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Bringing back a series of pieces from the past three years, we’re going to check each position group on the New Orleans Saints and discuss how they improve the Saints’ chances of making a run in 2019. On to the final line of defense for the secondary, the safeties!
To view previous parts, see below:
When the New Orleans Saints safeties as a group fell short of expectations in 2018. After a solid rookie campaign in 2017, Marcus Williams didn’t seem to rebound after the Minnesota Miracle. Kurt Coleman, signed from the Carolina Panthers, had the worst season of his career in 2018, with only one turnover in all sixteen regular season games. Vonn Bell played fine in his limited role, but Bell’s snaps were increased as less was asked of Coleman on a week-to-week basis.
Coleman was unceremoniously released after his 2018 season, but both Vonn and Marcus are expected to return in 2019.
As it stands now, that core group of four is slated to return in 2019.
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So here’s why they’re better in 2019:
The biggest reason we can expect the Saints safeties to be better is addition by subtraction. Kurt Coleman is no longer on this team - so yay! Those snaps will now go to Vonn and Marcus, and we can only hope Marcus returns to his rookie ball-hawking self after finally rebounding The Minnesota Miracle.
At the position, the Saints also added Chauncey Gardner-Johnson out of the University of Florida in the 4th Round of the 2019 NFL Draft. CGJ is exactly the versatile type of player the Saints defense needs, as he’s able to play both safety and a physical slot corner. He also has a nose for the football, so hopefully he’s able to bring some of that play-making to the Saints defense.
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson! pic.twitter.com/ux7bJKb1AT
— WeAreDBnation (@WeAreDBNation1) December 29, 2018
Steal for NOLA?
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) April 27, 2019
Florida DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson goes at 105. pic.twitter.com/Hb2WPG9XA2