Category: saints history

Alvin Kamara poised to climb higher in Saints rushing leaders rankings

Alvin Kamara poised to climb higher in Saints record books; where he ranks among team rushing leaders

Don’t tell Alvin Kamara it takes a long time to build a legacy. He has only spent five years with the New Orleans Saints but he’s already one of the highest-decorated players in team history, earning five consecutive Pro Bowl nods and high placement in the franchise record books with 47 touchdown carries — he’s closing in on Mark Ingram’s team-record 51 scoring runs, surpassing Deuce McAllister (49) along the way.

But Kamara has done more than score touchdowns at a torrid pace. He’s also the team’s fourth-leading rusher all-time (with 4,328 career rushing yards), narrowly trailing the great George Rogers (4,267) for third-place. Once he’s leapfrogged Rogers he’ll face a tall task in eclipsing McAllister and Ingram, but something tells me he’s up for the challenge.

Still, this is a good opportunity to look back on Saints history and see which other players round out the top-10 rushers in the record book. Let’s dig in:

Where Michael Thomas ranks among Saints’ top-10 receiving leaders

Where does Michael Thomas rank among the Saints’ receiving leaders? Will Alvin Kamara get into the top-10 this season? Let’s check the record books:

We’re still a couple of weeks away from the start of New Orleans Saints training camp, and expectations are building up for Michael Thomas. He’s missed most of the last two years with an ankle injury that’s been frustrating for all involved, and everyone — Thomas, the team, and their fans — are hoping to put it behind them. He’s got a great opportunity in front of him to not just remind all of his competition around the NFL just how talented he is, but to get back to work on putting his stamp on New Orleans’ record books.

To that end, where does he rank right now, and how far can he progress this season? Thomas is kind of locked into the No. 4 spot with 5,950 career receiving yards, trailing Joe Horn (7,622) by a healthy margin. He would need to put up at least 1,673 yards this year to climb higher, which is a tall order — Thomas has only beaten that total once in his NFL career, when he won Offensive Player of the Year recognition with a league-leading 1,725-yard output in 2019, when he and Drew Brees were working at the height of their powers.

He would have to do more than return to form to go the distance. Thomas would need to average at least 98.4 yards per game for a full season while working with a quarterback he’s only caught one pass from (a 12-yard gain in 2020’s San Francisco 49ers game; Jameis Winston targeted Thomas five times, with three passes falling incomplete and another broken up by the defense).

That’s quite a challenge, and we haven’t even gotten into the competition for targets Thomas will be feeling from Jarvis Landry, Chris Olave, and Alvin Kamara this year. It’s tough for his personal numbers, but that’s a great problem for the Saints to manage. At the end of the day it’s in their best interests for Winston to be flooded with weapons. Hopefully Winston is able to get more out of Kamara this year; the perennial Pro Bowler clocks in at No. 11 in the franchise record books with 3,263 receiving yards, and needs 496 yards this year to get into the top-10. He finished the 2021 season with just 439 yards, having picked up a meagre 256 of them through the first seven games with Winston at the helm.

So what about the other players in the record books? Let’s survey the Saints’ all-time receiving leaders:

What was the winningest Saints uniform combo of the modern era?

What is the winningest Saints uniform combo of the modern era? Ranking each combination used since 2006 by winning percentage:

It should feel strange to turn the page on an era in New Orleans Saints history, but that’s something we’ve gotten used to. So many franchise cornerstones have hung it up in recent years: quarterback Drew Brees, defensive back Malcolm Jenkins, and even head coach Sean Payton. Payton’s tenure in particular saw great success for the Saints — he led them out of the NFL’s basement, built an offense that Brees used to become one of the best passers of all time, and put Jenkins in position to captain a defense that became the team’s strength.

More than all of those contributions, though, we’ve got to consider what the Saints were wearing. Everyone knows their sick jerseys and iconic uniform combos were what won all those games and set all those records. Right?

Jokes aside, it’s fun to keep up with arbitrary stats like this. And things are going to change with the advent of new black helmets to be used in select games this season. With the Dennis Allen era dawning before us, let’s look back at the record New Orleans achieved in each of their different uniform combos dating back to Payton’s hire in 2006; a milestone that helps mark the modern era of Saints football.

Every Panthers head coach’s record against the Saints

The Saints have shared a competitive rivalry with the Panthers over the years. Every Panthers head coach’s all-time record against New Orleans:

We’ve already explored the New Orleans Saints’ history with the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — so what’s the story with their other NFC South rival? As one of the NFL’s younger franchises (having been established as an expansion team back in 1995), the Carolina Panthers don’t have as lengthy a history with the Saints as we might first expect.

They’ve also enjoyed sustained runs with head coaches John Fox and Ron Rivera, who each lasted nine years in Carolina, meaning they haven’t cycled through as many coaches as other teams. They’ve only had six head coaches in team history if you count Perry Fewell’s four-game stint as interim coach in 2019. For comparison, the Falcons and Buccaneers have each had nine head coaches since 1995, while the Saints have had eight (including 2012 interim coaches Aaron Kromer and Joe Vitt) in that same span.

It’s been a tight series for most of its history. The Saints finally took the all-time lead from the Panthers a few years back and now lead 29-26, having won 10 of their last 13 meetings since 2016 (including a 2017 playoff elimination game). Here’s how each coach in Carolina has performed against New Orleans:

Every Falcons head coach’s all-time record against the Saints

Every Falcons head coach’s all-time record against the Saints, through 54 years (and counting) of rivalry games:

There isn’t a better NFL rivalry than the New Orleans Saints’ SEC-style feud with the Atlanta Falcons, which stretches back generations and has survived the passage of time (and a league realignment or two). Everyone knows it — it’s why the Saints are opening their 2022 season on the road against Atlanta.

Sure there may be other NFL rivalries with a higher profile on the national stage, but come on; the Chicago Bears haven’t been competitive with the Green Bay Packers in decades, with just two regular season sweeps in my lifetime (2007 and 2005, dating back to 1992, if you’re curious). At least the Baltimore Ravens have recently narrowed the gap with the Pittsburgh Steelers by winning their last four battles in a row, but Pittsburgh is winning the war with a dominant 32-24 overall record. The point is that a strong rivalry should actually be competitive and fun to watch, with real history baked into it.

Compare that to the Saints and Falcons, who have each taken their lumps and enjoyed their highlights over the years, though the Saints haven’t come close to embarrassing their fans the way Atlanta did in blowing a 28-3 lead in Super Bowl LI. Now, New Orleans is in position to tie everything up with a 2022 season sweep; the Falcons have barely held on to their all-time series lead at 54-52, thanks to Sean Payton torching them with a 21-9 record against Atlanta during his long run as Saints head coach.

But how have the individual Falcons head coaches fared? Let’s run down the list:

NFL draft: Every Saints first-round pick since 2001

2022 NFL draft: Every New Orleans Saints first-round pick since 2001

The 2022 NFL draft is just weeks away, so here’s a good opportunity to reflect on which players the New Orleans Saints have selected before. With two first-round picks coming up at Nos. 16 and 19, it’s vital that the next players turning pro with New Orleans meet their potential.

And the Saints do have a good track record in the first round dating back to the earliest days of Mickey Loomis’ tenure. Though Loomis wasn’t hired as general manager until 2002, we’ll start with the 2001 draft and one of the all-time great players to suit up for New Orleans — running back Deuce McAllister. Here is a quick look at every first round pick the Saints have spent since 2001:

Exploring Saints’ draft history with their new picks for 2022

The Saints have never made a selection from No. 16 in the NFL draft, but the last time they were at No. 19 they found one of their best-ever pass rushers: Wayne Martin

We know that the New Orleans Saints are now scheduled to make two picks in the 2022 NFL draft’s first round after trading with the Philadelphia Eagles, but what sort of history do they have with those specific draft slots (Nos. 16 and 19)? The last time that New Orleans was on the clock in their old spot at No. 18, they picked an iconic defender in the late Will Smith. Does their track record with these two other spots hold up?

The Saints have never picked at No. 16 overall — it’s one of the few slots that New Orleans has never fallen into during the first round, along with Nos. 4, 9, and 22. But the Saints have picked at No. 19 once before, and they came away with one of the greatest pass rushers in team history: defensive end Wayne Martin.

Martin finished his Saints career with 82.5 sacks, which trailed only Pro Football Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson (who had 115 official sacks as a Saint) in the team record books. He’s since been bumped down to third by ironman defensive end Cameron Jordan, who is rapidly gaining on Jackson’s all-time lead (with 107 sacks of his own).

And Martin also appeared in 171 games for New Orleans, which was the sixth-highest total for anyone in a Saints uniform at the time of his retirement. Jordan eventually outpaced him (he’s up to 176 games and counting), as did Thomas Morstead (190) and Drew Brees (228). Even if Martin only got one Pro Bowl nod during his long career, that’s a really impressive career, and the Saints would have to be ecstatic if whichever player they eventually pick at No. 19 comes close to matching him.

But how is the long-term outlook at these two draft slots? Of the last 20 players picked at No. 16 overall, nine got into at least one Pro Bowl. Four of them received first team All-Pro recognition. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected future Hall of Fame safety Troy Polamalu at this spot in 2003.

There is quite a drop off when we look through the history books at No. 19, with just four of the last 20 players drafted there getting a Pro Bowl nod. Only one of them, former Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie, was named a first team All-Pro. There are plenty of good but not great players who have been picked here. So while it isn’t a good slot historically, the Saints in particular did well when they selected Martin.

As for the other spots New Orleans is scheduled to pick from this year:

  • Round 2, Pick 49: No prior picks
  • Round 3, Pick 98: Drafted offensive tackle Don Morrison in 1971 (played 123 games), linebacker DeMond Winston in 1990 (50 games), and nose tackle Gary Lewis in 1983 (6 games)
  • Round 4, Pick 120: Drafted defensive tackle David Onyemata in 106 (89 games) and running back Harlan Huckleby in 1985 (84 games)
  • Round 5, Pick 161: Drafted linebacker Chris Bordano in 2000 (33 games)
  • Round 6, Pick 194: Drafted defensive back Jimmy Elder in 1971 (0 games)

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Marcus Williams leaves Saints ranked 8th all-time in interceptions

With Marcus Williams expected to join the Ravens, he’d leave the Saints tied for 8th all-time in career interceptions, via @RossJacksonNOLA:

The New Orleans Saints’ 2017 draft class has already left its stamp in NFL lore by producing the league’s Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year in the same season. But it’s not just Alvin Kamara and Marshon Lattimore that will leave their mark on the Saints franchise record books. As observed by friend of the blog Evan Saacks on Twitter, 2017 second-round safety Marcus Williams will leave the Saints tied for eighth all-time in interceptions after just five seasons.

William’s total of 15 regular season interceptions also tops the team since he was drafted. He is now set to depart New Orleans in favor of the Baltimore Ravens who have offered him a five-year $70 million deal. The contract averages $14 million per year in total value, which is below the $16 million to $17 million he was projected to receive. Regardless, Williams’ play has earned him this deal which ranks fifth among NFL free safeties in average per year.

By the way, not far behind Williams is fellow 2017 draft pick cornerback Marshon Lattimore. With 13 interceptions and a contract running through the 2026 season, Lattimore’s average of three picks per season would add another 15 to his ledger. Let’s see where that would place Lattimore and who Williams will leave ranked amongst in franchise history:

Throwback Thursday: Highlights from past Saints-Giants games

Throwback Thursday: Highlights from past Saints-Giants games

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The New Orleans Saints and New York Giants have an entertaining history of high-scoring games between Drew Brees and Eli Manning, but neither of those iconic passers will be taking snaps from under center on Sunday. It’s time for Jameis Winston and Daniel Jones to go create their own highlight reels.

Big Blue narrowly leads the series 16-14, but the Saints could close the gap to just one game with a win this weekend. The Giants have not won in New Orleans since Sean Payton was hired way back in 2006 (their last “home” win coming in 2005 against a Hurricane Katrina-displaced Saints team), and they haven’t left the Crescent City with a win since 1993. That’s, uh, one year before I was born.

So it’s safe to say this series has had its share of highlights. Take a run down memory lane:

Saints great Craig ‘Ironhead’ Heyward ranked high among best NFL nicknames ever

Saints great Craig “Ironhead” Heyward recognized on list of NFL’s best-ever nicknames

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A lot of players have left their mark on the NFL, and many of them left with great nicknames. But who owns the best? And which New Orleans Saints legends would you rank highest?

Thomas Neumann put together an expansive list over at Touchdown Wire, making his picks for the 101 greatest nicknames in NFL history. And just one Saints player made his list: Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, at No. 20. Here’s what Neumann wrote of Heyward:

Not only did longtime NFL running back Craig Heyward have a terrific nickname, but there also was an awesome backstory behind it. One of Heyward’s sons, current Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, relayed the story in a 2016 article. It seems young Craig got into a scuffle, and an antagonist broke a pool cue over his head. Unfazed, he didn’t flinch, which led Craig’s mother to dub him Ironhead. After rushing for 3,086 yards in three seasons at the University of Pittsburgh, Craig was drafted No. 24 overall by the New Orleans Saints in 1988. He went on to record 5,860 yards from scrimmage and 34 total touchdowns in 11 pro seasons with the Saints, Bears, Falcons, Rams and Colts.

Heyward is well remembered among Saints fans even to this day, but he isn’t the only member of the black and good to rock a great nickname. What about the “Quiet Storm” Marques Colston, one of the most underrated receivers to ever play the game? He who let his play speak for itself and who caught more passes for more yards than Donald Driver in 2007 and scored almost six times as many touchdowns as the big-name Packers wideout, only to be overlooked in that year’s Pro Bowl voting?

Some Saints diehards still remember Super Bowl XLIV champion blocking tight end and part-time fullback David Thomas, nicknamed “Wendy’s” in honor of the fast food chain’s founder, Dave Thomas. Or Mike “The Predator” McKenzie, whose signature hairstyle and fiery playstyle invoked the sci-fi alien’s dreadlocks? And who can forget Josh “Playoffs” Hill, who doubled his receiving yards-per-game average in the postseason?

To say nothing of Alex Anzalone, whose last name was (affectionately?) spun off as “Autozone,” “Calzone,” and some profane variants we can’t put in print here, depending on how well he was playing at the time. “Thor” would have been the easy pick given his luscious blond locks, but Saints fans are (sometimes) too creative to take such low-hanging fruit.

In any case, there are more great nicknames in Saints history than we have time to recount. So which ones stand out to you? Who will you remember to tell your grandkids about someday?

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