Saints’ Jimmy Graham Thinks McGriff Is A Good Hire

New Orleans Saints' head coach Sean Payton announced The hiring of Wesley McGriff on Monday. McGriff will be the Saints' new defensive backs coach.
Tight End Jimmy Graham thinks McGriff is a good fit for a franchise that seeks to rebound from a 2012 season that was the worst defensive performance in NFL history.
Graham played one year of college football at the University of Miami. He practiced against a secondary coached by McGriff.
McGriff was the co-defensive coordinator/cornerbacks coach at the University of Mississippi last season, which  saw the Rebels improve from  2-10 in 2011 to  7-6 in 2012.
Before joining the Rebels, McGriff spent 2011 at Vanderbilt. He was the Commodores' defensive backs coach/recruiting coordinator.   McGriff spent the previous four seasons coaching Miami’s defensive backs.
“Coach McGriff will be a great addition to our team,” said Graham. “His experience and work ethic along with being an excellent teacher will make him an asset to our team.”
-Jimmy Graham, Saints' Tight End

Graham  expressed admiration for McGriff's  ability to develop young defensive backs. This will likely prove to be important since the Saints are expected to look for more youth & athleticism on defense this year.
In 2011, McGriff coached All-America Casey Hayward at Vanderbilt. Alford finished third in the Associated Press voting for Defensive Rookie of the Year after leading all NFL rookies with six interceptions in 2012.
McGriff has also coached New York Giants S Kenny Phillips, the Packers' Sam Shields, Texans CB Brandon Harris and the Jets' Yeremiah Bell.
Graham offered some good natured "taunting" to the newest Saints coach, "I'm looking forward to seeing frustration on his face the first chance we scrimmage in the red-zone.”