Okay, now that I've got your attention...

A bunch of us over at Canal Street Chronicles, the Saints' SBNation blog, have been wondering what to do with our underachieving defense. Short of entirely swapping it out for Pittsburgh's or Baltimore's--or Philadelphia's--we've come to the conclusion that defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs must be sacrificed on a pagan altar at midfield. Or at least, fired. That means we'll be needing someone to come in and reconstruct the defense--obviously, not a time to be promoting from within.

Of all the candidates available out there (we're not considering present defensive coordinators), the two emerging favorites are former Lions coach Rod Marinelli (don't laugh...the man's a highly-regarded defensive coach, and nobody could succeed at Detroit) and your own secondary coach, Sean McDermott. Obviously, there's no Rod Marinelli fan site we could pose questions; but Sean McDermott's case is different: there's Bleeding Green Nation.

So if you can take some time out from your present playoff glee (and if your heart rate has slowed back down to normal), please let us know: have we made the right choice? Is Sean McDermott the right man to take a poorly performing 4-3 defense and remold them in the attacking Philadelphia mold? Of is he just serving time on the Eagles' staff and riding on the coattails of Jim Johnson?

I think it's pretty obvious that if there's a member of Da Chronic who doesn't want Gary Gibbs gone, that person doesn't know how to type...because we haven't heard from him.

But on the supposition that criticism isn't valid unless you can think of a way to fix things yourself (I don't believe that, personally), who would we choose as defensive coordinator to take his place as Joshua to Payton's Moses?

I'm assuming that a horizontal movement is impossible. Why would Steve Spagnuolo, for instance, want to move from New York to New Orleans in order to fill the same position? The only candidates who would consider such a move would be like Cleveland coordinator Mel Tucker--fleeing a bad situation. Why would we want to take on another team's problem? Besides which, I believe NFL rules allow teams to interview coaches under contract if the job being offered constitutes a promotion.

So what we have to choose from is a pool of fired coaches (mainly head coaches) and defensive assistants and position coaches. I don't want to limit the discussion by posting a poll, so I'm just going to list a few of my own thoughts, and hopefully others will join in and an eventual consensus will develop.

Then, I'll call Sean and Mickey and let then know what we think.

HEAD COACHES

Mike Nolan. This is the guy at the top of my list of former head coaches. He has experience working with one of the best defensive units in the NFL, the Baltimore Ravens. He's well-thought of, and I don't hold against him the inability to make functional one of the most dysfunctional franchises in the league. The only strike against him is that both the Ravens and the 49ers play a 3-4. I have absolutely nothing against the 3-4 (in fact, I prefer it), but I doubt we have the personnel for it to work.

Rod Marinelli. Another highly-regarded defensive coach victimized by a dysfunctional franchise. Marinelli got his team to play hard (at times)...they just weren't any good. He's a disciple of the Tampa 2 of Tony Dungy and Monte Kiffin, which means at the very least that we'd have a coherent system and not the mishmash of Gibbs Gumbo. (A useful phrase which, still and all, insults gumbo.) The knock on Marinelli is, of course, "0-16"--coupled with the fact that he was promoted to head coach without ever going through the defensive coordinator phase (he did serve as "assistant head coach," whatever that is). His "guys," like Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice, swear by him.

Romeo Crennel. Crennel served as DC under Bill Belichick--and whatever you may think of Bill as a video director, as a defensive mastermind he is almost without equal in NFL history in his ability both to plan for an opponent and to prepare his players. But how much did Crennel really have to do with that? Well, the real glory years of the Patriots were when Crennel was there. He also worked as defensive line coach under Bill Parcells for many years, so we know at least that he believes in discipline and accountability. But then why couldn't he instill that in Cleveland?

All in all, I have to say that after long thought, I'm not convinced that hiring a former head coach (an available former head coach, at any rate) is the way to go. That leaves the defensive assistants.

DEFENSIVE ASSISTANTS

Sean McDermott, Philadelphia Eagles, secondary. One of the first names mentioned whenever this subject comes up. His unit is currently the real strength of Philadelphia's defense, but he also has experience coaching the linebackers. His secondary is known especially for the play of its safeties--and he is himself a former safety. Sounding like a Messiah yet? Let's finish the disciple part first: he's a follower of Jim Johnson, one of the all-time great defensive coordinators, and the man who gave Steve Spagnuolo his start. Thus, he's steeped in the philosophy that a defense's primary job is not to react, but to attack, to punish the offense--and most importantly, to get turnovers.

The downside is: he's a young hotshot named Sean.

Dave McGinnis, Tennessee Titans, linebackers. Got his start coaching the Bears linebackers under Dave Wannstedt: Mike Singletary, Wilbur Marshall, and Otis Wilson, among others. He's also been a defensive coordinator and head coach--for the Arizona Cardinals, another dysfunctional franchise, so he gets a pass for his failure (although his defensive units produces some good players, like Simeon Rice and Aeneas Williams). Currently responsible for coaching up Keith Bulluck.

Jim Washburn, Tennessee Titans, defensive line. Another longtime position coach who has developed great talent. He's the man who made Jevon Kearse a superstar, then resurrected his career when he was cut by the Eagles. His current unit is maybe the NFL's best. He has coordinator experience, but only on the arena football and NFL Europe levels.

Mike Zimmer, Cincinnati Bengals, defensive coordinator. Don't laugh...the Bengals weren't all that bad on defense this year. Besides, Zimmer is best known for his work on the Cowboys, and he has a Super Bowl ring to show for it. He's the only DC I include, because how can anyone be happy working for the Bengals? Don't know what the contract situation would be, but it's worth looking into, if only so that we don't wait until the only person left to hire is Joe Barry.

There's gotta be more, and I've been long-winded enough, so I'm going to throw this open now. One last point, though: I haven't mentioned college coaches, because I don't know enough about any of them. But that's another possibility.

With the possibility that Ed Orgeron is going to LSU, the Saints have a chance to entirely remake their defense.

First, of course, Gibbs must go. It doesn't much matter what sort of system we install next, since we have so many personnel needs anyway--but can we please install a real system, instead of a reheated mixture of other coaches' leftovers?

But here's the good part: when we hire a defensive coordinator, we'll be able to hire a defensive line coach who actually suits the new philosophy. Then, in free agency, we'll be able to go after players who fit the new scheme. That's the order we need to go: 1. Defensive coordinator; 2. Defensive position coach(es); 3. Defensive players. And that means that not only must Gibbs go, he must go soon.

That's the way it ought to work, anyway. But since this is the Saints we're talking about, be on the lookout for Loomis hiring or promoting a defensive line coach first. If that happens, we'll know that Gibbs isn't leaving...or that he's going to be replaced with MiniGibbs. And instead of having fresh Gibbs Gumbo every week, we'll be eating reheated GG from the can.

8-8. Sports limbo. Even 7-9 is better than this...at least it represents definite failure. But splitting the schedule into two even pieces...it feels as though this season never really happened. As though the Saints are some sort of disembodied shade haunting the NFL. Half of our opponents obviously didn't believe in ghosts.

Of course, there are questions to ask and comments to make in the wake of this slow-motion skid into the bayou. In no particular order, here are mine:

• Did anyone see a weird parallel between the Saints and what happened to Dallas this year? "The most talented team in football," so they claimed...and they crashed and burned. It was obvious that the Cowboys, for all their talent, don't play as a team. Is that the Saints' problem? Recall that Payton and Gibbs both came directly from Dallas.
• Speaking of Gibbs: he has got to go. Giving up three miles on the ground to DeAngelo Williams is bad enough; but when the game is on the line in the fourth quarter, you know Jake Delhomme is going to go long to Steve Smith. Bushmen know that; New Guinea headhunters know that; plankton know that. Only Gary Gibbs and his defense seem utterly clueless. And the solution is so simple: do not, under any circumstances, allow Steve Smith to get loose behind your secondary. If you have to assign a man to stick to him like glue, do it. If it takes two, do it. Three? Do it. Don't let Steve Smith get open deep. So what do we do? We let Steve Smith get open deep. Again.
• Payton might follow Gibbs; if I were in Tom Benson's position, he would. I wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger. We need a top-notch head coach, not someone who can put together the best offense in the NFL and happily tinker for three seasons while the rest of the team falls to pieces.
• Here is a quote from a story about Romeo Crennel, who has just been fired by the Browns:

  Crennel had three years left on a contract extension he signed in January after the Browns went 10-6 and just missed the playoffs."

  A newly-signed contract extension isn't bulletproof protection. Payton ought to be sweating bullets.
• Since introducing their all-black uniforms at (I believe) the San Francisco game in 2006, the Saints are 7-8 in those unis. They're not only ugly, they're losers. We need to make a new start in 2009; and however trivial it may seem, having a uniform change can't hurt. Let's stop playing in leotards, please.
• Jeremy Shockey is a bust. And before anyone complains that I'm kicking the man while he's down, I hasten to point out that he's down, and that's the point. And when he's healthy enough to start, he is nowhere near as effective as half of the tight ends in football. One of the reasons, I am sure, that the Giants allowed Shockey to depart is that they felt Kevin Boss wasn't simply a decent replacement, but a better player. They were right; Payton and Loomis were wrong. They should be running the Fed, or a car company.
• Drew Brees is the greatest victim in Saints history. He's set to become the new Archie Manning, but with much better stats: the best offensive player, by far, that ever donned black and gold, but dragged down by the talentless hacks he plays with and for. I feel like we should apologize for signing him.

Okay, rant mode over. Now: how to fix it? First of all, Payton most likely isn't leaving. Neither is Loomis. But Gibbs must go. If he stays, don't look for any improvement at all--its a sign that the guys at the top are not willing to accept consequences. But even if Gibbs does go, there's still a lot of work to be done.

It starts with a defensive coordinator who believes in attacking. There are plenty of good, young, eager, and highly competent defensive assistants who would love the opportunity to improve the Saints. We're not Detroit; we're not Oakland. We're not the team where careers go to die. Let's find the right man and give him the same support that was given to Payton to construct the best offense in the league. (That means, in part, that Payton himself gives the DC a free hand.)

We also need a change in attitude. We need for the players to know that they may not play week in and week out with their heads up their asses. Tackle the damn ball carrier. Cover the receivers. If you give up a catch, knock the hell out of the receiver. Punish the offense on every play. Every. Damn. Play. Those who take plays off can take their uniforms off. Go drive a beer truck or something. That goes for you, Will Smith. You too, Charles Grant. Forget those fancy gold-plated contracts you signed...there's this thing called "cut" that we'd like to introduce you to.

To get that change in attitude, players need to know two things: first, that their starting jobs are on the line every week. Second, that their contracts may be on the line as well. (And a third thing, too: that the coaches are going to be held to the same standard. That's why Gibbs must be cut loose.)

Finally, we have to get smart and aggressive in free agency. Time and again I read that the Saints "traditionally" tend to go for the middle-rank players instead of the high-priced stars. That's smart, if you're trying above all to save money and just get by; if you're trying to build a championship team without the draft picks you traded away, it's the definition of stupid. We need linebackers. We need safeties. We need defensive ends. We need a totally new defense, and we're not going to get one with but a single first-day pick. That means the free agent market; and that means that Payton and Loomis are going to have to be smarter than they've ever been, and that Benson is going to have to open the pocketbook.

Do these things and we have a fighting chance. Next year. Again with the "next year." Oy gevalt.

Where ya been, man?

Here it is, the Saints are ready to give you the division championship on a platter, and you don't even drop in to say hello?

I know you're going to be pulling for Brees and Pierre and Deuce and all the boys from the Crescent City this weekend--don't pretend you're not--so come on over to Canal Street Chronicles and lord it over us. We won't mind. You're almost like a pet (but one that has grown too big for the bed, and now thinks he owns the damn thing).

Truth be told, we want to win for more reasons than simply having a winning record and maybe getting the passing yards record for Brees. If the Saints win, and y'all keep up your end of the deal, the Falcons will be division champs. Worst to first, just like always in the NFC South.

And you know what that means for next year, right?

All joking aside, congratulations on a fantastic season. This has been for you guys what 2006 was for us, so I know you're loving it. What you have to do now is drive on deep into the playoffs for the honor of the NFC South, the best division in the NFL.

Anyone familiar with this site?

WalterFootball.com

It's a mock draft aggregator. So far, with the season not even over yet, he's collected 94 mock drafts, including his own. It's fascinating to see the thought processes of people who aren't approaching this as long-suffering Saints fans.

Here's a sampling of who we should draft, and why:

• RB Chris Wells--because both Deuce and Pierre will be gone. (??)
• OLB Brian Cushing--to complement Jonathan Vilma, or provide the anchor for the linebacking corps if Vilma departs.
• OLB Aaron Curry--because our run defense is our weak spot. (???)
• TE Jermaine Gresham--because Shockey is a bust.
• ILB Brandon Spikes--because Vilma will be gone...and if he stays, they can make him an outside backer. (???)
• CB Vontae Davis--because the Saints still need a standout corner.
• S William Moore--because the secondary needs a true impact player. (!!!)
• ILB Rey Maualuga--because he's the best available defensive player and they can always shift Vilma outside.
• DT Sen'Derrick Marks--because...hell, I don't know.

Everyone seems to assume Taylor Mays will be long gone by the time we pick (except for one guy who gave us ILB James Laurinaitis--who was eaten alive by LSU--while he still had both Mays and Moore on the board), and if that's the case I say go with Moore. But I could live with Curry or Cushing, too.