Tag: Demario Davis

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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:

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Colts vs. Saints: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 15

Key matchups in Week 15.

Following their last-minute 38-35 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts are back on the road as they’ll face the NFC South-leading New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football. Despite their 6-7 record, the Colts are technically still alive in the AFC playoff race.

If there’s anything that should give this AFC South competitor hope, it’s knowing the Saints are capable of being beaten at home. Since Week 10, the Saints are 1-2 at home, including their 26-9 upset loss vs. Atlanta.

Here are three key matchups to watch in the Colts’ Week 15 bout:

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WR Michael Thomas vs. Colts’ injured secondary

After engaging in a dog fight with the Buccaneers’ receiving corps in Week 14, the Colts’ secondary is in store for another one as they’ll face the league’s best receiver right now. Whether it’s through his skill-set, size or historic production, the Saints’ Michael Thomas is producing a historic season by all means.

With three games remaining, Thomas is only 23 catches (121) away from surpassing Colts great Marvin Harrison’s all-time record for most catches in a season (143); while also being in a good position to finish with a top-10 highest season total of receiving yards, since he’s currently at 1,424.

Even if fully healthy, the Colts’ secondary was going to have a hard time defending the Ohio State product and now it’s likely the case given their state of injuries. Cornerback Kenny Moore II isn’t playing on Monday and the duo of Rock Ya-Sin and Pierre Desir are banged up with nagging injuries.

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Which Saints must the Colts game plan for in Week 15?

These Saints must be in the gameplan in Week 15.

The Indianapolis Colts, currently sitting at 6-7, travel to “The Big Easy” to take on the 10-3 Saints on Monday Night Football. New Orleans is coming off a tough loss in what was perhaps the game of the year last week against San Francisco where they lost in the final minute of the game 48-46.

Colts fans have a special type of resentment towards the Saints. The obvious reasoning behind it would be the Super Bowl in 2010 where the Saints beat the Colts 31-17. The game was filled with high-powered passing offenses, an onside kick to start the second half, and the haunting Tracy Porter pick-six that sealed the win for New Orleans.

The Saints have already clinched the NFC South while the Colts are fighting for their lives in the AFC playoff race. If the Colts want to avenge that brutal Super Bowl loss and have a last-ditch effort to save their season, here are seven Saints the Colts must gameplan for in Week 15 in order to pull off the upset:

QB Drew Brees

Another piece of distain comes from Drew Brees breaking Peyton Manning’s regular season records for passing yards and passes completed. Monday night Brees has a chance to break yet another record held by Manning. Currently, Peyton sits at 539 passing touchdowns while Brees is closely behind him with 537.

You have to respect Brees and what he has been able to accomplish throughout his career. This season he missed five games with a broken thumb but has come back strong with 1,072 passing yards and 12 touchdowns over the last four games.

Getting after Brees and forcing him to move out of the pocket will be huge for the Colts pass rush led by Justin Houston. If Brees has all day to throw, it will be a long game for the Colts defense.

LB Demario Davis

Davis has revitalized his career after coming to New Orleans last season. He leads the team in tackles in 2019 with 95 total on the year. Contributing to his impressive stat sheet are also three sacks, 9.5 tackles for a loss, and an interception.

Davis is a talented linebacker with great pass rushing and run stopping abilities. The Saints love to send a combination of players on blitzes so it will be crucial for the Colts offensive line to pick up Davis and others coming off the edge and up the middle.

RB Alvin Kamara

Kamara’s season has seen limited production due to injury, but he is not to be underestimated. The third-year running back out of Tennessee took the league by storm his rookie year in 2017 and has been adjusting to team’s gameplans for him. He currently has 612 yards and one touchdown on the ground so far this season.

Where Kamara gets dangerous is in the pass game. He is a very talented receiver and has a great connection with Drew Brees. He has 68 receptions for 462 yards and a touchdown through the air as well. Stopping this dual-threat target will be huge in slowing down this Saints offense.

CB Marshon Lattimore

Another player who took the league by storm in his 2017 rookie campaign was Lattimore. He and Kamara took home the Defensive and Offensive Rookie of the Year awards that year respectively. Lattimore is considered one of the best shutdown corners in the league.

He has only one interception on the season but when teams purposefully do not throw to your side, that is expected. If T.Y. Hilton is still not healthy enough to go Monday night, look for Lattimore to be on Zach Pascal down the field. He is not impossible to beat, but Jacoby Brissett has to be careful when throwing to the talented corner.

WR Michael Thomas

His Twitter handle “@Cantguardmike” says it all. Thomas is one of the best, if not the best receiver in the game currently. His size and speed makes him a matchup problem for just about anyone in the league and his impressive season has landed him in the MVP conversation.

So far on the year, Thomas has 121 catches for 1,424 yards, both of which lead the league for all receivers. He has also found the endzone eight times this year and he and Drew Brees have been clicking as of late.

Pierre Desir will likely be on Thomas but he will need some help over the top, possibly from Malik Hooker or Khari Willis. Stopping Thomas from catching everything thrown to him should help slow own this aggressive Saints pass game.

DE Cameron Jordan

The Colts have faced some good pass rushers this season (Von Miller, T.J. Watt, Yannick Ngakoue) but Jordan is by far the biggest challenge they will face up front in 2019. With 46 total tackles, one fumble recovery, and 13.5 sacks, Jordan is an absolute monster off the edge.

He typically lines up on the right side which will be a matchup problem for Braden Smith and Mark Glowinski on that side of the line. Look for the Colts to either run to the side Jordan is not on or pull Quenton Nelson to that side to try and move the ball on the ground.

Safety Marcus Williams

Williams is a very talented safety but makes mistakes in big moments. Last week against San Francisco he grabbed a hold of George Kittle’s face mask and gave the 49ers 15 extra yards which put them into easy field goal range to win the game. You may also remember Williams botched the coverage that led to the Stefon Diggs “Minnesota Miracle.”

With four interceptions on the year and 53 total tackles, Williams is having a great year. This Saints secondary has really stepped up this season and can cover just about anyone down the field. Williams is very skilled, but attacking him and getting him frustrated will be vital for the Colts passing game that is limited already due to receiver injuries.

4 key matchups to watch in Week 14’s Saints vs. 49ers game

The New Orleans Saints will host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, and they’ll have to win several key matchups to finish out with a win.

The New Orleans Saints are set to host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. C.T. in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. After the Seattle Seahawks’ victory on Monday Night Football, the Saints now hold the number one seed in the projected NFC playoff picture heading into their clash with the 49ers. A victory here can go a long way towards sealing it.

Both New Orleans and San Francisco have a lot to play for this Sunday. The Saints could solidify their hold on the number one seed in the conference, while the 49ers will look to reclaim their lead in the NFC West and get out of a wild-card spot.

This game will come down to which side can win several key matchups. We’ve broken down a few that could have huge implications on the outcome:

Saints RT Ryan Ramczyk vs. 49ers DE Nick Bosa

Ryan Ramczyk has been an absolutely lockdown tackle for New Orleans this year. His continued success this season has allowed the Saints offense to run efficiently. This year alone, Ramczyk has made the likes of J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, Dante Fowler, and Shaquil Barrett look pedestrian.

Nick Bosa could pose to be Ramczyk’s toughest foe yet. Bosa is the leading candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year with his eight sacks, 24 tackles, and one interception. However, his contributions go well beyond just the statline. His ability to constantly put pressure on the quarterback disrupts the offense immensely. Ramczyk will have his work cut out for him on Sunday.

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Drew Brees, Demario Davis hype up Saints in pregame: ‘Today we are thankful’

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees and LB Demario Davis hyped up their teammates with a passionate pregame speech against the Atlanta Falcons.

The New Orleans Saints have always had a custom of passionate pregame speeches from quarterback Drew Brees, but the 2019 season introduced a new twist during Brees’ five-game absence with a thumb injury. Linebacker and defensive captain Demario Davis stepped into Brees’ role while the quarterback was away, but they’ve teamed up now that the Saints are back together. The team pregame huddle is even more passionate than it’s ever been, with Brees reviving his iconic “win again” chant from the 2009 Super Bowl season while Davis added his “prowl, kill, eat” mantra.

On Thursday before their game with the Atlanta Falcons, Brees and Davis made things topical by acknowledging the Thanksgiving holiday, and made note of what they’re thankful for.

“Today we are thankful,” Davis shouted to his huddled teammates. Drew Brees picked up where Davis left off, saying, “We came here to get a win. We ain’t leaving until we get it.”

It’s easy to see why the Saints believe they  can rally around this kind of leadership. See the whole speech for yourself:

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Studs and Duds, Week 12: Standouts from Saints vs. Panthers

The efforts of standout players like Drew Brees and Demario Davis elevated the New Orleans Saints above the Carolina Panthers in Week 12.

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The New Orleans Saints barely held on against the Carolina Panthers after a series of mistakes and penalties, but great performances from several key players helped get them win the day. At the same, a few weak links in the chain nearly cost the Saints a contest they were in control of for most of the game. Here’s our list of Studs and Duds for Week 12.

Studs

Let’s start with the game-winner himself. Wil Lutz came through in a big spot for the Saints on his win-sealing 33-yard field goal. It was just the second time New Orleans asked Lutz to go out and kick a field goal, and he was good on both tries (the first came from 41 yards out). Lutz has made a habit of drilling these last-second field goal tries, and it’s great to see Saints coach Sean Payton paired with a kicker he can trust in the game’s biggest moments.

A word has to be said for defensive end Marcus Davenport, who put a couple of quiet weeks behind him with the most important two-play sequence of the year. To start, Davenport ran a perfect arc around the Panthers left tackle to drop quarterback Kyle Allen for a loss of six yards — from New Orleans’ own 4-yard line, on third down. That set up Carolina kicker Joey Slye for a high-angled 28-yard field goal, but Davenport again impacted the play. The 6-foot-6 pass rusher jumped clean over the Panthers line to spook Slye into mistiming his kick, sending it spiraling away from the goal posts and setting up the Saints’ final, game-winning possession. “Two Firsts” Davenport should have received a game ball for this one.

It kind of feels like cheating to name Drew Brees among the best players of the game, but he put in a great day in the office. Brees completed 30 of his 39 attempts to gain 311 yards, and that’s with several unforgivable drops from his receivers. One of those was an admittedly greedy pass to Tre’Quan Smith over the middle that Panthers safety Tre Boston intercepted, but Smith has the build and skills set that the Saints expect he’d use to win in that situation. Still, at the end of the day, Brees closed the gap between his career touchdown passes total (531) and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (532) as each quarterback chases retired great Peyton Manning (539).

How good does it feel to have a reliable linebacker in Demario Davis? Even on a day when the Saints defense plays down to its level of competition, Davis continues to lead by example (putting up a team-best 11 tackles, 9 of them solo). He’s also continued to perform as one of the unit’s best blitzers, sacking Allen twice (losing one of them to a personal foul on Cameron Jordan) and hitting him on another down, while also deflecting a pass at the line of scrimmage.

Duds

What is wrong with Ted Ginn Jr.? The veteran wide receiver has twice let down Brees when targeted deep down the field, despite having had one of his years as a pro when paired with Brees back in 2017. He certainly hasn’t lost a step, remaining as fleet-footed as ever. But Ginn has been hit in the hands twice in two weeks by Brees on plays that should have resulted in touchdowns, and dropped the ball both times. That isn’t good enough when the Saints passing game is struggling to locate someone who can take pressure off of Michael Thomas.

Credit where it’s due: P.J. Williams has done his best in a big spot, filling in for Marshon Lattimorme out on the perimeter. But he’s simply not up to the task of playing there on a more permanent basis, as seen when Panthers wide receiver D.J. Moore roasted him repeatedly in Sunday’s game. Williams was a sieve in coverage who the Saints learned painfully could not be trusted to hold down his side of the field in one-on-one coverage. The silver lining is that Lattimore should return soon, putting Williams back into a position of strength in defending the slot.

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Watch: Demario Davis sets up Michael Thomas TD with heads-up interception

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis made a heads-up interception to help set up a touchdown pass for Michael Thomas and Drew Brees.

Turnovers have been hard for the New Orleans Saints to come by this season. They’ve had five different interceptions overturned by a penalties throughout the year, but there was no doubting the latest pick — this time by linebacker Demario Davis. It followed a tackle at the line of scrimmage in which Davis used textbook-perfect technique.

Davis was in the right spot at the right time to snag a ball jarred out of Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard, which Saints safety Marcus Williams managed to punch out. There was some initial confusion whether the play was an interception or a fumble, but the ball never touched the ground, crediting Davis with his first interception of the year. See it for yourself:

Not to be undone, the Saints offense used the opportunity in scoring range to go get a touchdown. Quarterback Drew Brees lobbed a high-arcing pass to wide receiver Michael Thomas on a corner route into the end zone, which confused the inexperienced Buccaneers secondary and allowed him to walk in untouched for six points. It was about as perfect a sequence of plays as you could draw up. Here’s the other segment of this Saints highlight reel:

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Deonte Harris, Marshon Lattimore ruled out on Saints-Bucs injury report

The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers published their final injury reports for their Week 11 kickoff.

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The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers published their final injury reports for their Week 11 kickoff, complete with game status for some players based off of practice participation on Friday. Any changes to Thursday’s practice status are noted in bold text, and players listed without likelihood of playing on Sunday (whether they are Out or Questionable) should be considered ready to go.

Marshon Lattimore’s will not play in Sunday’s matchup with the Buccaneers after suffering a hamstring injury last week, and his availability in teh immediate future is under doubt. Deonte Harris’s status has not looked good all week and now he’s been ruled out, too, also with a hamstring injury. Andrus Peat was expected to miss this game (and the next few weeks) after having surgery completed on his broken arm. At least linebacker Demario Davis, fullback Zach Line, and cornerback Patrick Robinson are good to go for Sunday’s game.

From the Saints

  • KR/WR Deonte Harris (Hamstring) Did not participate, Out
  • CB Marshon Lattimore (Hamstring) Did not participate, Out
  • G Andrus Peat (Forearm) Did not participate, Out
  • FB Zach Line (Knee) Limited
  • LB Demario Davis (Hamstring) Limited
  • CB Patrick Robinson (Hamstring) Full

From the Buccaneers

  • CB Carlton Davis (Hip) Full, Questionable
  • T Demar Dotson (Non injury related) Full
  • OLB Anthony Nelson (Hamstring) Did not participate, Out
  • CB M.J. Stewart (Knee) Did not participate, Out
  • G Ali Marpet (Ankle) Full
  • OLB Carl Nassib (Hamstring) Limited, Out