myhousekey Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 (edited) Not too suprising. Per the Times Picayune The Saints fired Defensive Coordinator Gary Gibbs on Wednesday, 10 days after finishing the 2008 regular season ranked 23rd in the NFL in total defense. Team spokesman Greg Bensel, comfirmed the move, and an announcement from the organization is expected shortly. Gibbs joined the organization three years ago, when he followed Saints Coach Sean Payton from Dallas to New Orleans. And Gibbs' defense ranked 11th in the NFL during his first season with the team. But Gibbs' unit fell to 26th in the league in 2007, allowing 348.1 yards per game, and while the Saints finished with the No. 1-ranked offense in 2008, the defense saw little improvement. Gibbs' defense allowed 339.5 yards per game in 2008, struggling to cope with injuries and constantly giving up big plays in the secondary. The Saints also never seemed to find the production they were looking for from their defensive line, which has two highly paid defensive ends in Will Smith and Charles Grant but struggled in pressuring opposing quarterbacks. Also, I know this was talked about in one of the other threads but for those that missed it: Per the Times Picayune Reggie Bush's knee surgery was more serious than the Saints initially indicated last month, but General Manager Mickey Loomis said the team still expects the running back to be ready for minicamp in early June. Loomis said Bush had a microfracture procedure performed on his left knee after he was placed on injured reserve in mid-December. Bush's injury initially was reported as a sprained medial collateral ligament, which doesn't usually require surgery, but Coach Sean Payton indicated last week that Bush had an arthroscopic procedure performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. Loomis did not give details about the surgery, but he said it was not a "major" procedure. "I wouldn't want to call it minor, because he's got a pretty significant period of rehab time," Loomis said. "But at the end of it, he shouldn't have any issues." Bush was not reached for comment. It's hard to predict a recovery timetable on microfracture surgeries, because some are more elaborate than others, but they have become more common and effective in recent years. Typically, several small holes are drilled into the knee to promote cartilage growth. Saints tailback Deuce McAllister had a microfracture procedure performed on his right knee in September 2007 while also undergoing an anterior cruciate ligament repair in his left knee. McAllister, who was on the field for the start of training camp in July, indicated that his right knee recovered faster than the left. The left knee continued to swell at times throughout the season. Bush has had a series of issues with his left knee the past two seasons. He missed the final four games of the 2007 season with a torn posterior cruciate ligament, which required a couple months of recovery. Then, he experienced swelling and soreness in the knee in training camp this past summer -- a condition described as a "bone bruise," which was aggravated against Tampa Bay in Week 1. Bush then suffered a torn meniscus at Carolina in Week 7, which required arthroscopic surgery and sidelined him for four games. Finally, he suffered the latest injury in Week 15 at Chicago. None of the injuries were too serious, but the repeated trauma to the knee is concerning, especially for a player who relies so much on his speed and explosiveness. Loomis expressed high hopes for Bush while discussing the team's general outlook Tuesday. He said the Saints were "clearly" close to tapping into Bush's full potential before he suffered the injury in Week 7. At that point, Bush led the Saints with 660 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns, including three punt returns for scores. He was effective, but inconsistent, after returning from the injury in Week 13. "He made some spectacular punt returns and some spectacular explosive plays on offense, and that's what we envisioned for him," Loomis said. "And he was feeling good about his season, we were feeling good about his season, then he had a setback with this injury. "But the good news is that the injury has been repaired, and he had a good repair surgically, and the prognosis going forward is very positive. So, our expectation is he'll have a good offseason and pick up where he left off at the beginning of next year." Asked if the Saints had figured out the best way to use Bush, Loomis said he thinks the third-year running back's unique role will continue to evolve. He was paired more often with tailback Pierre Thomas this season. "I don't want to say that. I don't want to limit ourselves to that, because maybe there's some new things we can do," Loomis said. "Maybe as he develops, he brings some new wrinkles to his game. I wouldn't want to limit him. "I think what Reggie has proven is that on the football field there's not too many things he can't do, although clearly he hasn't been the traditional tailback that many people want to judge him by." Edited January 7, 2009 by myhousekey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Not too suprising. Per the Times Picayune Also, I know this was talked about in one of the other threads but for those that missed it: Per the Times Picayune Yeah the Reggie surgery story needs a thread of his own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Saints interviewing Greg Williams today. If he can make the Saints D even close to what Jax was... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myhousekey Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 Info on possible replacements Dave McGinnis, Titans assistant head coach/linebackers coach – The former Cardinals head coach has been in Tennessee since 2004 and has helped turn the Titans into one of the stoutest units in the NFL. The Titans run a 4-3 defense and with the Saints already primed to run that scheme, McGinnis, 57, could slide in without much trouble. Sean McDermott, Eagles secondary/safeties coach – The 34-year-old Eagles coach has spent 10 seasons in Philadelphia and has been a hot name throughout the coaching search progress among several teams. It might be just the boost of energy the Saints defense needs. Gregg Williams, former Jaguars defensive coordinator – Williams just wrapped up his one and only year in Jacksonville and will probably be the most high-priced coordinator on the market. He became the highest-paid coordinator in league history while in Washington making $3 million per season before leaving in 2006. Williams’ style would be a welcome change in New Orleans. Joe Vitt, Saints linebacker coach – Vitt has coach just about every position in his lengthy coaching career. The 54-year-old veteran has been on the Saints staff since Payton arrived in 2006 and while fans may not like it if the Saints promoted from within, Vitt certainly has the know-all for the job. Bill Sheridan, Giants linebacker coach – Sheridan may be next in line to become the Giants’ defensive coordinator if or when Steve Spagnuolo lands a head-coaching job somewhere else once the Giants are eliminated from the postseason. Sheridan, 49, may only be in his fourth year in the pros, but he’s helped mold the Giants into a Super Bowl contender. Mike Nolan, former 49ers head coach - The Packers could be the front-runner for Nolan's services already so Nolan may be a longshot. Nolan coached the vaunted Ravens defense once Marvin Lewis left Baltimore and has coached in both the 3-4 and 4-3 defenses. If the Saints want Nolan, they better move quick. Jerry Gray, could be a possibility. Gray, who worked as a coordinator under Williams in Buffalo, is the secondary coach in Washington, and he has interviewed for the Detroit Lions' head coaching vacancy. It's not clear if Gray is under contract. If so, the Saints would need to seek permission from Washington to interview him. NFL teams are only required to allow their assistants to interview for head coaching jobs with other teams. Casey Bradley - Buccaneers linebackers coach. not under contract Donnie Henderson - Jaguars secondary coach Donnie Henderson, who interviewed for their head coaching job in 2006. The Saints also have an opening at defensive line coach after Ed Orgeron left for the University of Tennessee last week. Payton is planning to interview former Denver Broncos line coach Bill Johnson for that job this week. Johnson spent the past two years in Denver after six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and 21 years at the college level. Other former defensive coordinators in the open market include Ted Cottrell, Jim Bates, Larry Coyer and former Saints Coach Jim Haslett, though it's safe to assume he would not emerge as a candidate to return to New Orleans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheikYerbuti Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 The Saints had a defensive coordinator? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 The Saints had a defensive coordinator? well if you consider a former beegee a DC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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