New Orleans Saints outside linebacker Junior Galette (93) emerges from the smoke for the start of a NFL football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Buffalo Bills in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, La. Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013. (Advocate staff photo by MATTHEW HINTON)
By Gary Estwick
Special to The Advocate
Looks like Saints outside linebacker Junior Galette has taken a few pointers from pop music icon Beyoncé – it was time for defensive upgrades.
Out with the old …
On Thursday, Galette said he’s welcomed lineup changes in recent seasons – personnel moves that he said sent lesser teammates packing, allowing new, more talented guys like strong safety Kenny Vaccaro and middle linebacker Curtis Lofton space in the Saints locker room.
In with the new ….
“The guys they replaced them with were better than the guys we had here,” Galette said. “It’s not even close. Across the board. Each player you can name.”
In recent weeks, Saints players have defended coordinator Rob Ryan, who took over a unit which tallied an infamous effort during the 2012 Bountygate season – one of the worst in league history – then rebounded to earn a Top 5 defense ranking (2013) to this season’s rank of 31st out of 32 teams.
Jonathan Vilma, though, gets no love from his former teammate.
Comparisons to the Saints of the recent past and present have become a subject of conversation during the franchise’s down-up-down defensive play of recent seasons, including this fall, as players and coaches, media and fans try to figure out the reason behind the roller-coaster performances.
While execution is still considered the primary reason, a leadership (or lack of) has also crept into many of these conversations. But of course it did.
For Will Smith may not have been as productive of a pass rusher during his final season with the Saints, middle linebacker Jonathan Goodwin not as nimble in his middle-of-the-field mechanics, strong safety Roman Harper not as sound in his technique, but they were believed to be well-respected.
Not enough for Galette.
He’s a much bigger fan of Vaccaro, now in his second season, and defensive Cameron Jordan, a fourth-year pro who made the 2013 Pro Bowl. Also, Lofton, now in his seventh NFL season, including his third with the Saints.
“I’d take Kenny Vaccaro over any (former) safety,” he said. “And Cameron over any defensive end. (Free safety) Jairus Byrd (signed last offseason) over any safety. And Lofton is putting up numbers that Vilma never put it. It is what it is.”
The conversation started with local media as Galette talked about Carolina, which the Saints host Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Galette said the Panthers released Smith, a big reason why they are 3-8-1 entering the week. Smith’s production, he added, coupled by his leadership, is missing in Charlotte. The Saints, he said, better understand the dynamics of leadership in the locker room.
Then Galette was asked about the many changing faces on the Saints defense which last offseason, purged many of its former Super Bowl XLIV heroes.