d have to wait until the Texans are eliminated of course, but we need to get this right, so no hurry.

Now don’t shoot this poor old Cajun, but another whose temperament would clash with Sean’s would be our former HC, Jim Haslett. Haslett has a lot of experience coaching linebackers both in college and the NFL. Also has HC and DC experience. Just keep him away from our offense. Jim is currently linebackers coach for the Bengals. While the Bengals had a tough year offensively, they still had a number 8 defense for 2016.

Last I’ll mention is Bob Sanders of the Cardinals. The Cards defense ranked at the bottom of the above average, and has many years experience coaching linebackers both in college and the NFL. Sanders was also the Packers DC from 2006-2008. He also has experience coaching defensive ends.

Middle of the pack defenses were sported by the Buccaneers, Bills, Titan, and Dolphins. Staff from these could be looked at as well.

There are probably some interesting coaches we could bring up from the college ranks as well. If you know any bring them up in the comments as well.