Sep 15, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson (96) reacts during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
One of the most highly-anticipated changes on the way for the New Orleans Saints defense is the incorporation of standup edge rusher roles. The new function for Saints pass rushers on the outside folds in as a part of the team’s incoming 3-4 defensive shift. New defensive coordinator Brandon Staley has driven success for edge rushers in his system by maximizing them in this role throughout his coaching career.
Now, Saints edge rushers Chase Young and Carl Granderson stand to be the next beneficiaries of Staley’s scheme.
But why exactly does this change bring about positive change for the pair?
Young and Granderson Are Already Talented Pass Rushers
Sometimes this kind of philosophical change also includes the need to bring young, inexperienced players up to speed. Rebuilds sometimes include not only new minds calling the shots but new players executing the calls. In this case, Staley inherits a pair of veteran pass rushers. A trio really, including 15th-year end Cameron Jordan.
It’s a scheme shift that players are buying into immediately.
“When you think about how much talent we have at the edge and now it’s a true edge,” Jordan said of Staley’s influence so far. “Last 14 years or so you were saying, ‘Hey there’s defensive ends and then there’s edge rushers.’ And now we’re falling into that edge rusher category. So with that being said, we’ve got a lot more different aspects to bring to a defense.”
Young and Granderson were both top-20 pressure generators in 2024, per Next Gen Stats. Young’s 73 pressures ranked No. 6 and Granderson’s 58 was No. 17.
Each finished with just 5.5 sacks, a total they will both look to improve in 2025 with this new defensive direction. Despite their high pressure numbers, their sack totals were lower than ideal.
This new scheme, by creating more isolated matchups and leveraging their speed, aims to convert those pressures into more impactful sack production.
With both of them already being experienced and productive as pressure players, Staley can hit the ground running with each player.
Both Players’ Athleticism Supports The Ask
Both top edge rushers for New Orleans have been noted for their athleticism. That element is a very important one in being a standup edge defender. At times, they will be asked to drop into coverage; others they will be asked to rush head-on. The unpredictability and potential for disguise will be another boon for the rushers.
Additionally, they will also be asked to twist, stunt and zone rush in certain situations. All of those responsibilities require speed and athleticism, which both come in droves for Young and Granderson.
How Standing Up Improves Their Game
Both ends rated highly last year in their ability to get out of their stance and cross the line of scrimmage. This metric is called “get off” by the NFL. Next Gen Stats has Young rated on average with a .83 second get off while Granderson’s is close behind at .87.
This measurement shows that each player can get out of their pre-snap stance and into their pass rush very quickly. Among defensive right ends with at least 300 pass rushing snaps, Young’s time ranked No. 3, while Granderson’s was No. 5 among rushes off the left side.
Moving from having a hand in the dirt (a three-point stance) to being a standup rusher (two-point stance) will allow them to get off the line of scrimmage even faster in 2025. With little to no vertical adjustment now being needed, they could get into their forward burst more quickly and with greater impact.
Having their heads up pre-snap will be valuable as well, giving them a chance to survey everything developing in the backfield as the ball is snapped. They will also get the benefit of more one-on-one matchups with three interior defenders lined up against the five offensive linemen. The five-man front brings team cohesion into focus, as creating those one-on-ones for the line will be a group effort.
For all of these reasons, the Saints should see improved production out of both Young and Granderson, and possibly others (Jordan, Isaiah Foskey, Fadil Diggs etc.) that are developing behind them. Staley’s scheme should be a nice fit for both pass rushers as they enter the team’s new era.
This transition may take some time, but it’s one the Saints have been working toward implementing all throughout OTAs and minicamp already. It will be a key storyline to follow throughout training camp with the majority of the impact ideally felt throughout the season.
