LET THE BODIES HIT THE FLOOR: Saints Defense Has Its Swagger Back

The New Orleans Saints have never been a team that looks back with regret.

There’s been a few players who have been let go that made the fans cringe but, you’ve never heard the Saints publicly regret the loss of a player. That’s because this team at it’s core can only look forward.

That’s not some homer talking about his team being the greatest, it’s the truth.

The core of the Saints season rests in the heart (and the arm) of Drew Brees and the mind of Sean Payton.

Brees and Payton know now more than ever, that yesterday’s players won’t win tomorrow’s game.

It’s in that mindset which the 2015 New Orleans Saints are looking forward — and not looking back.

The Saints have entered training camp and from the sounds of it, it’s not for the faint of heart. Sean Payton has expressed pleasure in how the intensity has been up since they showed up.

It’s no surprise that these Saints come into training camp with a MASSIVE chip on their shoulders.

Aug 2, 2015; White Sulphur Springs, WV, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton during training camp at The Greenbrier. Mandatory Credit: Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports

Last year, they were projected to represent the pathetic NFC South in the playoffs. Instead of a strong showing, the Saints found ways to lose and crawled across the finish line with a 7-9 record.

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Instead of being 10-6 or even 9-7, the Saints were flat, uninspired and at times reminiscent of a team from an Era long ago that involved wearing grocery bags as a disguise, along with a never-ending string of high first round draft picks.

I assure you, that feeling had time to settle uneasily in the minds of the Saints players and coaches.

The 2015 Saints have shown something in camp so far that was missing last year: fire and desire.

Take a look at Akiem Hicks, he’s slimmed down and has been a man possessed since he showed up.

Hicks is coming off a season where his sack total ( 2.0 in 2014) equaled less than half of the year before. Now, with Junior Galette and his antics gone, the road is clear for Hicks to make some noise. You better believe Hicks is looking to make a huge splash this year. Hicks is entering the last year of a 4 year contract with the Saints.  Contract talk aside, Akiem Hicks is looking to revive a career that was beginning to head down the right track before last year’s debacle. 

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Hicks is meaner, leaner and looking to show everyone that Junior Galette was exactly what his name implies: ‘junior’. And it’s not just Hicks —

everyone

is looking to reignite the fire that was the end of the 2013 season. 3rd year safety

is a prime example of someone who is on fire inside.

May 29, 2014; Metairie, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro (32) during organized team activities at the New Orleans Saints Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Vaccaro was a player in 2013 that the Saints were looking to carry the torch of a new look defense. However, all of that talk took a back seat to last year’s record. So now, 2015 is a time to wipe the slate clean as Vaccaro has been wiping a few slates clean of his own this preseason.

NOLA.com / The Times Picayune Columnist Larry Holder observed the other day that Vaccaro even went so far as to go after Drew Brees on a blitz, and then landed a shot on WR Josh Morgan after a catch that sparked a fight between the two of them.

Then, just a few plays later, Vaccaro knocked 6 foot 5, 305 pound offensive left tackle Terron Armstead to the ground while in pursuit of a ball carrier, which led to offensive guard Tim Lelito having to shield Vaccaro away in order to protect the fallen Armstead.

The Saints are obviously looking to erase the memory of 2014, by putting in some hard work and some even harder hits.

1……There’s Nothing Wrong With Me

2……There’s Nothing Wrong With Me

3……Something’s Got to Give

4……Something’s Got to Give

Even though it pains Rob Ryan, the Saints have simplified the defensive playbook.

It’s a great idea, and now the Saints don’t need Stephen Hawkins to explain the defensive scheme to them.

I love Rob Ryan, but hey it’s defense and not calculus — and the only objective is to turn the quarterback into mince meat.

Now that the defense has gotten its “swagger” back, they can concentrate on picking up where they left off in 2013.

Let the bodies hit the floor…….

Next: The 5 Most Impressive Saints at Training Camp So Far