Tag: career

Get to know the QB prospects the Saints will be coaching at the Senior Bowl

Several Saints coaches will work closely with QB prospects Malik Cunningham, Jaren Hall, and Jake Haener at Senior Bowl practices. Get to know them better:

The New Orleans Saints will have several coaches on the ground at the upcoming Senior Bowl, with passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry and offensive assistant D.J. Williams both tabbed to join the National Team coaching staff; Curry is the offensive coordinator, and Williams is the quarterback coach. That’s going to put them in close proximity with several quarterback prospects in the 2023 NFL draft for a week of practices and classroom work, giving the Saints an early look at each of these promising passers.

And it’s an interesting group. All three National Team quarterbacks are listed at similar heights and weights in the 6-foot-1 and 200-pound range, though we’ll get a better idea of their athletic profiles once the Senior Bowl announces weigh-in results next week. Either way, unless something drastic appears they should pass the bar for New Orleans. The Saints have their prototypes but they aren’t about to pass on good players just because they’re a few pounds underweight. Let’s get to know each of them better:

WATCH: Alvin Kamara takes the lead vs. Browns, ties Marques Colston’s Saints TD record

WATCH: Alvin Kamara takes the lead vs. Browns, ties Marques Colston’s Saints TD record

Finally: it took so much longer than anyone expected, but Alvin Kamara has tied Marques Colston for the New Orleans Saints touchdowns record. His 4-yard scoring run on the Cleveland Browns not only gave New Orleans the team lead, it was his 72nd career touchdown scored in a Saints uniform.

Kamara needs one more touchdown as a runner, receiver, or returner to claim sole possession of the record, but for now he’s tied with the most underrated player in Saints history. What’s frustrating is that Kamara entered the 2022 season trailing Colston by just four touchdowns. He didn’t tie the record until Week 16, largely because offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. has done a poor job of weaponizing him. Too many of his runs have flowed between the tackles, not out on the edge, and there’s been a startling lack of targets on designed screens or creative alignments from the slot.

Hopefully that’s a thing of the past. Kamara is too dynamic a player to waste away like that, and his lack of success has been a large part of their issues this season. Getting Kamara up to speed in these final weeks would do a lot to build momentum moving forward.

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Matt Eberflus looking to build on successful career history vs. Bills in Week 16

Eberflus has a 4-2 career record against the #Bills in the regular season as an assistant

First-year head coach Matt Eberflus hasn’t had the most exciting start to his career with the Chicago Bears in 2022, but a Week 16 win against the Buffalo Bills would certainly be an impressive feather to add to his cap. His team is 3-11 to this point in the season, and matchup up against an 11-3 juggernaut that controls its own destiny to the AFC’s top seed, he will need nothing short of a miracle to secure Chicago its fourth win of the season on Sunday.

But Eberflus has historically found success against Buffalo and should look to build on his outstanding resume against the Bills in this game. He has a career record of 4-3 against the team as an assistant. One of his losses was in the playoffs as a member of the Indianapolis Colts coaching staff in 2022, which pushes his regular season head-to-head record to 4-2.

Granted, these numbers weren’t entirely a product of Eberflus’ stellar coaching abilities, but they do give an indication that he has been a part of staffs that put together solid game plans against the Bills. Buffalo has been to the playoffs every year since 2019 and went to the AFC championship game in 2020 when they beat the Eberflus and the Colts in an elimination game.

Try as he might, the outlook for Eberflus’ chances of success at advancing his regular season record against the Bills to 5-2 are slim, and he will likely be lucky to get his team in a position to keep the game competitive past the first quarter. Buffalo’s offense is among the league’s most explosive, and with a rock-solid bend-don’t-break defense on the other side of the ball, it is no wonder that the Bills are among the league’s favorites to compete for a Super Bowl title this season.

Eberflus should be determined successful for his efforts if the final score of this game ends with a margin of loss within 10 points.

 

Report: Mark Ingram II likely done for the year with knee injury

Mark Ingram II is likely done for the year with a knee injury. He’s a free agent after in 2023, meaning he may have already played his last game as a Saint:

This is just unfortunate. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram II is out 4 to 6 weeks with a “slight tear of his MCL” in his knee after Monday night’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, though the injury won’t require surgery. With just five weeks left in the regular season, odds are Ingram’s year is over. He’s been limited with a knee injury in practice earlier this year, and he recently missed three games due to an MCL strain. It’s unclear whether this is the same knee, but what is certain is that he’ll be out of action for a while.

If that’s the case, he may have already played his last down with the Saints. Ingram’s contract is up after the season and he’ll be a free agent in 2023. There’s no guarantee that the Saints will re-sign him, and there should be enough options out there at running back that other teams will choose to get younger at the position. It would be a tragic, disappointing way for Ingram’s career to close out, but that’s likely where we’re headed.

Still, Ingram has a ton of accomplishments to look back on. He is the Saints’ all-time leader in rushing attempts (1,451), rushing yards (6,500) and touchdown runs (52), while also tacking on 264 receptions for 1,804 receiving yards and 5 touchdown catches with New Orleans. That’s doubly impressive given how much work Ingram put into his skills as a receiver coming out of college.

He also only has 17 fumbles in his Saints career, which ties Mike Strachan for 18th in franchise history. Ingram caught an undeserved reputation as someone who practiced lax ball security early in his career, but the fact is few players have carried the rock as often as Ingram and fumbled less often in Saints history. Of the franchise’s 10 players to log more than 700 rushing attempts, Ingram has the third-lowest rate of carries per fumble at 85.4 (only Alvin Kamara, at 95.9, and Pierre Thomas, at 136.3, are better).

Few running backs — and few players at all, to be blunt about it — have been as dependable and durable for the Saints as Ingram. He’ll turn 33 in a few weeks on Dec. 21 and may have to consider retirement in the months ahead. We’ll see what’s next for him and New Orleans, and while things aren’t ending how anyone would have liked, there’s no other way to look back on his Saints career but as a success.

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Cameron Jordan out with injury for the first time in his 186-game career

Saints coach Dennis Allen said Friday that Cameron Jordan will be out with an injury this week, for the first time in his 186-game career:

This is tough. New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen announced Friday that defensive end Cameron Jordan will be out with an eye injury for Week 11’s game with the Los Angeles Rams, meaning this is the first time in Jordan’s 186-game career that he’ll be unavailable due to injury.

Jordan missed a game last season after testing positive for COVID-19, but he’s otherwise been a rare ironman even by NFL standards. In addition to those 186 regular season appearances, Jordan has also logged 11 playoff games. That something random like this eye injury (caused by someone gauging at his face in last week’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers; Jordan’s eye was swollen shut, though he tried to play through it) is what ends his streak speaks to how impressive it is he got this far in the first place.

Still, it’s unfortunate. And Jordan will have to wait another week to resume his pursuit of the franchise sacks record. He’s closing in on the mark set by Pro Football Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson (115 sacks) with 112.5 sacks of his own. Between that ambition and his longevity in the NFL, Jordan is building his own case for joining Jackson in the Hall of Fame some day. That mission is just paused this Sunday. Hopefully he can pick it back up soon.

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Michael Thomas surpasses Joe Horn, ranks No. 3 among Saints receptions leaders

Michael Thomas surpassed Joe Horn on Sunday to rank No. 3 among the Saints’ all-time receptions leaders. Only Eric Martin and Marques Colston are still ahead of him:

Michael Thomas made New Orleans Saints history on Sunday, totaling 5 catches for 49 yards against the Carolina Panthers, converting 3 first downs. Those added to his career numbers, which mean he’s up to 526 receptions in a Saints uniform — he’s now surpassed Joe Horn (523) to rank No. 3 among the franchise’s all-time receptions leaders. Only Eric Martin (532) and Marques Colston (711) are still ahead of Thomas.

So he’s got a realistic shot at lapping Martin in the near future, though that hinges on the severity of his new toe injury. He was questionable to return on Sunday before the team later downgraded his status, so we’ll hope that was a precautionary move. It’s something to watch out for when the first Saints injury report drops on Wednesday.

As for Thomas’ standing in the record books: he’s now up to 6,121 receiving yards, which trails Horn (7,622), Martin (7,854), and Colston (9,759) for the all-time lead. The expanded regular season could give him a real shot at reaching 7,000 yards if he maintains his current pace, but it’ll be close. It depends on whether he misses time with this toe injury or if anything else gets in the way, and whether the Saints passing game can truly find its footing.

Still, it goes to show how special his talent is, even after injuries kept him sidelined for most of the last two seasons. More consistent quarterback play will do a lot to help his case, but Thomas is still on track to end his Saints career as one of the finest receivers to ever wear black and gold.

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Saints post as many first-half shutouts post-Drew Brees as in 228 games with him

The New Orleans Saints have posted as many first-half shutouts in the post-Drew Brees era as they experienced in 228 games with him:

Drew Brees didn’t just leave a strong legacy behind — he set a standard with the New Orleans Saints that his successors have struggled to meet. According to NFL Research, the Saints have suffered as many shutouts in the first half (4) in the 20 games since Brees hung up his cleats as in the 228 games he started for them (4). The goose egg they laid in the first half against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday tied the total they set during Brees’ tenure.

It’s been rough. Jameis Winston has been inconsistent at best, too often looking for deep shots that he hasn’t been able to throw with any accuracy. And when he has settled for a dump-off or designed screen he’s put too much hot sauce on it and seen his throws fall incomplete. He’s had three years to get on the same page with Alvin Kamara and he still can’t figure it out. Poor quarterback play directly leads to less movement and fewer scoring opportunities. Until he steps up — or until the Saints make a change under center — we’ll continue to see some struggles.

Saints passing game coordinator Ronald Curry is a rising star in NFL coaching circles

Saints passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry is a rising star in NFL coaching circles, via @RossJacksonNOLA:

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One of the many coaching staff moves made by the New Orleans Saints this offseason was expanding quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry’s responsibilities with the title of passing game coordinator. Curry has been on the Saints coaching staff since 2016 where he started as an offensive assistant working with wide receivers. Every year since, he’s moved to a new role on an upward trajectory that looks to be priming him to step into an offensive coordinator position in the next few years.

Before Curry began his ascension through coaching ranks (first with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015) he was a two-sport star athlete of legend for the UNC Tar Heels. He was a dual-threat quarterback who passed for 4,987 yards while rushing for 1,249. He also added 41 career combined touchdowns with 35 interceptions and a 113.1 career passer rating. This was all while undergoing several coaching changes including three offensive coordinators. He set records for most career passing yards and total yards and was named MVP of the 1998 Las Vegas Bowl and later the 2001 Peach Bowl.

All of that was on the gridiron. Curry also played guard for the Tar Heels basketball team where he averaged 20.6 minutes per game with 4.2 points and 3.0 assists per contest as well.

His success stretches all the way back to high school, too. Curry is still regarded as one of the greatest Virginia high school football players of all time. As a quarterback he led his Hampton High School squad to three straight state championships, shattering several records along the way. He also helped lift Hampton’s basketball team to a state title in 1998. That’s four straight years of state titles in which that Curry took huge part. He was so good, that fellow Virginia native and arguably one of the best to play quarterback in the NFL Michael Vick has always given him praise.

After Curry’s high school and collegiate success, his career took a turn in the NFL. After being drafted by the then-Oakland Raiders in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL draft as a quarterback, Curry moved to wide receiver before his second season. He got off to a fast start with 50 catches for 679 yards that season, but unfortunately suffered an Achilles injury that ended his first year at wideout prematurely.

After working his way back in 2005, when Achilles injuries had a much higher rate of re-injury than we have seen in the NFL recently, he suffered the same tear in the second week of the season. After that, Curry continued to fight his way back having some shining moments including 16-game appearances in 2006 and 2007 wherein each he reeled in over 700 receiving yards on 55 or more catches. But ultimately, his run with Oakland came to an end in 2008 and despite signing with the Detroit Lions and then-St. Louis Rams, he wouldn’t find the field again.

Soon after things didn’t pan out with the Rams, Curry lathed on to a high school coaching opportunity before starting his NFL trajectory. That decision has since paid off as he’s on a meteoric rise within the New Orleans Saints coaching staff. After starting as an offensive assistant in 2016, he was moved up to a wide receivers coach in 2018, to quarterbacks coach in 2021, and now adds passing game coordinator to that title here in 2022.

In 2021, Curry helped to prepared four different starting quarterbacks to take the field for the Saints: Jameis Winston, Trevor Siemian, Taysom Hill, and rookie Ian Book. According to Book, who will go into his second year with Curry in 2022, Curry took him under his wing and has been a sizable influence on him.

“I felt like I was his guy,” Book told me at Radio Row before the Super Bowl in Los Angeles, “He took me under his wing immediately. He was always willing to work with me extra hours, which was awesome for me. I needed someone like that.”

Curry’s playing career has been a huge benefit for the quarterbacks and wideouts he’s coached as well. Book credited his playing experience not just at all levels, but at multiple positions for the excitement he feels to work with Curry again in 2022. The New Orleans Saints website lauds the seven-year coach for his 2018 and 2019 work with the record-breaking Michael Thomas:

“In 2019, Curry helped Thomas shatter the NFL’s receptions record and club receiving yardage records as he posted 149 receptions for 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns as he was selected Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year. He was selected as an AP first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl starter for the second consecutive season.

In 2018, Thomas recorded a NFL-best 125 grabs for 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns. He also developed third-round pick Smith, who was named NFL Rookie of the Week after a ten reception, 157-yard, one touchdown performance in Week 11.”

Now, as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator, it will be Curry’s responsibility to coordinate a passing attack by not only working with the signal callers, but the pass catchers again as well. A role that Curry has shown comfort in not just in New Orleans, but also working with a legendary receiver like Anquan Bolden. With Curry’s help, Bolden topped 1,000 yards receiving two straight seasons (2013-14) becoming the first 49er to pass that mark since Terrell Owens.

The fast pace at which Curry is climbing is of no surprise to anyone paying attention to former Saints head coach Sean Payton over the years. In December of 2020, Payton described the qualities of a successful head coach with NFL Network correspondents Steve Wyche and Jim Trotter on their Huddle and Flow podcast.

Payton told Wyche and Trotter that being a good teacher, communicator, and expert of the craft are atop his list when looking at coaching success. He also specifically referenced the need for a coach to be authentic. Perfectly timed as Payton, Wyche, and Trotter were having a candid conversation around the the NFL’s hiring practices which Payton called “awful” relative to the hiring of coaches of color. A cycle in which Curry could one day find himself wrapped up someday soon.

Those three qualities are evident in Book’s praise of Curry. From staying extra hours to work with him to Curry’s experience at all levels of the game and multiple positions, it is easy to see why Payton and the Saints have seen promise Curry has to offer. Payton highlighted that further when multiple New Orleans media members caught up with him in Los Angeles during Super Bowl week.

“Ronald’s the best,” Payton told me in our walk and talk. “He’s done a great job. I’ve been with him for a while, you know? He’s one of those rare two-sport athletes. North Carolina football, basketball. He’s a tremendous person and someone that was a big help to us and helped us win a lot of games.”

In an offseason in which so many questions have been raised around the potential of black head coaching candidates in the NFL thanks to Brian Flores’s challenging of the league’s hiring practices, it worth a moment to take stock in the talent across all 32 teams.

In particular, the New Orleans Saints have helped to introduce names to the running not only at head coach, but also with front office executives like Terry Fontenot, now general manager of the Atlanta Falcons, and cap guru Khai Hartley who is expected to see similar opportunities soon. Even former position coaches like Aaron Glenn are being called the “new leader” in the Black head coach search. Glenn interviewed for the Saints’ head coaching job this past offseason.

If all goes well, the Saints could help to launch the career trajectory of Curry in a similar direction. Possibly newly-hired wide receivers coach Kodi Burns after that. Curry’s next step should be offensive coordinator in coming years. Whether that’s with New Orleans or another lucky team remains to be seen. But as passing game coordinator this season, he’ll gather an intimate knowledge of how to build an offense right beside offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael. After that, the sky’s the limit for coach Curry.

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Mark Ingram breaks Saints franchise rushing yards record

He’s done it: Mark Ingram has broken the New Orleans Saints franchise record for career rushing yards

Mark Ingram entered Week 10’s game with the Tennessee Titans just 20 yards away from owning the New Orleans Saints record for career rushing yards, so he was already in a good position to go the distance before the team ruled out Alvin Kamara with a knee injury.

And it didn’t take Ingram long to break the record Deuce McAllister set. He surpassed McAllister’s team-best total of 6,096 yards on a 6-yard run in the third quarter, with plenty of time left to build on his lead at 6,102. It was his ninth rushing attempt of the afternoon.

It’s a big moment, and Ingram took time before the game to acknowledge the company he’s joining. He said of McAllister this week that, “I looked up to him growing up watching him run the rock. So just to be able to be mentioned with those type of players, that’s a something I’m proud of, something I worked very hard for. Thank the Lord for health and longevity, and everyone in my corner who has helped me get to this point.”

Because Ingram signed a one-year contract extension to help facilitate his trade to New Orleans from the Houston Texans, he’ll have the rest of this season and all of 2022 to cap off a great career. It’s impressive to see how far he’s come after his frustrating early years with the Saints — Ingram also own the team record for touchdown carries (50, and counting).

Sure, Kamara is on a historic pace to replace him someday. The young superstar already ranks fifth in team history with 3,870 rushing yards and third with 46 touchdown runs. But Ingram would be the first to tell you how excited he feels to know his close friend and protégé is the next great up-and-comer in New Orleans. And with at least a year and a half to go, he’s going to continue to challenge Kamara for those accomplishments.

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Tom Brady surpasses Drew Brees as the oldest player to throw for 80,300-plus yards

Tom Brady surpasses Drew Brees as the oldest player to throw for 80,300-plus yards

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Congratulations, Tom Brady: the 44-year-old Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback finally lapped the 42-year-old Drew Brees in pursuit of the NFL record for career passing yards, doing so in Sunday night’s game with his old New England Patriots team. His all-time total now sits at 80,359 and is climbing after a 28-yard completion to Mike Evans.

Brees got there first, totaling 80,358 passing yards in his decades-long pro career. Now Brady has taken the top spot and will get his own laminated sheet of paper to put on the fridge back home. Good for him. It only took him 196 more attempts than it took Brees.

When discussing the situation on the NBC Sports pregame show, Brees grinned toothlessly and acknowledged, “They’re meant to be broken.”

They remain the only passers in NFL history to pass this milestone, ahead of two Hall of Famers in Peyton Manning (71,940) and Brett Favre (71,838). The next-closest active quarterback is Ben Roethlisberger (61,149), but he trails the leaders by a wide margin.

How far Brady will go is anyone’s guess. Let’s see if the Saints defense can slow him down when he visits Caesars Superdome later this month on Halloween.

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