Tag: Demario Davis

6 Saints players named to Pro Football Focus 2019 All-Pro Team

New Orleans Saints players including Michael Thomas, Ryan Ramczyk, and Demario Davis were named to the Pro Football Focus 2019 All-Pro Team.

[jwplayer LIS6j7zT-ThvAeFxT]

Six members of the New Orleans Saints earned recognition on the 2019 PFF NFL All-Pro Team from Pro Football Focus, with five of them making the cut as first-team PFF All-Pro’s. The Associated Press All-Pro teams are built by ballots from journalists covering the NFL from around the country; PFF’s version is assembled by in-house metrics informed by countless hours of film study.

Wide receiver Michael Thomas, right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, linebacker Demario Davis, kick returner Deonte Harris, and special teams ace J.T. Gray were each first-team selections. Free safety Marcus Williams received a second-team nod as a flex defender, behind Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters. Here’s some of what lead analyst Sam Monson wrote to justify Davis’s inclusion as a PFF first-team All-Pro:

There wasn’t a whole lot pointing to an All-Pro caliber season coming from Demario Davis heading into this season. His previous two seasons were the best of his career, but neither had even topped 76.0 overall. This year, he has broken the 90.0 mark in overall grade and has grades of at least 80.0 in every facet of play PFF measures. Davis set or matched career-best marks for total pressures (28), pass breakups (8), passer rating allowed (87.9) and yards per reception allowed (6.2) and made significant impact plays for the Saints in some of their biggest games this season.

It’s great to see Davis get this kind of praise, especially after he was overlooked for the Pro Bowl. Hopefully the Associated Press voters will also recognize his sky-high level of play this year, because he performed as well as any other linebacker in the league. It’s been a while since we could say that about a Saints linebacker.

[vertical-gallery id=26010]

New Orleans Saints 2010s All-Decade Team: Defense

The 2010 New Orleans Saints’ All-Decade Team is headlined by Cameron Jordan, Will Smith, Jonathan Vilma, Demario Davis, and Jabari Greer.

[jwplayer U3xTcIR1-ThvAeFxT]

Let’s get this out of the way early: the New Orleans Saints defense has been the team’s weaker unit over the last decade. They turned in some of the worst defensive performances in NFL history during the 2012, 2014, and 2015 seasons, forcing Drew Brees and the Saints offense to put the world on their shoulders. It led to a series of disappointing 7-9 seasons.

But it wasn’t all bad, and the Saints defense has arguably outplayed the offense during the last few years. Cameron Jordan is one of the best players in team history, and seems to only be improving with age. Other recent additions like Demario Davis and Marshon Lattimore are lso deserving of praise. So we’ve considered everything from on-field production to leadership value and longevity of careers in putting this list together.

Here is the defense of the Saints’ All-Decade Team:

Defensive tackles

First team: David Onyemata, Sheldon Rankins

Onyemata has turned into a very reliable starter for the Saints, appearing in 63 games from 2016 to 2019 while bagging 9.5 sacks and 26 quarterback hits (sixth-most among all Saints defenders of the 2010’s), and 11 tackles for loss. However, Rankins has been the real star along the interior line, despite his limited appearances (51 games from 2016 to 2019, due to several injuries). Rankins racked up 16 sacks and 35 quarterback hits (fourth-most in the 2010’s). Rankins recorded 22 tackles for loss, fifth-most of this era.

Second team: Tyeler Davison, Brodrick Bunkley

Davison may have not put up gaudy box score numbers during his four-year stint with the Saints, but he rarely missed a start. He logged 61 game appearances from 2015 to 2018 and was rock-solid in run defense. Before he came to the scene, though, Bunkley set a high bar for nose tackle play in New Orleans from 2012 to 2014 (playing 38 games). The defenses Bunkley played on were vulnerable against the pass, but he did his part to hold up against the run.

Defensive ends

First team: Cameron Jordan, Will Smith

Jordan is one of the greatest Saints players of all time, and he’s still in his prime. He’s only missed one game from 2011 to 2019, appearing in 144 matchups, while leading New Orleans in sacks (87) and hits (168), and tackles for loss (113). He’s also bagged 10 forced fumbles and deflected 47 passes at the line of scrimmage. That said, Smith deserves to be remembered well for what he accomplished with the Saints. Smith spent the bulk of his career playing in the 2000’s, but the three years he turned in during the 2010’s are noteworthy. He ranks third in sacks (18) and hits (39) among all Saints players in this era.

Second team: Junior Galette, Alex Okafor

Galette would rank higher if he hadn’t lost his mind and gotten arrested following a series of violent off-field incidents, cutting his Saints career short and devastating the locker room on his way out. His problematic behavior aside, Galette does deserve some props for ranking second-best in sacks (31.5), hits (62), and tackles for loss (34) in the 2010’s. Okafor only played two years with the Saints, but he was a reliable presence opposite Jordan who did a lot to elevate the defense in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

Linebacker

First team: Demario Davis, Jonathan Vilma

Davis has an argument to make with Brees as the greatest free agent signing in team history. The ex-Jets and -Browns linebacker has revolutionized the position after years of sub-par play, giving fans something to cheer about in run defense, pass coverage, and designed blitzes to get after the quarterback. On top of that, he’s a vocal leader off the field who shows everyone in the locker room how to be a pro. Another ex-Jets linebacker, Vilma was iconic in the Saints’ Super Bowl run, but he continued to play well from 2010 to 2012, and hung up his cleats after creating many great memories for Saints fans.

Second team: Craig Robertson, David Hawthorne

Robertson deserves some real props for sticking around for so long and wearing so many different hats for the Saints — he’s logged 62 game appearances from 2016 to 2019, playing outside linebacker and rising to the rank of captain on special teams. His presence gives the Saints depth to rival any team in the league. Additionally, Hawthorne was the best linebacker on some rough units from 2012 to 2015, appearing in 50 games and turning in several memorable splash plays.

Cornerback

First team: Marshon Lattimore, Jabari Greer

When he’s been at his best, Lattimore has played at a level just a handful of cornerbacks can rival around the league. And he’s so young that it’s realistic to expect him to grow and develop into a real force as his career continues. His 8 interceptions and 44 pass breakups are rank third-best in this era, but he’s also shown a knack for creating fumbles (5) and recovering them (4). Back in the early 2010’s, however, Greer was one of the most-productive defenders on the team with 7 interceptions (fifth-most) and set the high-water mark for everyone with 55 pass deflections from 2010 to 2013.

Second team: Patrick Robinson, Keenan Lewis

It took some time for Robinson to carve out a role for himself with the Saints, and it required a three-year sojourn around the league with stops in different teams for him to develop into a solid slot defender. But he’s always had ball skills, as seen in his 9 interceptions and 48 pass breakups. Robinson is a depth player these days, but he’s put up plenty of hides on the wall for the Saints to point to. Lewis was also a nice player for the Saints from 2013 to 2015, when he appeared in 38 games and gave Saints fans a home-town hero to root for. We’d be remiss to not mention Delvin Breaux, another New Orleans legend who played well for the Saints before injuries cut his NFL career short.

Safety

First team: Marcus Williams, Roman Harper

Some fans won’t want to hear this, but Williams intercepted more passes (10) than any other Saints player from 2010 to 2019, and he’s only played 46 games from 2017 to 2019. His tackling may be suspect at times but Williams is gifted with rare ball skills. Contrast that with Harper, who seldom got his hands on the ball, but provided solid tackling and great leadership in his 9-year Saints career (we’re all going to pretend his stint with the Carolina Panthers didn’t happen).

Second team: Kenny Vaccaro, Vonn Bell

Vaccaro didn’t turn into the long-term answer at safety the Saints envisioned, but he was still an effective player. He created plenty of splash plays in his 68 appearances from 2013 to 2017, collecting 8 interceptions, 30 pass deflections, 4 forced fumbles (with 3 recoveries), 7.5 sacks, 19 hits, and 23 tackles for loss (with 283 solo tackles in his career). It’s a shame things didn’t work out, but we’ll always have his game-winning pass breakup in his first career start against the Atlanta Falcons. Bell has similarly taken a long time to find his footing, having intercepted his first pass in his fourth year with the team, but his other stats speak for themselves. In 61 games, Bell has made 240 solo tackles and forced 7 fumbles and recovered 7 more.

[vertical-gallery id=26010]

Saints snap-count analysis vs. Panthers: Rest played factor in distribution

The New Orleans Saints rested starters late in their blowout win over the Carolina Panthers, allowing backups like Janoris Jenkins to shine.

The New Orleans went into Week 17 against the Carolina Panthers with offense playing at full strength, while the defense remained banged up, especially in the secondary. That was still too much for a leaderless Panthers team to handle, and key starters were pulled by the Saints in the fourth quarter, which significantly skews their snap counts. The upside to that is the second- and third-string players got extended experience, which will only help them develop further.

Offensive backfield

  • QB Drew Brees, 56 (81%)
  • RB Latavius Murray, 37 (54%)
  • QB Taysom Hill, 34 (49%)
  • RB Alvin Kamara, 28 (41%)
  • FB Ricky Ortiz, 17 (25%)
  • QB Teddy Bridgewater, 11 (16%)
  • RB Dwayne Washington, 5 (7%)

Kamara’s share was down from Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans, when he saw over 63% of the offensive snaps. However, the running back was able to produce two touchdowns against the Panthers, and his reduced workload was likely caused by head coach Sean Payton wanting to give his starter rest ahead of the the playoffs.

Skill positions

  • TE Josh Hill, 55 (80%)
  • WR Michael Thomas, 46 (67%)
  • WR Tre’Quan Smith, 43 (62%)
  • TE Jared Cook, 26 (38%)
  • WR Ted Ginn Jr., 18 (26%)
  • WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey, 12 (17%)
  • WR Deonte Harris, 8 (12%)

Once again Hill outpaced Cook for their share of snaps played, which is not unusual considering he plays a larger part in the run-blocking game than Cook. Furthermore, Hill’s presence allows Cook more opportunities in the passing game. Thomas’ snap count share was below-average this week, as was his production. There is not much to be worried about on that front considering he was rested in the fourth quarter.

Offensive line

  • T Ryan Ramczyk, 69 (100%)
  • G Larry Warford, 69 (100%)
  • C Erik McCoy, 69 (100%)
  • T Terron Armstead, 54 (78%)
  • G Andrus Peat, 49 (71%)
  • C Nick Easton, 20 (29%)
  • C Will Clapp, 18 (26%)

The offensive line returned to near full-health against Carolina with the return of Peat and Warford, though Peat was in and out of the game depending on various situations. it seems the Saints wanted to ease him back into action after he broke his arm. While Easton had done an admirable job in standing in during that time, the offensive line looked much better at protecting Brees, while also opening up the run game. A strong push into the playoffs will be much more attainable, with the entire unit near full health.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

Watch: Demario Davis and Drew Brees light up the Saints vs. Panthers

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis and quarterback Drew Brees fired up their team before Week 17’s game with the Carolina Panthers.

[jwplayer joQHPBoI-ThvAeFxT]

The New Orleans Saints are minutes away from kicking off against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium, and they capped off pregame warmups with the typical fired-up huddle featuring speeches from team leaders like linebacker Demario Davis and quarterback Drew Brees. But Sunday’s speech wasn’t something they’d heard before.

“All I am asking from you,” Davis began, raising his voice and driving the point home, “All I am asking from you is everything you got!”

It’s easy to see how the Saints are able to play together as a team, with great examples like Davis and Brees at the helm. These weekly impassioned pregame speeches are just part of the work they put in every day to show their teammates how to win in the NFL and overcome the adversity each of them faces. Check it out for yourself where it’s been embedded below, or by following this link:

[vertical-gallery id=25802]

Which Saints players can earn contract incentives against the Panthers?

New Orleans Saints players including Teddy Bridgewater and P.J. Williams can earn contract incentives by standing out against the Panthers.

The New Orleans Saints are hours away from closing out the 2019 regular season against the Carolina Panthers, but there’s more on the line for some players than others. Performance-based contract incentives are on the line, and multiple Saints could cash an extra check or two. Others have already missed out on potential cash-ins (like Demario Davis, who was undercut by a badly-designed Pro Bowl ballot from earning $500,000 by getting voted in), while some are just a big play or two away from it.

Fortunately, the Saints have a history of paying out these bonuses even if players come up a little short. Just last year, defensive end Alex Okafor missed out on a $400,000 incentive for logging four sacks (he bagged three), but the Saints cut him a check anyway. Those actions mean a lot to players, and it wouldn’t be surprising in the least if they award some bonuses again this year.

According to The Athletic’s Nick Underhill, several Saints players could trigger bonus payouts by meeting certain criteria in Week 17. Here’s who could bring in some extra money after standing out against the Panthers:

Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Bridgewater can earn as much as $5.25 million through contract incentives, but realistically speaking he’s only going to qualify for $500,00 of that thanks to his extended starting-time earlier this season — and only if he throws a touchdown pass against Carolina. Here’s the breakdown:

  • Earned: $250,000 for improving upon playing-time from 2018
  • Within reach: $250,000 for scoring 10 touchdowns; or $500,000 for 16 touchdowns; or $750,000 for 21 touchdowns. Currently has 9 touchdowns
  • Not likely to be earned: $250,000 per playoff appearance where Bridgewater plays 50 percent of the snaps. Unlikely, unless Drew Brees gets injured again
  • Not likely to be earned: $250,000 for 2,500 yards; or $500,000 for 2,751 yards; or $750,000 for 3,001 yards. Currently has 1,370 yards
  • Not likely to be earned: $2.5 million for playing 50% of the snaps. Currently at 39.1%, would need to start and play more than 130 snaps against the Panthers to catch up
Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7

Studs and Duds from Saints’ 38-28 victory over Titans

The New Orleans Saints proved their mettle in a 38-28 road victory over the Tennessee Titans, rallying back from an early 14-0 deficit to take the lead and hold onto it for the rest of the game. A number of standout performances made that happen, …

[jwplayer BlYnmSYw-ThvAeFxT]

The New Orleans Saints proved their mettle in a 38-28 road victory over the Tennessee Titans, rallying back from an early 14-0 deficit to take the lead and hold onto it for the rest of the game. A number of standout performances made that happen, while a few less-than-stellar individual mistakes and mismatches put them in that hole in the first place. Here’s your Week 16 Studs and Duds.

Studs

Have a day, Michael Thomas. The Pro Bowl, All-Pro wide receiver finished the game with a dozen receptions for 136 receiving yards and the final touchdown score, good enough to break records set by all-time greats like Randy Moss and Marvin Harrison. Thomas was consistently too much for the Titans defense to handle, and Drew Brees was quick to recognize it by giving Thomas so many targets.

Let’s not forget Alvin Kamara, either. He’s been slow to get back up to speed from some early-season injuries, but his 110 yards from scrimmage and two touchdown runs against Tennessee did a lot to put him back on the map. If he’s truly back to his old self and ready for the playoffs, the Saints offense might be unstoppable. They’ve averaged more than 35 points per game since the post-bye Falcons upset, which feels like a lifetime ago.

How about Deonte Harris? The rookie Pro Bowler looked the part on kick and punt returns, ending his day with 183 all-purpose yards. He was a mismatch against a sloppy Titans special teams unit, which was doing its best to avoid kicking to him later in the game. But Harris has proven he can take a game over if given the chance, and that’s a huge asset to add to the Saints’ arsenal as the calendar turns towards the playoffs in January.

We’ll close out this segment with Demario Davis. The veteran linebacker was on fire against the Titans, flowing towards the ball in run defense while remaining active on passing downs. He led the Saints with 11 tackles (9 solo), including a pair of big tackles for loss of yards. He also chipped in a sack and two hits, along with his weekly pass deflection. Saints fans have spent a decade praying for good — not even great, just good — linebacker play, but Davis has given them an elite performance to look forward to each week. His Pro Bowl snub is a glaring omission from the NFL’s all-star game.

Duds

It wasn’t the debut Janoris Jenkins probably hoped for, having been given just a few days of practice before getting rushed into action on Sunday. When Eli Apple and Marcus Williams exited the game with injuries, the Saints had to scramble to put a patchwork secondary together, which meant more exposure for Jenkins than anticipated. He was at fault for one touchdown pass, drew a coverage penalty early on, and struggled to communicate with his new teammates at times throughout the game. The good news is that he should improve rapidly with more practice time.

Speaking of Marcus Williams: he’s a frustrating player, who too often spikes what should have been a great play with a careless mistake. He allowed two big gains in coverage by making the correct read and getting into position, but failing to wrap up for a clean tackle. That’s been the story of his year — despite the team-leading interceptions total (4) and knack for quick play diagnosis, he’s still making these sloppy mistakes in big moments, and costing his team. He’s a young player and should continue to grow and develop, but any missed time with this groin injury will delay that maturation.

The Saints offensive line can’t get healthy soon enough. They were missing starting guards Andrus Peat and Larry Warford, and the Titans pass-rush unit took advantage with three big sacks against Brees. Even standout right tackle Ryan Ramczyk allowed a sack, while center Erik McCoy made a few rookie mistakes. New Orleans struggled to get much going on the ground until Kamara found a lane and traveled 40 yards for a touchdown; outside of that play, the Saints averaged just 3.42 yards per carry. Backup guards Nick Easton and Will Clapp can start in a pinch, but this game proved they can’t hold up in extended action against a competent defensive front.

[vertical-gallery id=25291]

Watch: Demario Davis, Drew Brees hype up the Saints before Titans game

The New Orleans Saints took the field at Nissan Stadium against the Tennessee Titans led by QB Drew Brees and LB Demario Davis.

The clock is winding down towards kickoff between the New Orleans Saints and the Tennessee Titans, and team leaders like linebacker Demario Davis and quarterback Drew Brees are ready to fire up their teammates.

Davis and Brees continued to tag-team the Saints pregame huddle, delivering a passionate speech to get their team psyched up and ready for Sunday’s road game at Nissan Stadium. They stressed the need stay alert and energized, even if things are going well for the Saints right now. Just because they’re playing a team they feel no personal rivalry with doesn’t mean they can phone in an underwhelming performance.

“Even when you eat, stay hungry!” Davis shouted from among his huddled teammates. He’s driven home a mantra of “we prowl, we kill, we eat” all season long, setting the tone for a Saints defense that has given better than it’s gotten from opponents for much of the year. Check out video of the latest Saints pregame huddle where it’s embedded below:

[vertical-gallery id=25083]

Saints run defense vs. Derrick Henry a matchup to watch Sunday

The Titans have some offensive weapons of their own who could give the Saints defense some issues.

Getting a win against the New Orleans Saints (11-3) with Drew Brees at quarterback and Michael Thomas at wide receiver will be no simple task for the Tennessee Titans (8-6).

But the Titans have some offensive weapons of their own who could give the Saints defense some issues.

One of these is running back Derrick Henry, who has carried the ball 271 times for 1,329 yards with 13 touchdowns this season.

He’s also factored into the passing game at times, totaling 18 receptions for 206 yards and two touchdowns in 2019.

[lawrence-related id=23565]

The 6-foot-3, 247-pounder presents a larger challenge than practically any other rusher the Saints have faced or will face this season, and if he’s able to get to the secondary multiple times, the Titans offense could quickly snag some momentum.

To plug the gaps, the Saints will rely mainly on linebacker Demario Davis, who was snubbed from the 2020 Pro Bowl.

In 2019, Davis totals 98 tackles, three sacks and an interception.

Limiting Henry means practically bringing the Titans’ ground game to a halt, and it will be interesting to see if the Saints are up to the task when the two teams face each other at 12 p.m. CST on Sunday in Nissan Stadium.

2020 NFL Pro Bowl snubs: Ryan Ramczyk, Demario Davis illustrate all-star game’s problems

New Orleans Saints all-star right tackle Ryan Ramczyk and starting linebacker Demario Davis were snubbed from the 2020 Pro Bowl roster.

[jwplayer A1HDGD64-ThvAeFxT]

The NFL announced its 2020 Pro Bowl rosters, and seven members of the New Orleans Saints made the initial cut — a franchise record. Mainstays like wide receiver Michael Thomas and quarterback Drew Brees were among them, and were joined by newcomers like rookie returns specialist Deonte Harris. It’s been a heck of a year for the Saints, and all of these Pro Bowlers gathered together are proof it.

However, some glaring absences highlight issues with the archaic Pro Bowl ballot. Left tackles and right tackles are jumbled together into one “offensive tackle” category, which means talented pass-protectors like the Saints’ Ryan Ramczyk are left out altogether. Ramczyk routinely shuts down the league’s best sack artists, but he was overlooked by three left tackles — each of them deserving of their spots, no doubt.

One of the players Ramczyk erased twice this year, Shaquil Barrett, was voted into the Pro Bowl over Saints linebacker Demario Davis. That’s a problem because they play two very different positions, but are treated the same by the ballot’s bad design. Davis is a true outside linebacker who spends his Sundays dropping back into coverage and patrolling the middle of the field; Barrett is a hand-in-the-dirt pass rusher, and his prolific numbers put him ahead of Davis.

Just how poorly designed is the Pro Bowl ballot? Taysom Hill wasn’t even an option, and he’s been one of the NFL’s most electrifying talents this year. The do-it-all quarterback has lined up at fullback, tight end, slot receiver, and filled in on a plethora of special teams roles, scoring six combined touchdowns along the way. But the NFL didn’t even make him eligible for fans to vote into the all-star game, which is a travesty.

Sure, there were other snubs. But they speak more to poor decisions by the voting public than the problems written into the NFL’s ballot. Saints punter Thomas Morstead was overlooked for Washington Redskins specialist Tress Way. Morstead has landed a career-best 51% of his punts inside the opposing 20-yard line this year (25 of 49), whereas Way did so on just 37% of his punts (26 of 70). He’s also committed just one touchback all season, while Way has seen three of his punts roll into the end zone. Somehow, voters chose to reward Way for punting often rather than punting well. Shameful.

Free safeties Budda Baker and Eddie Jackson were each voted into the Pro Bowl, but they’ve combined for one (1) interception and ten pass breakups between the two of them. Compare that to Marcus Williams, who leads the Saints with four interceptions, a number that also leads all safeties in the NFC. He’s credited with 14 total passes defensed on the year so far, too. Whether voters are letting Williams’ mistakes in big moments cloud their judgment or are voting based off of name recognition doesn’t matter; they got this wrong.

Then again, this isn’t the end-all, be-all. Several Saints are likely on the list of alternates to fill in for players who are either injured or uninterested in playing in the Pro Bowl, which will open the door for those snubbed to get some time in the limelight. Don’t be shocked if some of these Saints players who have battled injuries — like left tackle Terron Armstead — choose to sit out and rest up during the offseason.

But as far as that goes, you can ask any of them: they’d rather spend the week in Orlando preparing for this exhibition game getting ready to compete in Super Bowl LIV. At the end of the day, these honorifics are nice to have, but there’s a higher level yet to climb.

[vertical-gallery id=24977]

Watch: Drew Brees, Demario Davis light up the Saints pregame huddle

Drew Brees and Demario Davis fired up their New Orleans Saints teammates before their Monday Night Football game with the Indianapolis Colts

[jwplayer fC3ePoXO-ThvAeFxT]

Energy was spiking at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome ahead of Monday night’s game between the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts, and the Saints’ team leaders understood that. With their teammates huddled around them, Saints quarterback Drew Brees and linebacker Demario Davis stepped in to fire them up, feeding off the energy filling the building.

You love to see it. Brees has led these pregame huddles for more than a decade, but Davis stepped into his place when the quarterback was held away from his team for a few weeks on doctor’s orders. And when Brees returned, he and Davis were able to work together naturally, mixing Brees’ iconic chants with Davis’ impassioned style.

It’s worked well so far, and did a lot to set the tone for this prime-time game with the Saints’ Super Bowl-winning team in attendance. You can view it for yourself in the video embedded below:

[vertical-gallery id=24577]