Re-reading my posts I want to make clear that I feel that neither Smith nor Grant are earning their paycheck. I doubt either of them find themselves looking for a job due to the huge salary cap hit the Saints would take should they cut either of them, but I wouldn't mind seeing some fresh blood brought in to push them some more. I hear that Smith has been fighting a groin and/or hamstring injury this year as well, so that would explain his lack of explosiveness.
If you are judging D-line performance simply by looking at opposing rushing stats, you are over looking the impact that Jonathan Vilma has had. How many tackles for loss have the D-lineman had compared to Vilma?
I'm judging their play by my own eyes and analysis. I see them eating up blocks and holding the line of scrimmage far more often than not. Vilma isn't going to get that many tackles unless the D-Line is doing it's job. The interior guys are getting some penetration, but they definitely take up space and keep Vilma clean of blockers so he can do his job which he is doing quite well this year. The D-Line has had some really good games this year. In the Minnesota game they spent more time in the backfield than Peterson did. It was easily their best performance of the year. They slacked off a bit against San Diego, but Tomlinson had a big run thanks to missed tackles that skewed the ypc a bit. Stats measure very little of what linemen are supposed to do, especially interior linemen. Sacks are but one portion of their job. If you are the type that likes to swell on stats, look at tackles for these guys: Grant was right at the top of he NFL D-Linemen in tackles before his injury. Will Smith is currently in the top ten in tackles among D-Linemen. I think next year if we see a healthy Tracy Porter and Mike McKenzie along with Randall Gay and improvement in the FS area, we're really going to see these guys tee off on QB's. I'm hoping that they land Brian Dawkins in the offseason and maybe a good Safety prospect in the draft to groom. and of course a decent DC wouldn't hurt...
Getting Coach O is about as up in the air as it gets. We have Tennessee people swearing he's a done deal, same for LSU folk and then Saints people believing he will be retained. I will be impressed if Coach Miles pulls this one off.
The one game I will always remember fondly of Coach O is the near upset by Ole Miss over LSU in 06. He had that D playing really inspired ball.
One of Tennessee's major newspapers reported that: Dec 23 -- Former Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron, the New Orleans Saints’ defensive line coach, has spoken with Kiffin about a job at UT, according to several sources in Knoxville and Louisiana. Like Miles, Kiffin hasn’t commented on any other coaches he’s interviewed [other than the assistant coaches he inherited from Fulmer's staff] http://timesfreepress.com/news/2008...t-adkins-take-jobs-uva-syracuse/?breakingnews
The latest about Coach O from Tennessee's perspective. A week ago they thought he was 100%. As of yesterday they see their chances as maybe 75%. The selling point for Tenn is upward mobility for Orgeron under the tutelage of Monte Kiffin. They are telling him Monte will not be at Tennessee long term and he would move up to D-coordinator when Kiffin retires. An offer has been out to the Ogre for almost 2 weeks. The Saints countered Tennessee's offer with a nice package. He is still holding out hope for a possible DC gig somewhere, specifically Syracuse, but those chances are dwindling. Tenn is in the process of upping its offer, they want Orgeron badly. Kiffin thinks their weakness is recruiting and will pay him a lot to ensure success on that front. When asked about LSU, he told me LSU wasnt even in the picture unless they were offering him as a DC. Orgeron is telling Kiffin he doesnt want to leave the Saints and would only consider it for a DC job or an opportunity like the one in Knoxville. Take it for what its worth but this source is 100% impeccable. I just spent Christmas with him and he's in a position to know first hand. Sounds like Coach O isnt a done deal anywhere right now.
Makes sense. I've maintained all along that coach O to LSU doesn't make sense. He doesn't have the DC experience we need and we're more than fine with Henson as our recruiting coordinator. We're not going to beat the Saints or Tennessee's offer for a position coach,.
I have an LSU buddy that spoke with Joe Alleva today via cell phone.. He told him that the asst coaches are very good, and are "secured", to quote "rest easy" Choices Alleva says he feels very good about the future for our program and that everyone is going to be very happy. (that all he could share for obvious reasons). My buddy said he seemed excited! My friend has played Golf with Alleva several times when he was AD at DUKE, dinners, and has been to his new LSU office and they are blackberry buds.. Now, if they are secured as of today, that means Walker is off the table(he is headed to NWST to interview in person Monday) . So, perhaps this points to Chavis as DC and Coach O with a bunch of titles DL, RC, Asst HC.. Belowpar on Tigerdropping has been money as a source (back when Milles to Michigan was going on, Belowpar is close to somebody in the know).. he has been reporting that Chavis is the guy Miles wants.. And that the Coach O deal has been very close to getting finalized.. He would be DL, RC, and Asst Coach, with a nice check! Or course the coaches are just names everyone has been tossing around.. We could get somebody out of the blue from the NFL ? Not likely IMO The process has been tight lipped TIFWIW.
