Category: 2023 season

Saints cornerbacks highlighted for their sticky coverage by PFF

Marshon Lattimore and Isaac Yiadom had some of the stickiest coverage among all cornerbacks last year by these three metrics at Pro Football Focus:

New Orleans Saints lead cornerback Marshon Lattimore and his former teammate Isaac Yiadom received recognition from Pro Football Focus for their tight coverage in 2023. PFF’s Jim Wyman highlighted the 10 best cornerbacks in these three categories: tight coverage, step of separation, and open targets.

Yiadom was the only cornerback in the NFL to place top-10 in each category. It’s no surprise he left New Orleans for a higher-ceiling opportunity with the San Francisco 49ers. His best finish came in open target percentage. He was the sixth-best cornerback, allowing an open target only 28.3% of the time.

Lattimore made an appearance on the step of separation top-10 list that included 16 players. Lattimore was a part of a six-man tie for 10th place. He, along with Yiadom, allowed a step of separation on just 25% of targets.

While Yiadom is in San Francisco now, he represented the depth of the secondary last season. The Saints’ secondary remains strong heading into 2024. Lattimore is still a New Orleans Saint and forms a formidable starting cornerback tandem along with Paulson Adebo. And that’s without getting into the contributions Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry can offer to the unit.

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NFL shares highlight reel of Saints’ top 10 plays from 2023 season

The Saints’ dynamic receiving tandem of Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed make up the 7 of the Saints Top 10 plays of 2023:

The NFL shared a highlight reel of the New Orleans Saints’ 10 best plays from the 2023 season on social media, which included a large presence of Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave. Of the 10 plays, the Saints’ leading receivers accounted for seven of them.

This goes to show just how dynamic the Saints wide receiver tandem is. Olave made an appearance in four plays including the top two spots and Shaheed showed up three times. One of Shaheed’s appearances came on special teams, as well.

All of the offensive plays were passing plays. Juwan Johnson made an appearance with a catch from the Week 17 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a season best for the tight end. Demario Davis’ strip fumble was the lone defensive play on the list, and a Nephi Sewell punt block capped off the Top 10.

Two plays immediately jump to mind that didn’t make the cut. Tyrann Mathieu’s pick-six against the New England Patriots should have been a candidate. His 74-yard interception return likely would’ve made the cut had he not chose to go down early. It was surprising to not see the “Shid run” play from the Tennessee Titans game.

The problem with putting a play on the list is you’d have to take one off, so let’s just call these honorable mentions.

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Here’s how bad the Bears were in the fourth quarter in 2023

Warren Sharp broke down just how bad the Bears were during the fourth quarter last season.

It’s no secret the Chicago Bears struggled in the fourth quarter during the 2023 season.

Chicago lost a total of six games by one score last season, which included three contests where the team gave the game away in the fourth quarter. The Bears blew a 21-point lead to the Denver Broncos in Week 4; they blew a 12-point lead in the final minutes to the Detroit Lions in Week 11; and they blew a 10-point lead to the Cleveland Browns in Week 15.

Warren Sharp broke down the Bears’ performance last season, highlighting how bad they were closing out games in the fourth quarter even beyond those blown leads.

If you look at Chicago’s performance in the first three quarters alone, they would’ve finished with a 10-6-1 record, which would’ve been the eighth most wins in the NFL. The Bears also outgained opposing teams by 430 yards and ranked 10th in total line of scrimmage EPA (offense and defense) through three quarters.

By comparison, the fourth quarter was a disaster. They had -50.7 total EPA (worst in the NFL), 14 turnovers (most), 10 interceptions (most), were outgained by 446 yards (second worst) and ultimately finished with the worst record in the NFC North (7-9).

Bears coach Matt Eberflus will certainly be under the microscope this season after his team failed to pull out close games in 2023, especially after the team opted to stick with him at coach following a rough first two seasons.

While it’s unfair to compare last year’s squad with the current roster, it’s clear Chicago needs to learn how to close out games if they hope to contend for the postseason. And that starts with their head coach.

Looking back on the Bears’ all-time trade in franchise history

The Bears trade of the No. 1 pick in 2023 has set them up for success in the long term.

The Chicago Bears did an incredible thing for their franchise just last year. General manager Ryan Poles pulled the trigger on a trade that redefined the franchise moving forward that will help them build a winner.

After earning the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, as the worst team in the league, they opted to forgo selecting a quarterback and ride with Justin Fields. The result? One of the best trades in NFL history.

The Bears traded the top selection to the Carolina Panthers for a haul that has turned into wide receiver DJ Moore, right tackle Darnell Wright, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, quarterback Caleb Williams and a 2025 second-round selection still on the way.

While the trade isn’t finalized yet — with that second rounder to be — it’s already one of the greatest trades in franchise history.

For one, Moore became their No. 1 receiver immediately. Even with inconsistent quarterback play from Justin Fields in 2023, Moore stood out as one of the best wideouts in the NFL.

Wright, selected at 10th overall in 2023, was one of the Bears’ best offensive linemen and looks the part of a franchise right tackle. It won’t be long until he is helping the Bears have one of the best offensive lines as a result.

Stevenson, selected at 56th overall in 2023, started immediately as a rookie and emerged as a playmaker in the secondary. With one year under his belt, Stevenson will look to build off a strong finish in his first season.

Carolina was the worst team in the NFL last season, which led to the Bears getting the No. 1 pick and selecting quarterback Caleb Williams. Chicago has never had a star quarterback that is considered elite. Williams may end up being that guy.

Getting Moore, Wright and Stevenson out of that trade is very good right off the bat. Add in Williams’ potential and you could be talking about one of the greatest trades ever made in NFL history.

As for Carolina, they selected Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, who struggled during his rookie year. C.J. Stroud, who was selected second overall by the Houston Texans, looks like the much better player. That is going to be a painful comparison for a long time if Young doesn’t take a step. That isn’t Chicago’s problem though as they got the best of the deal by far.

This ‘disappointing’ preseason forecast nailed Derek Carr’s final passing stats

We said this preseason forecast would be disappointing for Derek Carr, but Bleacher Report nailed their predictions for his 2023 passing stats:

Opposing defenses weren’t the only ones who found the New Orleans Saints to be too predictable last year. We described the predictions for Derek Carr’s final stats from Bleacher Report as disappointing, but B/R’s Alex Kay had it down almost perfectly. And as we said at the time, this performance from Carr was a disappointment. We had higher expectations for him.

Still, here’s a hat tip to Kay for getting it right. Here are Kay’s predictions compared to the numbers Carr finished with in 2023 in parentheses:

  • 68% completion percentage (68.4%)
  • 3,901 passing yards (3,878)
  • 25 touchdown passes (25)
  • 13 interceptions (8)
  • 30 carries (32)
  • 118 rushing yards (40)
  • 1 touchdown run (0)

So Kay had Carr’s passing numbers down almost perfectly, though they overestimated how many times he’d turn the ball over. Carr was risk-averse to a fault last year and left some big-play opportunities on the field while being too eager to check down to Alvin Kamara or other receivers underneath coverage. Kay also expected Carr to make more plays with his legs than we actually saw.

But this doesn’t mean Carr can repeat this performance in 2024. It’s encouraging that he finished the season so strong; in his last five starts (where the Saints went 4-1), Carr completed 114 of 154 passes (74%) for 1,117 yards and 14 touchdowns, with just 2 interceptions. Extrapolate those averages over 17 games and you’d be left with 3,798 yards and 47 touchdowns against 7 interceptions. It isn’t realistic to expect 47 touchdown passes (the record in a 17-game season is 43, set by Tom Brady in 2021) or a 74% completion percentage but the yardage lines up with what we’ve seen before.

The point is that Carr needs to improve on those numbers. Extending the red zone efficiency he found late last year would be a big plus. Stepping up to make better throws under pressure between the 20-yard lines and playing like a quarterback his team can lean on would be massive. He averaged the second-fewest passing yards per game in his career last season. That can’t happen again. If he continues to underwhelm in a new offensive system, he might just be who he is. And that would be another disappointment.

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Bears announce T.J. Edwards, Darnell Wright recipients of Brian Piccolo Award

Every year, the Bears select a veteran and rookie to honor with the Brian Piccolo Award. This year, it’s T.J. Edwards and Darnell Wright.

Courage. Loyalty. Teamwork. Dedication. A sense of humor. Those are just a few traits that described the late Brian Piccolo.

On Tuesday, the Bears announced linebacker T.J. Edwards and offensive tackle Darnell Wright as this year’s recipients of the Brian Piccolo Award. Each year, the Bears recognize a veteran and a rookie who best exemplify the traits Piccolo displayed during his time with the team.

Edwards finished up his first season in the navy and orange after he signed a three-year deal in free agency, coming over from the Philadelphia Eagles. He quickly became one of the team’s best defenders and formed a solid duo with Tremaine Edmunds, who also came over in free agency.

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In 2023, Edwards led the team with 155 tackles (eight for a loss), totaled 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and three interceptions. He was also one of the select players who joined presumptive No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams at dinner when he was in town for his top-30 visit.

Wright, meanwhile, was the top draft choice a year ago when he was selected No. 10 overall out of Tennessee. The hulking offensive lineman started as a rookie immediately at right tackle and started every single game. Though he allowed seven sacks on the season, Wright showed plenty of promise and is a building block for this offense going forward.

Piccolo is most known for his relationship with former Bears Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers, and their friendship was the spotlight of the film Brian’s Song, which has left a profound impact on many who have watched it.

Piccolo passed away after embryonal cell carcinoma, an aggressive form of germ cell testicular cancer, had spread to his chest cavity. He was 26 years old. Still, Piccolo’s memory lives on through the stories told and an annual award that honors those traits that defined his character.

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Cowboys CB DaRon Bland earns bonus for record-breaking season, nearly doubling 2023 salary

From @ToddBrock24f7: The CB earned $759K based on the league’s Performance-Based Pay system, designed to compensate lower-earning players for heavy playing time.

DaRon Bland had an exceptional sophomore season, etching his name in the NFL history books, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl, and being named a first-team All-Pro.

Now he’s getting a substantial financial bonus as a reward, one that nearly doubles his salary for a record-breaking year.

The Cowboys cornerback will receive an extra $759,756 on top of his 2023 salary as part of the league’s Performance-Based Pay program, a fund set up by the Collective Bargaining Agreement to provide extra compensation to lower-earning players who end up seeing heavy playing time.

Bland earned a base salary of $870,000 last season, plus a signing bonus of $76,197. In return, the fifth-round draft pick led the NFL with nine interceptions and established a new all-time record by returning five of them for touchdowns. He started 15 of 17 regular-season games and finished second on the team in defensive snaps, appearing on the field for over 90% of the Dallas defense’s plays.

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Bland’s PBP bonus was among the top 20 in the entire league for the 2023 season.

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Paulson Adebo ranked in PFF top 101 players from the 2023 season

After his breakout season in 2023, Paulson Adebo found himself on PFF’s top 101 players list. He’s an important piece moving forwards:

Paulson Adebo’s breakout season has been heavily respected by Pro Football Focus. He has been labeled as the Saints most improved player and secret superstar. Adebo turned into a number one cornerback and elevated his play after his first two seasons.

In his end of season rankings, PFF analyst Sam Monson ranked Adebo as the 90th best player of 2023, writing:

Adebo had occasionally flashed impact ability over his first two years in the league, but this season he did it far more consistently. And for a month in the middle of the year, he was the best cornerback in football. Adebo finished with 11 pass breakups and four picks, allowing a 69.9 passer rating when targeted.

The biggest transformation in Adebo’s game was the ability to get his hands on passes. He reached double-digit passes defensed for the first time in his career (though PFF credited him with 11, ESPN and Pro Football Reference both had him with 18 of them), while also hitting a career-high in interceptions. He also excelled in limiting yards after catch. He was tasked with defending the best receiver on the opposing team. Just as he was consistently targeted, Adebo consistently delivered.

2023 was the season where the third year corner put it all together. He stepped up in Marshon Lattimore’s absence to become not only the lead corner for New Orleans, but a true number-one corner. Lattimore will step back into his lead role if he returns to New Orleans next season, and Adebo cements the Saints secondary as a No Fly Zone.

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Derek Carr’s deal listed among the NFL’s worst contracts

B/R believes Derek Carr has one of the worst contracts in the NFL, with a suggestion for what the Saints should have done last year at QB:

Derek Carr underperformed in his first season with the New Orleans Saints, struggling to hit his stride until the last third of the season — at which point it was too little, too late. The team is hoping for a faster start in 2024 after hiring a new offensive coaching staff aimed at putting Carr in a position to succeed.

Still, his underwhelming first year in New Orleans can’t be overlooked. In response, Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon called Carr’s contract one of the worst in the NFL after the disappointing year.

The bad return: Well in Year 1 with New Orleans, Derek Carr ranked below the league median in QBR for a Saints team that wasn’t particularly competitive at 9-8. And should anyone expect that to change dramatically? The soon-to-be 33-year-old hasn’t been a Pro Bowler since 2017.

The better option: They should have thrown in the towel on 2023 and started from scratch with Will Levis, who was still available when New Orleans selected Bryan Bresee 29th overall in last year’s draft.

It was frustrating to watch Carr in 2023 at times, but his contract is not that bad. He’s ranking 13th around the league in money per year. His 2024 salary cap hit ranks 20th in the league after the Saints restructured his contract a week ago. Carr also ranked 13th in passing yards (3,878), and 10th in touchdown passes (25). The Saints view his performance as right in line with his compensation, though everyone has different standards for what’s acceptable or not.

The Saints’ roster wasn’t at a point to throw in the towel, which rules out getting a rookie quarterback like Will Levis. Carr was disappointing, but to call his contract one of the worst in the league is an overstatement.

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All 32 NFL teams ranked by attendance in 2023 season (including the Saints)

Where all 32 NFL teams ranked by average home game attendance during the 2023 season (including the New Orleans Saints):

The New Orleans Saints have fallen into a slump in life without Drew Brees and Sean Payton, but the Who Dat Nation is still showing up and supporting their team. They’re certainly bringing a stronger presence to the Caesars Superdome than most teams around the league.

Here’s where all 32 teams (including the Saints) ranked in average attendance at home games in 2023, using numbers reported at ESPN: