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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
John Sigler

The Saints defense has already tied last season’s interceptions total

Saints Saint (Organization) CBS New Orleans Saints Dennis Allen Isaac Yiadom Kris Richard Marshon Lattimore Paulson Adebo Pete Werner

Sheesh. Not much changed about the New Orleans Saints secondary this offseason — they brought back all of last year’s starters and top backups, adding some new faces here or there with late-round draft picks and veteran minimum free agent contracts. But the 2023 defense has already intercepted as many passes through five games as the 2022 team managed through seventeen matchups (7).

So what gives? What changed? The answer lies in coaching. The Saints moved on from longtime defensive backs coach Kris Richard and his assistant Sterling Moore in favor of Marcus Robertson (who Dennis Allen worked with before) and Matt Giordano (like Moore, one of Allen’s former players), also giving Joe Woods the responsibilities Richard held as defensive coordinator.

Those coaching changes were criticized at the time, but it’s tough to argue with results. Allen’s secondary is playing at a very high level and getting their hands on more passes after overhauling the position group’s coaching staff. Just four players combined for all of the team’s interceptions last season, while seven different defenders have plucked the ball away this year. Here’s a quick look back on each takeaway:

Marshon Lattimore

Marcus Maye

Paulson Adebo

Lonnie Johnson

Isaac Yiadom

Tyrann Mathieu

Pete Werner

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