Tag: career

Cameron Jordan had his first multi-sack game since 2022 season

Cameron Jordan had his first multi-sack game since 2022 against the Washington Commanders. The New Orleans Saints pass rush is heating up:

This time of year is usually prime time for New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan.

On Sunday against the Washington Commanders, Jordan achieved his first multi-sack game since late in the 2022 season, back on New Year’s Day 2023 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Jordan tallied up three sacks on Eagles backup Gardner Minshew in a game in which they would win 20-10.

Jordan had two sacks against Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, to bump his total to three on the season. Coincidentally, Jordan’s three sacks in 2024 have all came during interim head coach Darren Rizzi’s tenure.

It has been very evident that Cam’s play as of late has been much more impressive in this second half of the season. On Sunday, his play was crucial in containing a player like Daniels and making sure that he doesn’t extend plays on the perimeter.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Alvin Kamara set to hit an important new milestone in Week 14

Alvin Kamara is only 39 yards away from setting a new single-season high in rushing yards. He’s on pace for his first 1,000-yard season, too:

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is on pace to set a new single-season high in rushing yards against the New York Giants this Sunday. He set his previous personal-best back in 2020, when Kamara rushed for 932 yards. That was by far the best season of his career. He balanced a heavy workload and rare explosiveness, while also delivering the most touchdowns in the league (16).

The Saints haven’t been able to surround Kamara with the best pieces this season due to injuries. The offseason addition of Klint Kubiak, however, has clearly paid off. Kubiak’s new run scheme was one of the biggest selling points of the hire.

Kamara has produced despite injuries to blockers Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz and Lucas Patrick. Taysom Hill was the best secondary running threat. He’s missed time throughout the season and Jamaal Williams hasn’t been much help. The offense has ran through and leaned on Kamara all season, and he’s more than delivered. He’s up to 894 rushing yards through just 12 games.

With another 39 yards, Kamara will have his highest rushing total of his career and is likely going to surpass the 1,000-yard mark for the first time ever. He may achieve that in Week 14, as well, with a strong performance. He’s averaging 74.5 yards per game on the ground this season and just put up 112 on the Los Angeles Rams, the fifth-ranked defense in rushing yards allowed per game (144.2). The fourth-ranked squad is Kamara’s next opponent, the New York Giants, who have averaged 145.8 yards per game. That’s looking like a favorable matchup.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Tyrann Mathieu has his eyes on coaching after playing career

Tyrann Mathieu is still playing good football, but he has had internal conversations on what he wants to do when he hangs it up:

Tyrann Mathieu has been the New Orleans Saints’ best veteran on defense this year. He is the leader in turnovers on the team. Despite playing at a high level, he’s still looking towards life after football.

This future is still some years away, but Mathieu admits he does think about coaching. Those internal conversations have gone as far as whether or not he would coach on the professional or collegiate level.

In the past, Mathieu has expressed the desire to coach at his alma mater, LSU. The safety’s leadership has been one of his most heralded attributes as a player, so a transition to coaching makes sense.

In his playing career, Mathieu feel he has “accomplished everything that I’ve individually set out to accomplish.” Now he’s taking it year by year and enjoying himself.

It feels like the ability to come in and play for the Saints is just the cherry on top of what has been a great career. He returned to his hometown in 2021, and that have been the last box for him to check.

Mathieu has relished in “coming back home, being able to be in the the community, being able to play high level football and be productive on the field.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Taysom Hill recognized with his second career Offensive Player of the Week award

Take a bow, Taysom Hill. The Saints’ standout football player was recognized with his second career Offensive Player of the Week award:

Take a bow, Taysom Hill. The New Orleans Saints football player was recognized with his second career NFC Offensive Player of the Week award after making plays as a runner, receiver, and passer against the Cleveland Browns — not counting his impressive kick return for 42 yards.

Take that with his 138 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards, and an 18-yard pass, and Hill amassed 188 yards from scrimmage with 230 all-purpose yards. Each of those totals were personal bests for him, and he had three touchdown runs on the afternoon, too.

This is the third weekly honor for Hill after he was previously named NFC Offensive Player of the Week in 2022 and NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in 2018. Call him a quarterback, fullback, tight end or wide receiver — wherever Hill lines up, he makes plays. That’s what interim head coach Darren Rizzi expressed to FOX Sports sideline reporter Jennifer Hale during Sunday’s win over the Browns.

“Taysom’s an unbelievable football player, usually the more we can use him the better off we are,” Rizzi said on the broadcast, acknowledging Hill’s highlights despite an interception and fumble on the day. “We just gotta do a better job limiting the negative plays, can’t turn the football over. But we’re going to use Taysom as much as we can.”

Hill is averaging a career-high 38.3 rushing yards per game this season on top of 21.4 receiving yards per game, which is also the most for his time in the NFL. Over the summer Klint Kubiak and the Saints coaching staff expressed an eagerness to get more out of Hill than in past seasons, and you’re seeing that pay off. Hill just needs to stay healthy, protect the football, and keep earning recognition for his efforts.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Taysom Hill climbs higher among Saints’ all-time leading scorers

Taysom Hill added to his legacy in Sunday’s contest against the Browns, breaking his tie with Pierre Thomas in the Saints’ all-time record books:

Taysom Hill is rungs higher on the list of all-time leading scorers with his 10-yard rushing touchdown against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Hill has now broken his tie with Pierre Thomas for touchdowns scored in Saints history. He now sits at ninth overall with 42 touchdowns combined between his efforts as a runner, receiver and returner, a perfect illustration of just how much of a Swiss army knife he truly is. Eric Martin is next ahead of him with 48 touchdowns scored.

Several teams have tried to replicate Hill over the years and have failed to this point, and it’s easy to get the sense there may never be another quite like him. The Saints get to reap the fortune of that at the rest of the league’s expense.

Sunday’s touchdown run marked the 13th rushing touchdown in his career.

Hill came into the game with 10 receptions on 14 targets for 100 yards, also totaling 130 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries.

How he continues to add to his legacy both in this game and down the rest of the schedule will be something to watch.

The Saints lead the Browns, 7-6 at the top of the second quarter.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

WATCH: Alvin Kamara breaks the all-time Saints rushing yards record

WATCH: New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara breaks the all-time franchise record for rushing yards

The New Orleans Saints have a new franchise leader in all-time rushing yards, and it is Alvin Kamara. Kamara came into the Week 10 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons only 12 yards away from taking the record away from his former teammate Mark Ingram, and on the first two rushes of the game was able to accrue over that amount to take it for himself.

Kamara has previously set the franchise record for rushing touchdowns and attempts, and is nearing the top five in receiving yards for the Saints where he is only 205 yards behind Jimmy Graham for sixth place. Now he accrues one more record for his long-list of achievements, and will continue to build the gap in the coming years.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Alvin Kamara credits former teammate who chose to ‘show me the way’

As Alvin Kamara prepares to pass Mark Ingram II as the Saints’ all-time leading rusher, he reflected on how much Ingram means to him:

Barring anything unforeseen, Alvin Kamara will be the New Orleans Saints all-time leading rusher by Monday morning.

The team won’t have to try hard to get him the record. If the past two weeks are any indication, Kamara will cross that threshold on his first carry. He opened the last two games with runs of 20 or more yards.

Kamara’s only 12 yards away from toppling Mark Ingram II’s record set in 2021. He said his former teammate told him after last week’s game, “Good thing you can break it at home.” It’s something Ingram didn’t have the chance to do. He finished a home game against the Falcons just short of the record. Kamara will break the record against the Falcons at home.

The duo were teammates in 2017 and 2018 then again in 2021 and 2022. Their joint interviews were some of that era’s highlights.

Their friendship remains strong even after Ingram’s retirement, and Kamara spoke about how much Ingram meant to his career.

Kamara gives a lot of credit to Ingram for helping him become the player and professional he is today. “That was my example. Thank God he was in my room. I had an example right there, right next to me to guide me and show me the way.”

Fast forward seven years and Kamara has the opportunity to take down Ingram’s example:  “It’s definitely a full circle moment because I came in, young buck. He gave everything to me, poured into me.”

The two leading rushers in Saints history shared the backfield for four seasons. That’s the definition of passing the torch.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Saints starting cornerback was a street free agent just two weeks ago

From street free agent to starting on Sunday: Recapping the last month for New Orleans Saints cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles

It’s been a busy couple of months for Shemar Jean-Charles. The New Orleans Saints cornerback has bounced on and off of the team’s practice squad after a standout performance during the preseason; if not for rookie sensation Rico Payton, he likely would’ve made the roster outright. Instead, he’s gone from being a street free agent to a game-day starter in a matter of weeks.

Let’s recap his experience. Jean-Charles was waived during final roster cuts on Aug. 27 and re-signed with the Saints practiice squad a few weeks later on Sept. 11, only to be let go again on Oct. 15. His return was announced the next week on Oct. 22, after Paulson Adebo’s season-ending injury. He was promoted to the 53-man roster on Nov. 2, just in time to start in Adebo’s place against the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 3.

Not bad for a former late-round draft pick. Payton is dealing with a back  issue and hamstring injuries have sidelined both Marshon Lattimore and  Kool-Aid McKinstry, so Jean-Charles is one of a couple of new faces in the Saints secondary on Sunday. Here’s hoping he makes some plays and hangs tough against a Panthers offense desperate to end their losing streak.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

PHOTOS: Wisconsin basketball legend Bo Ryan through the years

A look at Bo Ryan’s career with the Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin basketball legend Bo Ryan was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday.

The longtime Badger coach received his induction back in April. Sunday’s event made his enshrinement official, as he and the rest of the Naismith Hall of Fame Class of 2024 received their jackets and were immortalized among the sport’s all-time greats. Other members of that class include NBA greats Vince Carter, Chauncey Billups and Walter Davis.

“I’m still pinching myself,” the Wisconsin Badgers legend said before the ceremony. “When I got the word, all the memories, all the players, all the camaraderie of the teams that were cohesive…those are the things that flashed into my head. Boy, do I have a lot of people to thank.”

Here is a clip from Ryan’s speech, specifically about his players and program at Wisconsin:

Ryan coached for the Badgers from 2001-2015. His Hall of Fame tenure with the program included four Big Ten Coach of the Year awards (2002, 2003, 2013, 2015), four Big Ten titles, two Final Four appearances and a final record of 364-130.

To say that there are Wisconsin program ‘greats’ discounts Ryan’s substantial individual impact and importance. He is the embodiment of Wisconsin basketball and is a significant reason the program is where it is today.

As Ryan’s coaching career is celebrated by the basketball world, here is a look at his time at Wisconsin, through photos:

Alvin Kamara moved up to second among Saints’ all-time rushing yards leaders

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara surpassed Deuce McAllister in Week 3 to rank second among the Saints’ all-time rushing yards leaders:

The New Orleans Saints’ 15-12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3 somewhat overshadowed some of the positive things that had happened, including Tyrann Mathieu tying for second place with his 35th interception among active players. It’s tough to say much was positive for the offense when they only scored a dozen points, but some individuals did pass important milestones.

One of them was Alvin Kamara surpassing Deuce McAllister in career rushing yards with the Saints, moving him up to second behind his old teammate Mark Ingram II. Kamara entered the game trailing McAllister  by 69 rushing yards, and with 87 yards on the ground, he ended the day 18 yards ahead.

Even more impressively, Kamara did this on 53 fewer rushing attempts than McAllister. He has a decent margin remaining to get up to first place, however, with Ingram sitting at exactly 6,500 rushing yards for New Orleans, while Kamara checks in at 6,114. For Kamara to reach Ingram on the same amount of rushing attempts, he would need to average around 5.1 yards per carry on his next 75 attempts, which is pretty unreasonable given his hot start to the season. With only 386 more yards to go, he could feasibly find his way to the top of the list this season however, which is a fun stat to keep an eye on throughout the year.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]