Tag: Demario Davis

The Saints are talented, but they aren’t a good team yet

There’s talent on the Saints’ roster, but the way they’re losing games proves they aren’t a good team yet. They aren’t greater than the sum of their parts:

We were riding high after the first two weeks, but last-minute losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons have proven one thing: The New Orleans Saints are not a good team. Until proven otherwise, they are a talented but average team.

Chris Olave is a good player whose route-running allows him to create separation with regularity. Alvin Kamara has gained over 100 yards from scrimmage every week this season. Rashid Shaheed is an elite deep threat.

Defensively, Demario Davis is still one of the best linebackers in the league. Tyrann Mathieu’s nose for the ball hasn’t faded. Marshon Lattimore is still lockdown on the perimeter.

Talent is not the question, but talent doesn’t make you good. The Saints aren’t completing games. Better put, they are losing games in ways a good team shouldn’t.

Jordan Howden loses all spatial awareness and ran into Lattimore, setting up the Eagles’ game-winning score. This turned what should have been a short gain into 65 yards. Paulson Adebo grabbed a Falcons receiver after getting away with a shove past five yards downfield, putting Atlanta inn scoring position.

It’s irresponsible to boil down an entire 60-minute NFL game to one play, but close games are decided by a handful of moments. The Saints have been on the wrong side of those moments at the wrong times.

That time isn’t reserved for the final two minutes. Shaheed dropped a punt he had no business trying to field early in the Falcons game. The Saints can’t be called a good team until these type of mistakes are eradicated, and that goes back to coaching.

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Saints announce inactive players for Week 4 game vs. Falcons

Demario Davis and Cesar Ruiz were ruled OUT early. The New Orleans Saints have announced their full list of inactive players

On Friday, the New Orleans Saints ruled out two key players prior to the matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. Demario Davis and Cesar Ruiz are out for this game, Davis will miss his first game ever due to injury, and that puts Willie Gay in the lineup next to Pete Werner as they attempt to contain Bijan Robinson. Ruiz’ injury in addition to Erik McCoy on injured reserve means the Saints will be without two interior offensive linemen this week.

Chris Olave suffered a hamstring injury Friday that led to his status being in doubt, but at least Taysom Hill will be available. Hill missed last week’s game with a chest injury, and WDSU analyst James Hurst believes the offense was vanilla without Hill.

Atlanta, on the other hand, is much healthier than the Saints. Right tackle Kaleb McGary is the only player who didn’t practice due to injury Friday. He’s ruled out along with their own starting center being on IR.

Here are the inactive list from each team:

New Orleans Saints inactive players:

  • LB Demario Davis (hamstring)
  • G Cesar Ruiz (knee)
  • WR A.T. Perry (hamstring)
  • TE Dallin Holker
  • DT John Ridgeway III
  • QB Spencer Rattler (emergency third quarterback)

Atlanta Falcons inactive players:

  • OT Kaleb McGary (knee)
  • RB Jase McClellan
  • DL Brandon Dorlus
  • OL Jovaughn Gwyn
  • OT Brandon Parker
  • DL Ruke Orhorhoro

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13-year streak of starts for Demario Davis is coming to an end

Demario Davis has started his last 101 games with the Saints, and his streak of 197 games played goes back to 2012. But that’s coming to an end on Sunday:

It won’t be easy for Demario Davis to watch this week’s New Orleans Saints game from the sidelines (or from the couch at home with his family). The five-time All-Pro linebacker’s 13-year streak of games played is coming to an end after he suffered a hamstring injury last week against the Philadelphia Eagles. So the Saints will kick off with the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday without him for the first time since he signed with the team.

This will be the first game Davis has missed due to injury in his lengthy NFL career. He’s played 197 consecutive regular season games, starting the last 101 of them with the Saints. Sure, there’s a caveat — Davis was forced to sit out a 2021 game with the Miami Dolphins while in the league’s COVID-19 protocol — but he’s never been too injured to play before.

You have to wonder if Davis would be out there if it were up to him. But Saints head coach Dennis Allen said Friday the team wouldn’t risk turning something like a strained hamstring into something more severe by playing him.

“We’re not going to put anybody out there that we feel like we’re putting at risk of injuring themselves,” Allen said. “We had to do the same thing with Cam (Jordan) at one point in time. I think with all these things, you’re always just looking at, you know, what’s the proper thing to do, what’s the right thing to do for the player and for the team. That’s all that goes into any of those types of decision.”

So while it’s a shame Davis can’t play this Sunday, the hope is he can return sooner rather than later. In the meantime, Willie Gay Jr. is confident he can fill in at linebacker next to Pete Werner. The Saints need to learn to win without Davis eventually. He’s the NFL’s oldest linebacker and he won’t be around forever. Here’s a good opportunity for some guys he has mentored to show what they can do.

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Chris Olave ‘day to day’ with hamstring injury, could be game-time decision

Chris Olave is ‘day to day’ with a hamstring injury, and he could be a game-time decision against the Falcons on Sunday:

All eyes will be on Chris Olave when the New Orleans Saints hit the  field  for pregame warmups at Mercedes-Bensz Stadium on Sunday. The star wide receiver is questionable for Week 4’s game with the Atlanta Falcons due to a hamstring injury he suffered during Friday’s practice session, but NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports Olave will travel with the team and test his injured leg to see if he’s able to play. ESPN’s Adam Schefter has said Olave is managing this injury on a “day to day” basis, which is also encouraging.

But the decision to play may not be up to him. Saints head coach Dennis Allen has shut down players like Marshon Lattimore and Demario Davis when they’ve wanted to play through injury this season. But if Olave responds well to rest and treatment and the team is confident he can play to his usual standards, he’ll be out there.

The Saints could certainly use his help. They’ve been hit hard with injuries at wide receiver — backups like Cedrick Wilson Jr. and A.T. Perry are both dealing with ailments this week, so someone like Equanimeous St. Brown or Kelvin Austin Jr. will probably get called up from the practice squad to at least fill out their numbers. Bub Means was a healthy scratch last week, but he along with Rashid Shaheed and Mason Tipton are the only other options on the roster if Olave can’t go.

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Willie Gay Jr. has no doubts stepping into the starting lineup vs. Falcons

Willie Gay Jr. is stepping into the starting lineup due to Demario Davis’ injury with full confidence: ‘I don’t feel like it, I know I’m ready’

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis is missing his first game ever due to injury — breaking a streak of 197 consecutive starts, dating back to 2012. Because of that, Willie Gay Jr. is expected to join Pete Werner in the starting lineup against the Atlanta Falcons.

It’ll be interesting to see how often the Saints bring second-year linebacker Anfernee Orji in for base sets with three linebackers on the field together. Orji was a stud in camp, and Atlanta’s run game with Bijan Robinson would normally command some base packages.

Gay and Werner will play likely every snap, and Gay is prepared for the moment: “I know I’m ready. I don’t feel like it, I know I’m ready.”

At the time Gay said that, Davis wasn’t confirmed to miss the game. It was clear it was expected by Gay’s response. It’s not as if he’s never been a starter before. He was a starter in Kansas City, so there should be full confidence coming from him.

Even with New Orleans, Gay has played in every game. He’ll just be stepping into a larger role. Davis’ injury thrusted Gay into the starting lineup, but Werner will likely be taking over for Davis at the middle linebacker spot. Gay would then step in at Werner’s normal position of weakside linebacker, with Orji possibly getting the first shot on the strongside.

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Saints rule out Demario Davis, Cesar Ruiz on final injury report vs. Falcons

The final Week 4 injury report has the Saints ruling out a couple of starters against the Falcons, with Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave both questionable:

There’s a long list of absences and situations to watch on the final Week 4 injury report. The New Orleans Saints ruled out a couple of starters including linebacker Demario Davis (hamstring) and right guard Cesar Ruiz (knee), having already placed center Erik McCoy (groin) on injured reserve. Backup wide receiver A.T. Perry (hamstring)has also been ruled out.

Several others are questionable —  most prominently running back Alvin  Kamara (hip/ribs), but also veteran wideout Cedrick Wilson Jr. (ankle). On top of all of that, wide receiver Chris Olave (hamstring) suffered an injury during Friday’s practice session, so he’s questionable to play, too.

It’s not like Atlanta is in much better shape. The Falcons already ruled out starting right tackle Kaleb McGary and they’ll be playing Storm Norton in his place; Norton is a former member of the Saints practice squad. Like New Orleans, they’re also down their starting center, with Drew Dalman having gone on injured reserve earlier this week.

Here’s the full injury report from each team:

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Alvin Kamara, Bijan Robinson both limited on updated Saints-Falcons injury report

Thursday’s update to the Saints-Falcons injury report listed both Alvin Kamara (hip/ribs) and Bijan Robinson (shoulder) as limited participants at practice:

Let’s start with the good news from the latest New Orleans Saints injury report. Only three players weren’t participating at Thursday’s practice session after a staggering crowd of nine were listed on the injury report to start the week. Linebacker Demario Davis (hamstring) and right guard Cesar Ruiz (knee) remained sidelined with wide receiver A.T. Perry (hamstring) now joining them after practicing fully on Wednesday.

Now the bad news. Davis and Ruiz would both be substantial absences if they can’t play against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. And Perry wasn’t the only wide receiver dealing with an injury on Thursday. Veteran backup Cedrick Wilson Jr. was limited with an ankle issue.

So let’s bring it back to the positives. Star running back Alvin Kamara (hip/ribs) practiced on a limited basis after being held out on Wednesday, and nickel corner Alontae Taylor (illness) saw a full day’s work after missing the week’s first practice, too. They’re both trending into the right direction.

Things are looking grim for Atlanta. Right tackle Kaleb McGary (knee) wasn’t able to practice again, and two others were limited for the first time. Both running back Bijan Robinson (shoulder) and linebacker Matthew Judon (hamstring) had to cut back their workload on Thursday. Left tackle Jake Matthews missed practice with a personal day.

We’ll learn more on Friday about who may be unavailable this week. Here’s the full injury report from Thursday, Sept. 26:

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WATCH: Demario Davis delivers his Week 3 pregame speech

Demario Davis pumped up his teammates with a pregame speech before their Week 3 kickoff with the Philadelphia Eagles:

Demario Davis is back again with his charismatic pregame speech for Week 3’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The New Orleans Saints captain pumped up his teammates with words of encouragement before kickoff on Sunday.

His message for the team on Sunday: “Taking the high ground.”

Fittingly so, the team is in a position to claim their spot amongst the NFL’s elite. With a win  today against Philly, they would most certainly be placed in that category. Marching to 3-0 on the season while beating two of the leagues best in back-to-back weeks would solidify their spot at the top.

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Jalen Hurts’ success against the Saints goes back to his first start

Jalen Hurts is 2-0 against the Saints, and Dennis Allen hasn’t figured out how to stop him yet. Week 3 is his next chance to spoil the Eagles QB’s winning recipe:

Jalen Hurts watched from the sidelines at the beginning of career before becoming the Philadelphia Eagles’ starting quarterback in the last four games of his rookie season. In that span, Hurts won just one game. It was his starting debut against the New Orleans Saints.

He faced the Saints again the following season. The results were the same. The Eagles walked away with the victory and Hurts terrorized Dennis Allen’s defense with his athleticism. Hurts has proven himself to be one of the most  mobile quarterbacks in the game, and that’s a skill set the Saints struggle to defend.

Despite having an athletic linebacker like Demario Davis, the Saints haven’t done well tracking guys like Hurts once they break into the open field. Hurts feels like the epitome of their issues guarding players of this archetype. Kwon Alexander was a member of the team for both games versus Hurts. Even with two linebackers who could run, the Saints haven’t been able to defend Hurts appropriately.

In his first game versus New Orleans, Hurts ran for 106 yards. The Saints were able to keep Hurts out of triple digit yards in the rematch but he scored three touchdowns as a runner. The Saints haven’t been able to find the right combination in the front seven to stop Jalen Hurts. This goes all the way to his first career start. Maybe the third time’s the charm for New Orleans against Hurts.

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WATCH: Demario Davis delivers his Week 2 pregame speech

Watch Demario Davis deliver his pregame speech ahead of the Saints’ Week 2 matchup with the Cowboys:

The New Orleans Saints have made it to Week 2 with a 1-0 record and now are on the road to take on the Dallas Cowboys. With that, we check out our weekly pregame speech from legendary linebacker Demario Davis, who looked to get the team pumped up for this crucial matchup.

A tradition started by none other than Saints legend Drew Brees, the pregame speech was then handed down to another elite player in Demario Davis upon the retirement of Brees after the 2020 season. Davis has been an extremely vocal leader of the Saints on the sideline, and it was only right that this be passed down to him as he continues to get the Saints ready for every game with the same fiery passion as always.

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