Stud: Deonte Harris, returns specialist
At least the rookie out of Assumption College showed up on the Saints’ biggest stage. Harris more than justified his first-team All-Pro status with 133 kick return yards (averaging 33.3 yards on four attempts) and 44 punt return yards (at a clip of 11 yards on four returns), not including a few other big returns wiped out by penalties. He also caught the Saints’ longest pass of the game on a 50-yard lob from Taysom Hill. When the lights were brightest and the stakes raised higher than ever, Harris gave his team all he had.
That's our [BACKUP] quarterback đą
…and UNDRAFTED ALL-PRO Punt Returner âźď¸ pic.twitter.com/SQ74F0IgWp
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) January 5, 2020
Dud: Alvin Kamara, running back
Conversely, Kamara didn’t look like someone comfortable playing in the postseason. He struggled to keep his footing and seemed to trip and fall every time he touched the ball, especially in the last drive during the fourth quarter. He left big chunks of yardage on the ground by going out of bounds too soon. Maybe Kamara’s body still isn’t right after the lower-leg injuries he dealt with earlier this season. Whatever the case, he averaged almost as many yards per catch (4.3) in this game as yards per carry (3.0), which is a huge indictment of his usage. When was the last time the Saints got Kamara lined up against a linebacker and dialed up a vertical route down the field?
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