What is keeping the Saints defense from being elite?
The New Orleans Saints defense has been the backbone of this team for a while now. It became more prominent after Drew Brees retired. The revolving door of quarterbacks mixed with the absence of Michael Thomas.
At that point, the defense transitioned into being the face of the team. Demario Davis, Marshon Lattimore and Tyrann Mathieu are three of the biggest names on the team.
The unit has been elite for years, but that isn't the case anymore. Why?
Outside of Carl Granderson and Bryan Bresee, there's no other defensive linemen you can count on. The defensive line is a weak point of the defense and is one of the weakest parts of the team.
The lack of pressure on the quarterback allows them to sit back in the pocket and attack the secondary. Quarterbacks haven't been forced into many rushed decisions because of pass rush. The Saints' run defense has waned over the years as well.
If you struggle in the trenches, it's near impossible to be great on that side of the ball. That goes for offense and defense. The Saints inability to close out games is the biggest headline, but they've had their struggles mid game.
The Saints have played bend but don't break defense. The Eagles and Falcons drove the ball down the field repeatedly, and the Saints forced field goals. The struggles along the defensive line are the biggest contributing factor to this. There's only so long you can bend but not break.
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This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: What is keeping the Saints defense from being elite?
