Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
The New Orleans Saints have gone ahead and made defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs the scapegoat for their disappointing season.
Is this move justified or simply a way of satisfying the fan base? You could make a case for either angle -- and I will in a minute -- but the bottom line is something had to give in New Orleans and Gibbs was the logical answer.
It wasn't going to be coach Sean Payton, who signed a five-year extension at the start of the season. But Payton has just lost a layer of insulation for the future. Once you start firing coordinators, you become the next target.
That's why Payton has to get Gibbs' replacement right and make some strong moves for the defense in the offseason. The Saints tried that prior to this season, but their plans went awry. Amid a bunch of injuries the defense ranked 23rd in the NFL. You could blame the injuries or some underachieving players or you could put the blame on Gibbs.
The Saints chose to put it on Gibbs -- this time.
In the next overhaul (which, no doubt, is coming in a few months), they have to focus on players. Linebacker Jonathan Vilma and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis were nice additions last offseason, but they weren't enough. The Saints have to start rebuilding around Vilma and Ellis and their needs are many.
They need a ball-hawking safety, at least one (and probably two) cornerbacks, some speed at outside linebacker, another defensive tackle and a pass-rusher to push Charles Grant and Will Smith.
