Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
A changing defensive system will bring a lot of new roles to the New Orleans Saints. The standup edge rushers, Star position and heavier usage of nose tackles are among the common examples. But no matter where players line up and no matter from where they attack, the production of the team’s defense will be the most important factor of success.
Saints edge defender Cam Jordan spoke about the excitement around the new defense having the ability to produce on his recent appearance on the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams.
It’s clear that Jordan believes that the team’s new defensive scheme is going to have a major impact right away, that his team has the talent to maximize it and even gives a glimpse of where he will be taking his snaps.
“It’s keeping me on the edge where I’ve always thrived,” Jordan said. “I think that with our young guys, we extend Chase Young, keep him on the edge. You see the damage that he [does] when he’s in an outside edge-setting type role … You still have Carl Granderson, Isaiah Foskey headed into year three. There’s a lot of edge potential so why not capitalize on it.”
Jordan and his edge rusher group are made up of effectively the same personnel as last season. However, the departures of Payton Turner and Tanoh Kpassagnon have opened the doors for some new arrivals like seventh-rounder Fadil Diggs, undrafted free agent Jasheen Davis, and free agent acquisition Chris Rumph II.
New Orleans finished the 2024 season with just 39 sacks, coming short of 40 for the second year in a row after surpassing that mark each season since 2017.
The Saints are looking to rebound on the defensive line and as a pass rush team, Jordan believes that will be the product of Staley’s new system.
When Adams asked Jordan if there will be “more sacks” as result, Jordan’s answer was simple but confident.
“More sacks, then,” he said.
