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Why the Saints could have a top 5 total defense

By Jake Rajala

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 29: Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen of the New Orleans Saints reacts before an NFL preseason game against the Miami Dolphins at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on August 29, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 29: Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen of the New Orleans Saints reacts before an NFL preseason game against the Miami Dolphins at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on August 29, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

CB Janoris Jenkins

New Orleans defense eked out with adding an elite corner before week 16, a corner who intercepted five passes last season but was released by the Giants for off-field concerns. The Saints haven’t had a No. 2 corner this good since Jabari Greer in 2013.

The Saints defense played much worse without Greer, but the Saints also took themselves seven years to attain a quality No. 2 corner. Jenkins has proven to be that No. 2 corner who can start across from Lattimore.

Jenkins had an impressive game against the Vikings, and he showed to fit in very well with the aggressive philosophy ran by Dennis Allen. Jenkins ran in on a corner blitz and made a tackle for loss, and he also forced a fumble on another play.

A full season with Jenkins across from a healthy Lattimore will unravel to be one of the better cornerback tandems in the NFC. It will be crucial for the Saints to take their most significant stride with an upgrade at corner because the Saints face two excellent wideouts against the Buccaneers and Falcons.

Jenkins should get some help from a good Saints pass rush, so it’s not a familiar scene when he was in New York, where the veteran corner had to cover receivers for 6 seconds. Jenkins has the motivation to grab a Super Bowl ring, which is why he chose to sign with New Orleans, so expect the 31-year-old corner to keep his form for a couple more years.

Two really good corners on the Saints could unlock lots of potential for a Saints defense that wants to help their elite offense. The last time that the Saints had two good corners was in 2013, and they ranked number four in total defense.

Let’s take a look at the biggest reason why the Saints could have their biggest jump in defensive performance.

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