If Wesley McGriff is leaving his post as the Saints’ secondary coach to become the defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt, he hadn’t talked about it with his boss Monday.
FootballScoop.com reported Sunday that Vanderbilt planned to hire McGriff as its defensive coordinator. A day later, Payton said he wasn’t aware if that was the case.
“I heard that report, (and) I’m unaware of any of that, but knowing Wesley, he and I will talk,” Payton remarked. “Again, that’s one of the many reports out there.”
After winning 23-20 in their season finale at Tampa Bay (2-14), the Saints (7-9) had a No. 25 ranking out of 32 in pass defense, having allowed 251.2 yards per game in 2014.
They permitted opposing quarterbacks to post a combined passer rating of 92.9, which was the ninth highest in the NFL.
McGriff arrived in 2013, the same year defensive coordinator Rob Ryan did. The Saints’ defense permitted the fourth-fewest yards and points last year, but they regressed considerably this season, surrendering the league’s second-most yards.
McGriff coached at Vanderbilt in 2011 and Ole Miss in 2012. Vanderbilt recently fired defensive coordinator David Kotulski.