Tag: Demario Davis

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.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

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.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

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.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Willie Gay Jr. didn’t see the field much in Week 1. Here’s why

Willie Gay Jr. didn’t see the field much in Week 1 for the New Orleans Saints. Here’s why:

The New Orleans Saints added Willie Gay Jr. to their linebacker corps this offseason and created a lot of excitement, but it remained the Demario Davis-Pete Werner show versus the Carolina Panthers. The new addition didn’t see the field much, but there are a few reasons this was the case.

Werner led the linebackers with 39 defensive snaps. David played 38. Gay was only on the field for 8 of them. But his biggest competitor for snaps isn’t one of his fellow linebackers. His competition is Alontae Taylor at slot corner. It’s clear Davis and Werner will be your top two linebackers which means most of the time it will put the Saints in a situation where they have to choose their base defense (with a third linebacker) or nickel package (with a fifth defensive back). Gay or Taylor.

One could argue the nickel package should be referred to as the base defense given how often the Saints go in that direction. This doesn’t bode well for Gay long term, but it’s important to remember the flow of each game impacts which formation the Saints prioritize.

The flow of Week 1 called for an emphasis on pass defense. Naturally, the Saints went with more defensive backs on the field. Also, Alontae Taylor was a beast. It was pretty hard to argue taking him off the field regardless of the situation.

Gay also went to the locker room with an undisclosed injury during the second quarter. This comes after he was limited throughout practice with a back injury last week. There are multiple reasons why Gay didn’t see many snaps versus Carolina. Many of them can change as the season progresses.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

WATCH: Demario Davis delivers his Week 1 pregame speech

WATCH: Demario Davis delivers his Week 1 pregame speech to his New Orleans Saints teammates before kickoff with the Carolina Panthers

https://twitter.com/Saints/status/1832821197156847784

It’s the first New Orleans Saints game of the 2024 regular season, which means it’s time to check the first Demario Davis pregame speech, which you can watch here.

The team’s charismatic leader picked up where Drew Brees left off and maintained this tradition of fiery speeches and group chants to get his teammates fired up,  and it’s always worth watching as the first highlight of game day.

Davis’ message for Week 1? We’re about to jump out of the airplane and skydive, so strap in and trust the guys around you. It’s time to go to work.

The Saints are kicking off the 2024 season where it will end as the home of Super Bowl LIX. Let’s see if the black and gold can get back to the playoffs and make their bid to chase another championship.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Preseason injuries helped Saints linebacker room in the long run

Demario Davis and Pete Werner missing most of training camp allowed Willie Gay to gain experience in the system and Anfernee Orji to develop

Demario Davis and Pete Werner missed the entirety of the preseason due to injuries. You never want players to be injured, but there was a silver lining to their absence: Other linebackers had the chance to step up.

Willie Gay Jr. and Anfernee Orji both showed up big in the preseason. Let’s separate the two because they entered camp at two different places and had two different benefits from the preseason.

Gay seemed to be entering a training camp battle with Werner, but Werner’s extension put that assumption in doubt. Pair that with Werner missing the majority of training camp, but not losing his job, and you are looking at Gay likely always destined to be the strong side backer.

Gay made the most of his preseason by playing a large amount of snaps in the first two games. Getting this amount of reps allowed him to get comfortable in a new system quickly. As a guy who will play Week 1, this was huge for him.

Orji was fighting for a roster spot and became a lock with an emphatic preseason. Orji went from a player who could end up on the practice squad again to a young linebacker to be excited about. He even got some reps versus the opposing starters that did play in the preseason.

No one is ever happy to see an injury occur. Getting Gay quickly acclimated and Orji’s major development were two positives to come from the situation, though.

B/R says Saints should move on from D’Marco Jackson at roster cuts

There’s only so many roster spots in the Saints locker room, and Bleacher Report argues D’Marco Jackson is the odd man out at linebacker:

Every NFL team must finish roster cuts by 3 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Aug. 27. The New Orleans Saints’ final preseason game wrapped up on Sunday and for many players it was also their final audition.

There were 91 players on the roster for Saints training camp but only 53 will make the final roster. Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon says when Tuesday rolls around, the Saints should move on from D’Marco Jackson at linebacker:

D’Marco Jackson has faced a dilemma all summer: New Orleans signed Willie Gay, drafted Jaylan Ford and lost no major contributor at linebacker. Without a surge, Jackson would be a cut candidate. Entering the final preseason game, nothing has changed.

This doesn’t even mention the progress of Anfernee Orji or the pickup of veteran free agent Khaleke Hudson. Orji has likely snagged that first spot behind the starting unit. He impressed during last week’s matchup versus the 49ers and has had a good camp. Demario Davis, Pete Werner, and Willie Gay are safe. Ford has been dealing with an injury and could start the season on injured reserve. But the Saints typically roster five linebackers with another backup or two on the practice squad.

One thing that bodes well for Jackson is he’s a strong special teams player. That being said, he is currently dealing with an injury, and that may have made a difference. Poor timing can’t be helped. We’ll see whether the Saints ultimately keep five or six linebackers when roster cuts go through on Tuesday afternoon.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Tyrann Mathieu calls Taysom Hill one of the best football players he’s shared the field with

Tyrann Mathieu calls Taysom Hill one of the best football players he’s shared the field with. It’s tough to find a stronger endorsement than this one:

It’s tough to find a stronger endorsement than this one. Tyrann Mathieu called Taysom Hill one of the best football players he’s shared the field with, and he would know — before he joined the New Orleans Saints, Mathieu was teammates with future Hall of Famers like Patrick Mahomes, J.J. Watt, and Patrick Peterson.

That’s not to say Hill is a lock to join them in Canton someday (he’s already been recognized with a display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which feels appropriate). To Mathieu’s point, he’s just an all-around great football player. There aren’t many guys in the history of the game who have found success as a passer, receiver, runner, blocker, and tackler on special teams. ‘

Hill has done it all and largely done it well. There’s a reason he has so many fans among those who know ball. Whether it’s current teammates like Mathieu and Derek Carr or respected coaches like Jim Mora and Sean Payton, he’s earned a lot of supporters over the years.

He’ll play in his 100th game for the Saints this season (Hill is currently at 97 regular season games), as will Demario Davis (98) and likely Marshon Lattimore (90). That’s a feat just 63 players have achieved in team history. As Mathieu observed, Saints fans are fortunate to be able to cheer for No. 7, and he’ll be right there with them.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Demario Davis has his pre-draft scouting report saved in his phone

Demario Davis has his pre-draft scouting report saved in his phone. He still looks back on it to keep perspective in how far he’s come:

Everyone seeks motivation from different sources, and New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis shared his. He’s become a five-time All-Pro with the Saints after a tough start to his career on the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns, when he nearly considered retirement after a disastrous 1-15 campaign.

Davis has come a long way. And when he needs to reflect on far football has taken him, he looks back at his pre-draft scouting report. He’s kept this writeup from Bleacher Report’s Nick Kostora saved in his phone, which he read aloud at a recent media availability session after training camp practice.

To Kostora’s credit, this report was largely positive — pointing out that if Davis had produced his same stats at a higher-profile program than Arkansas State, he may have not made it to Rex Ryan’s Jets in the third round of the 2012 draft. Still, it’s a good way for Davis to keep perspective on what he’s accomplished in the NFL. And if this is what fuels him to excel for the Saints week in and week out, we’ll take it.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Demario Davis praises Anfernee Orji’s growth: ‘He’s done an incredible job’

Anfernee Orji has taken a step up from his rookie year, and it’s caught the eye of Demario Davis: ‘He’s done an incredible job’

The New Orleans Saints picked up Anfernee Orji as an undrafted free agent last year and was retained through the year. The opportunity has presented itself for Orji to move up the depth chart this offseason and he has taken advantage.

After the Big 3 of Demario Davis, Pete Werner and Willie Gay, it’s wide open at linebacker. Nephi Sewell is still out with an injury, and Orji has been performing like a prime candidate for the role of a backup and key special teams contributor.

Orji was one of the stars of the Saints’ second preseason game, receiving one of the highest Pro Football Focus player ratings. That improvement has been recognized by Davis, the leader of the defense.

Davis compared what he’s seen of Orji this year versus last year: “I think it’s been as much improvement as you can have in a player. … You saw it in flashes of what he potentially could be. He’s done an incredible job of not only putting in the work but letting it transfer into his game.”

Consistency has been the key difference to Davis, and it will continue to be the key. Davis believes Orji has a high ceiling if he can continue to put together the quality of practices and games he has done this year. Orji’s last hurdle lies ahead on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans in their final preseason game.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]