Tag: Erik McCoy

Saints’ roster gives their next coach a nearly blank slate when crafting the team

The Saints are in need of roster reconstruction, and that gives a new coach like Kellen Moore the opportunity to shape it in his image quickly:

Kellen Moore believes in building around your players, but the New Orleans Saints are set up to build around Moore — or whoever their next head coach ends up being.

Good coaches understand you have to be adaptable with your playbook. It’s a mindset that is expressed when Moore spoke the media Monday night: “You build around your players. There’s different styles we’ve played over the years and that’s the fun part of it.”

When you have Saquon Barkley on your team, you tend to run the football a lot. No one did it more frequently than the Philadelphia Eagles. They led the NFL with 621 rushing attempts this season. No other team had more than 554 (the Baltimore Ravens).

However, outside of Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Erik McCoy and Taliese Fuaga, there aren’t a lot of building blocks for a new coach to work with. The Saints are in need of real roster reconstruction, which should give Moore (or someone like him) more fluidity early in his tenure.

With an innovative coach like Moore leading the charge, he would have the opportunity to bring in the type of players he wants for his system immediately instead of working around what pieces are there. So long as the Saints are patient and trust in his process, anyway.

Year 1 they will have some holdover, but he can start the process of shaping the roster immediately through the draft. Outside of McCoy and Kamara there’s no one who is locked into their role. Fuaga could change sides, and New Orleans may look to bring in another impact receiver or rusher in the draft.

The Saints didn’t do a lot well in 2024. They ran the ball well early in the season, but they still have room to grow and be more balanced. Being pass-heavy may be the only thing off the table.

One point of rigidity is the quarterback room. If their new coach truly doesn’t like the options available to him, he may feel leaning on the run is mandatory.

Moore has the right idea of adapting to his players, and one day he’ll have to do it. Where the Saints are currently, however, would allow him to shape this team in his vision quickly.

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The Saints didn’t get an F, but their 2024 season grade is far from passing

“Injuries and the decline of the defense” resulted in the Saints’ worst season since 2005. These struggles shaped their final season grade

It’s hard to say too many good things about the New Orleans Saints season, and Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton didn’t try to fake it. He gave New Orleans a D grade.

The Saints’ season-long battle with injuries is a huge reason for it, but not the only reason. Moton correctly summed up the Saints’ 2024 demise: “they fell apart because of injuries and a declining defense.”

Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed missed a combined 20 games. Alvin Kamara missed the last three week. Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz and Lucas Patrick missed time simultaneously, making it harder for rookie backup Spencer Rattler during Derek Carr’s seven-game absence.

All of those injuries were on the offense, however. Paulson Adebo was really the lone injury defensively. Marshon Lattimore’s absence was spent mostly in Washington. The defense simply got too old and slow — and then they played without discipline by drawing too many penalties and giving up easy running lanes.

The defense still struggled with allowing explosive plays and fundamentals, such as tackling. It was these issues that made Dennis Allen’s departure mandatory. Not only was the team struggling to win games, his side of the ball was beginning to struggle as well.

What was once the backbone of the team turned into as much of a liability as the injured offense. The pairing of the two led to the worst season by the Saints in nearly 20 years. They must be better in 2025.

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The Saints will be represented at the 2025 Pro Bowl Games after all

The Saints will be represented at the 2025 Pro Bowl Games after all. Starting center Erik McCoy accepted an invite as a first alternate for the event:

Good on Erik McCoy — the New Orleans Saints’ starting center accepted an invitation to the 2025 Pro Bowl Games, meaning the black and gold will be represented at this year’s all-star event after all. The Saints were the only team left off the NFC’s initial roster, but McCoy was selected as a first alternate. With Cam Jurgens leading the Philadelphia Eagles to Super Bowl LIX, a spot opened up for McCoy to step in.

This is the second time in McCoy’s career that he’s earned a place at the Pro Bowl; he made the trip for the first time last year. He turned in quality game tape despite dealing with multiple injuries in 2024 and was singled out by Pro Football Focus as the most-improved player on the team. It’s no accident the Saints went 4-3 with McCoy snapping the ball but 1-9 without him.

He’s enjoyed a really strong career since being drafted by the Saints back in 2019. The former Texas A&M Aggie has started all 81 games he’s suited up for in the regular season plus three playoff games. With the team in a state of transition from Dennis Allen’s vision to that of a new head coach, you can bet McCoy will be a big part of the plan for getting back to the postseason.

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Despite injury issues, PFF names star center Saints’ most improved player in 2024

Pro Football Focus named New Orleans Saints star center Erik McCoy their most improved player of the 2024 season. He was a big help — when healthy

There wasn’t much to be excited about when watching the New Orleans Saints last year, but one player did solidify his status as a star with maybe his best season yet (when healthy).

Pro Football Focus’ Thomas Valentine recently went through each NFL team to find their most improved player and for the Saints, it was actually someone that was already a standout player: center Erik McCoy. Here is what Valentine had to say about McCoy’s year:

The Saints started the 2024 season hot before dramatically cratering for the majority of the season. Ultimately, there wasn’t much to wax lyrical about, but McCoy‘s play at center was one of the rare bright spots. He played in just seven games in 2024 but led all centers with a 94.2 grade, the highest grade for a center since Jason Kelce earned a 94.4 grade in 2017.

The former second-round draft pick is a hard player to discuss after last year. While McCoy was outstanding when on the field, he was just rarely on it. He is not at all to blame for the dysfunction on the offensive line, but not having an established leader at center definitely didn’t help. McCoy had to undergo groin surgery early in the season and then injured his elbow after returning.

McCoy has now missed at least four games in just as many seasons as he has been healthy. He played all 16 games in 2019 and 2020 plus all 17 games in 2023, but was limited to 12 of 17 games in 2021, 13 of 17 in 2022, and a career-low 7 games this year. Injuries have been a recurring theme for the entire offensive line, but one full year in the last four is not what New Orleans wants out of a star player.

Moving forward, him staying healthy and playing at a high level is the best case scenario. The Saints could also consider, however, testing his trade value and give their rebuild a nice boost. Trading an injury-prone player for more than they may be worth has worked out with the Marshon Lattimore deal so far, so it shouldn’t be ruled out for McCoy.

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B/R calls Saints the worst job opening this offseason

There are six teams in need of a head coach this offseason. But Bleacher Report argues the New Orleans Saints are the worst landing spot:

There are six vacancies in the 2025 NFL offseason’s coaching carousel, and Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport argues the New Orleans Saints are the worst head coach opening of the bunch.

When looking at the Saints’ roster, Davenport sees “a veteran-laden roster, with defensive stalwarts like edge-rusher Cameron Jordan and linebacker Demario Davis nearing the end of the line.”

Derek Carr leads the charge at quarterback, and has a less than favorable contract. Spencer Rattler still has developmental potential, but the quarterback position doesn’t inspire ultimate confidence.

Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed represent the future building blocks. Alvin Kamara still has some left in the tank but is more of a piece for the near future than a player to build around for years to come.

Bryan Bresee, Taliese Fuaga and Erik McCoy give you a few young building blocks in the trenches. If Bresee can build on his 7.5 sacks, you’ll have a consistent pressure player on the interior.

Fuaga and McCoy need a few more pieces around them to build the offensive line back to their former glory.

Even with these pieces, the Saints aren’t working with a lot. That’s why Davenport feels the Saints will “have to play a shell game again just to remain mediocre.”

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Injured New Orleans Saints starter is a first alternate for the 2025 Pro Bowl games

One New Orleans Saints starter is a first alternate for the 2025 Pro Bowl games. But it remains to be seen if Erik McCoy will be healthy enough to participate:

The New Orleans Saints have finally ended this disappointing season. The team finished 5-12, and it was painful to watch at times. This resulted in the team being one of only four teams in the NFL without a single player selected for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games. They were the only team in the NFC to not be represented on the initial roster, too.

However, there is some hope that the Saints will leave that unwanted group. Saints offensive lineman Erik McCoy is the first alternate for the Pro Bowl games, per ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. Unfortunately for McCoy, it is unlikely he will play if selected. The former Texas A&M Aggie suffered an elbow injury against the Green Bay Packers two weeks ago and hasn’t played since being designated to injured reserve. 

It is still pretty impressive that McCoy accomplished such a feat when you consider he only played seven games. In those seven starts, McCoy allowed zero sacks and was one of the league’s best run-blockers. The Saints offense certainly looked better when the 27-year-old was on the field. They’ll need him healthy and ready to go for a bounce-back season in 2025.

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Spencer Rattler looking for redemption vs. Buccaneers

Spencer Rattler’s first and last starts are against the Buccaneers. Hopefully, this full-circle moment doesn’t end the way it started:

Spencer Rattler’s first start came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and his last start will come against them, too. Hopefully for the New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback this full circle moment doesn’t end the way it started.

As has been the case for most of his starts, Rattler is without critical weapons and reliable offensive linemen. Rattler played without Chris Olave, Erik McCoy and Lucas Patrick in the first game and will do so again. He could also be without Alvin Kamara this time. Instead of Rashid Shaheed as Rattler’s deep threat, he has Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Essentially, the rookie quarterback is stepping into the same situation. The thing that has to be different is him. It’s Rattler’s last attempt to put together a complete game. He’s put together good halves, but hasn’t sustained it for four quarters. We saw that same pattern repeat just last week against the Las Vegas Raiders.

The last time Rattler played against the Bucs, the Saints lost 51-27 and he he went 22-of-40 as a passer, gaining 243 yards but throwing two interceptions against a single touchdown, taking five sacks along the way (while rushing four times for 27 yards). He also had a fumble.

Rattler will need to do a better job of placing his passes more precisely after that got him in trouble last week. He’ll also have to use his legs more. Tampa Bay flared their defensive ends out in the last matchup to stop him from rolling outside the pocket, but Rattler will need to use his legs in some capacity on Sunday to navigate through what will be an intense pass rush. Seeing some real improvement would do a lot to build positive momentum for a team that needs it before we shift into the offseason.

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Saints rule out multiple starters for Week 17 on final injury report

The New Orleans Saints ruled out multiple starters for Week 17’s Las Vegas Raiders game on Friday’s final injury report:

The New Orleans Saints ruled out multiple starters for Week 17’s Las Vegas Raiders game on Friday’s final injury report, most notably running back Alvin Kamara (groin) and quarterback Derek Carr (left hand). But they’re also down two starting offensive linemen in center Erik McCoy (elbow) and left guard Lucas Patrick (knee).

Four more Saints players are questionable, including cornerback Rico Payton (illness), a new addition to the injury report on Friday. Wide receivers Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest) and Chris Olave (head) are both questionable, as well as defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd (eye). Olave remains on injured reserve but there’s been no indication he’ll be activated just yet.

Here is the full and final injury report from Friday’s practice session:

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4 starters down on New Orleans Saints’ Week 17 injury report

Four New Orleans Saints starters did not see the practice field on Thursday. They aren’t trending in the right direction before Week 17’s Las Vegas Raiders game:

Four New Orleans Saints starters did not see the practice field on Thursday, with players having been given the day off Wednesday so they could spend Christmas with their families.

But multiple key starters aren’t trending in the right direction before Week 17’s Las Vegas Raiders game. Quarterback Derek Carr (left hand), running back Alvin Kamara (groin), center Erik McCoy (elbow), and left guard Lucas Patrick (knee) all missed practice.

Another group of four were limited participants, so they have at least a shot at playing this Sunday. That includes tight end Juwan Johnson (foot) and defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd (eye), as well as defensive end Payton Turner (ankle) and wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest).

It wasn’t all bad news, though. Wide receiver Chris Olave (head) returned to the practice field after missing multiple weeks with a concussion. That’s a positive development even if it’s unlikely he returns to play this season. Olave has dealt with a series of concussions since arriving in the NFL and it’s good to see him at least running routes and getting his legs back under him late in the season.

Here’s the full Thursday injury report from both teams:

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Darren Rizzi says Saints’ starting offensive lineman likely done for the year

Erik McCoy’s injury-riddled season continues, and the New Orleans Saints’ starting center is likely out for the season:

Erik McCoy went down with an elbow injury against the Green Bay Packers, and Monday night’s loss will likely be the last time we have seen him suit up in 2024. Week 16 was the third time the New Orleans Saints center had to leave a contest due to injury.

Darren Rizzi was straightforward about McCoy’s outlook: “I don’t see Erik coming back right now.”

McCoy originally injured his groin in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles. That was the beginning of the most injury riddled season of his career.

In his first game back from a seven game absence, McCoy had to leave again with a groin injury. It was a slight re-aggravation that led to him missing the following week’s game. The elbow injury in Week 16 isn’t major, but with just two weeks remaining in the season, however, it was the coup de grâce.

On a positive note, McCoy’s injury won’t require surgery. Expect Shane Lemieux to fill in for McCoy for the remainder of the season.

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