The New Orleans Saints had a difficult 2024 season, to put it lightly, and one of the more notable issues on the team was the defensive line’s struggles. The unit was solid at generating pressure, and occasionally was around league-average in the sacks department. However, when it came to run defense, things got ugly. Here are some key stats that predominantly start with the defensive line:
- Tied-15th fewest sacks accumulated (39)
- 2nd-most rushing yards allowed (2,404)
- Tied-7th most rushing touchdowns allowed (20)
- Tied-3rd most 20-yard runs allowed (18)
- 2nd-highest yards per carry allowed (4.9)
This poor performance led to defensive line coach Todd Grantham being re-assigned out of the position, and ultimately ended up moving on to become the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State.
Veteran defensive end Cameron Jordan of the Saints discussed Grantham and his points of emphasis at a few points throughout the season/offseason, and this continued recently as Sports Illustrated had chronicled his season, and heard more about their relationship.
Greg Bishop of Sports Illustrated paraphrased what Jordan had said regarding former Saints defensive line coach Todd Grantham, stating:
“All season, Jordan had stressed patience, while he tried to adapt to a new role — pass rusher primarily rushing from the interior. He says, more than once and for months, that his position coach, Todd Grantham, wasn’t focused on teaching players technique, tweaking form throughout a season, or development in general.”
This would be followed up with more information regarding what he said after Week 9’s loss to the Carolina Panthers, the team’s seventh defeat in a row:
“At one point in another stinging defeat, Jordan says he told Allen and others he wouldn’t speak to Grantham anymore, that all communication needed to come from someone else. “I reached my threshold,” he says. “Threshold of — he doesn’t know what respect looks like, or he doesn’t know how to treat a man as a man. If anything, I’m a warrior. There’s ways to go about things respectfully.”
Ultimately this is not the most surprising development to hear, as the progress of young defensive ends Isaiah Foskey and Payton Turner has been slow to nonexistent, and coaching plays a large hand in that. With neither player living up to pre-draft expectations, and a veteran stating the coaching focus was not on cultivating technique, it is fair to assume the Saints made the right move in letting Grantham walk.
