By nearly any metric, the New Orleans Saints' interior defensive line was overwhelmingly average in 2010. Though incumbent defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis did lead the team with six sacks, against the run the Saints hovered around the league’s statistical average in terms of both rushing yards (112.3 yards per game) and rushing touchdowns (13) allowed.

While these stats don’t necessarily jump out of a spreadsheet the same way the 2010 Saints’ dramatic drop-offs in turnovers and offensive rushing yards do, they don’t inspire confidence in a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. The lasting image of the season, unfortunately and unquestionably, is Marshawn Lynch’s 67-yard “beastmode” run that registered on Seattle’s ritcher scales and sent the Black and Gold home early.

This off-season, Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis appear to have made a concerted effort to bolster the Saints' rushing defense. Though defensive tackle Remi Ayodele is now a Minnesota Viking, New Orleans added two run-stopping specialists, Aubrayo Franklin and Shaun Rogers, via free agency to fill the void in the interior, both on one-year deals. By adding Franklin and Rogers to a unit that already includes former first round pick Ellis, the Saints are as now as talented against the run as at any time in recent memory.

Rogers, who signed with New Orleans before the lockout began, has made three Pro Bowls in his 10-year career. At 6-4 and 350 pounds, he is also significantly more imposing than the 6-2, 320-pound Ayodele. Having spent the entirety of his career on bad teams in Detroit and Cleveland, the Saints provide a welcome opportunity to compete for a championship.

"I'm just excited to be a part of a franchise with that kind of tradition, that kind of history, and those kinds of guys,” Rogers said. “I hopefully will be able to bring something to the table and contribute to a situation like that again.”

So far Payton likes what he sees in the veteran.

"He's strong, he's physical at the point of attack, he's a load when you watch him just get into stance," Payton said. "He has a big body. He's smart, that’s one thing I noticed when you listen to him talk and you listen to him talk about football. I also think he is hungry to be on a winning team and have a chance to do something. It’s something you take for granted after playing in the postseason and playing in the Super Bowl, but that comes with our game that so many players that never get that chance. I think that’s one thing that burns with him a little bit.”

With Rogers already on board, many were surprised when the Saints also managed to land Franklin, who was generally considered, along with Philadelphia’s Cullen Jenkins, to be the top interior lineman on the free agent market. Instead of seeking a longer contract, Franklin settled on a one-year deal to come to New Orleans.

"He's someone that we have a ton of respect for,” Payton said. “He’s been a real consistent player and extremely difficult against the run. Having gone against him last year and having spent a lot of time looking at tape on him and a lot of these defensive tackles, he was one that was a little bit of a surprise and a pleasant surprise.”

Like Rogers, winning was one of Franklin’s main motivations for coming to New Orleans.

“I was just trying to wait, to find out the best situation for me,” Franklin said. “I felt like when Coach Payton called, that I could get a spot in the rotation here with Sedrick (Ellis) and Shaun (Rogers). These guys have proven that they can win a Super Bowl, and I want to help contribute and see if we can win another one."

These additions have caused an unexpected but welcome problem at Saints camp. For the first time during his tenure in New Orleans, Payton has had to find snaps for all his quality linemen. In addition to Rogers, Franklin and Ellis, rookie defensive end Cameron Jordan appears to have the versatility to play inside, and former CFL All-Star Tom Johnson has been impressive during training camp. It is a problem Payton certainly loves to have.

“With any good front, you never see the tackles playing 60 snaps,” Payton said. “With Rogers, I see a guy who can play nose tackle and the three. Sedrick Ellis is a guy that can play the three and nose tackle. Aubrayo Franklin is a guy that plays nose tackle. I see those guys handling a ton of work inside. Those are plenty of snaps. Many would argue that you need a fourth, and we have some guys out here that we are looking at right now. I think they all understand that and their flexibility with it is paramount.” Though the Saints revamped interior line looks much better getting off the team bus, the real test will be to see if they can adjust to defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ frenetic pace. Though both Rogers and Franklin are big, physical presences, Williams has always valued tenacity over sheer size and strength. If he can get his new additions to play with the same non-stop motor with which he coaches, expect New Orleans to fair much better against the run in 2011.

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-- NICK PERUFFO
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