Tag: Interceptions

Saints players have caught more passes from Jameis Winston than Taysom Hill

The Saints signed ex-Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston, who threw more interceptions to the team than Taysom Hill has completed passes.

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The New Orleans Saints quarterbacks room now runs four deep, and three of those players can say they’ve already connected on passes with their teammates. While that’s expected of starting quarterback Drew Brees and number-two passer Taysom Hill, it’s a bit surprising to learn that free agent pickup Jameis Winston would rank second out of that group in total volume.

Just, in the form of interceptions rather than typical pass completions. Winston was picked off ten times by Saints defenders during his five-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That outnumbers the seven career pass completions thrown by Hill to his Saints teammates, including the playoffs.

If nothing else, that speaks to the amount of pro experience Winston has seen early in his career. The Saints might continue to say that Hill is both the immediate backup and the long-term heir to Brees, but there’s no questioning which quarterback has spent more time on the field running an NFL offense. Hopefully Winston learned a lot from those turnovers.

For the curious, here’s which Saints defenders snagged passes thrown by the former first-overall draft pick. Be sure to file this away for trivia night:

  • Marcus Williams (three times)
  • Jairus Byrd (twice)
  • Marshon Lattimore
  • P.J. Williams
  • Vonn Bell
  • Demario Davis
  • Craig Robertson

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Cowboys News Links: Cooper talks heat up, Jones’ big messages

Also, Jerry speaks from Indy, Leighton Vander Esch’s injury, David Irving’s possible return, elite pass rushers, and a pumped-up punter.

Questions about if and when the current CBA’s tag structure will change have kickstarted talks between the Cowboys and two of their high-profile free agents. But Jerry Jones still found an hour-plus to spill the tea on a variety of topics- including his recent shower thoughts- to the media assembled in Indianapolis. Mike McCarthy also held court at the combine and provided a sneak peek at what the 2020 Cowboys may look like.

All that plus news on Leighton Vander Esch’s injury recovery, David Irving’s possible reinstatement, and Dak Prescott’s self-appointed advisory committee. There’s also linkage to elite pass rushing options, the Great Dallas Interception Drought, the ratings bonanza that is America’s Team… and a punter showing off his guns. Here’s the News and Notes.

Cowboys ready to intensify Amari Cooper talks amid CBA setback :: Dallas Morning News

Now that the Cowboys know that using a transition tag on Amari Cooper will likely only result in them having to rescind it if a new collective bargaining agreement is approved, contract talks with wideout Amari Cooper’s camp have taken on a new sense of urgency. The two sides met Thursday evening in Indianapolis; a Byron Jones conversation is also on the immediate itinerary.

10 biggest things Jerry Jones said from Indy :: The Mothership

In a wide-ranging 80-minute sit-down aboard the team bus, the big boss dished on Byron Jones’s status, Jason Witten’s future, Robert Quinn’s “real deal”-ness, Dak Prescott’s familial standing with him and Jimmy Johnson in the Ring of Honor.

Mike McCarthy’s 1st big test, can he outrank Jerry Jones :: Cowboys Wire

McCarthy thinks he has more say over the roster than he did in Green Bay. He’s going to have to outweigh the most powerful man in all of sports.

What’s going on with LB Leighton Vander Esch? :: Inside The Star

With neck issues dating back to his college days, will this be a permanent concern going forward?

Cowboys Draft Digest No. 5: Top pass-rushers are safe picks. Can Dallas find one? :: The Athletic

Historically speaking, collegiate pass rushers who earn “elite” status end up being studs on Sundays.

 

Irving reinstatement journey comes with side-eye, but Cowboys watching :: Cowboys Wire

The David Irving saga may have another chapter left to be written after all.

Mailbag: Why the continual lack of INT’s?:: The Mothership

One notable thing the Cowboys defense has lacked is turnovers. It’s a mystery that has seemed to plague this unit for years, and one that needs to change in 2020.

America’s Team: Cowboys still winning in TV ratings :: Front Office Sports

Last season’s 8-8 record notwithstanding, the Cowboys are anything but mediocre in the Nielsen numbers. One industry insider theorizes that a Super Bowl appearance would be an absolute record-breaker.

Punter Michael Turk steals show at combine on bench press :: ESPN

The Arizona State punter, who recently made a list of punters the Cowboys should consider drafting, may have improved his stock Thursday night when he absolutely smoked the 225-pound bench press in Indianapolis. Michael Turk’s 25 reps were better than all 33 wide receivers and all but one tight end who participated.

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Sean Payton discusses the addition of cornerback Janoris Jenkins

The New Orleans Saints picked up ex-New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins on waivers and Saints coach Sean Payton dug into the addition

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The New Orleans Saints made waves this week when they claimed former New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins on waivers, adding an experienced option to their cornerbacks depth chart. Jenkins was a starter for Big Blue, having played 875 defensive snaps during New York’s first 13 games. He’s already tied his career-best interceptions tally (4), and has bagged 14 total passes defensed. That’s more interceptions than all other Saints cornerbacks have combined for this season (2). He’s also drawn half a dozen penalties.

Saints coach Sean Payton addressed the addition on Wednesday during his weekly conference call, noting that Jenkins is a versatile cover corner who can line up outside as well as in the slot, and emphasizing that experienced players with that versatility are important late in the season as injuries take their toll.

Payton also said that in-house evaluations of Jenkins were helped by the Saints’ past homework on him — both when he was a top free agent option before the 2016 season, and in scouting for each of the games they have played against Jenkins since he signed with New York (doing so in 2016 and 2018). He’s a player they knew well, and who they felt could easily project into their defense.

However, Payton stopped short of guaranteeing Jenkins a starting job. When asked whether he would compete for a spot in the starting rotation, likely with embattled number-two cornerback Eli Apple, Payton replied with a terse, “Listen, we’ll see. We’ll see how it goes.”

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Alabama-Western Carolina: Postgame report

The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Western Carolina Catamounts with a finals score of 66-3 to improve to 10-1 on the 2019 regular season. This game was a true test of the Alabama offense without Tua Tagovailoa on the field. Redshirt-Sophomore …

The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Western Carolina Catamounts with a finals score of 66-3 to improve to 10-1 on the 2019 regular season.

This game was a true test of the Alabama offense without Tua Tagovailoa on the field.

Redshirt-Sophomore quarterback Mac Jones stepped up big time in place of Tagovailoa, completing 10 of 12 pass attempts for 275 yards and three touchdowns, all while not turning the ball over.

The freshman younger brother of Tua, Taulia Tagovailoa, also got to take some snaps at quarterback.

He completed two of three pass attempts for a single touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

The passing attack turned out to be the most successful method of production as the Alabama offense totaled 310 yards and four touchdowns.

Devonta Smith continues to shine in his Junior season and make a strong case for being a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, today he reeled in four receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns.

Jaylen Waddle also got in on the action as he had three catches for 101 yards and a single touchdown that highlighted his breakaway speed along the sideline.

The running game also proved to be effective as Najee Harris had 14 carries for 66 yards, one rushing touchdown and one receiving touchdown.

While Harris remains the star of the Alabama backfield, a young face made a strong appearance late in the game.

Freshman Keilan Robinson had eight carries for 92 yards and a touchdown in his brief appearance against the Catamounts.

The defense had another impressive outing as they were able to bring in four interceptions, two a piece for Xavier McKinney and Jared Mayden.

Overall, Western Carolina’s offense was held to 179 yards, 112 in the air and 67 on the ground.

This was a game many anticipated Alabama would walk away with a win, but the true test will be n the Crimson Tide’s final regular season game of the year as they’ll travel to Auburn and take on the Tigers, a game that will have some hefty playoff implications.

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5 takeaways from Seahawks’ thrilling 27-24 OT win over 49ers

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the previously unbeaten San Francisco 49ers with a statement victory. Here are five takeaways from the game.

The Seattle Seahawks (8-2) defeated the previously unbeaten San Francisco 49ers (8-1) on the road in overtime as the clock expired, obtaining perhaps their most important victory of the season. They now head into their bye week in the thick of the NFC West race. Here are five takeaways from Monday’s game.

The defense stepped up and showed drastic improvement at times

The Seahawks consistently got to the quarterback for seemingly the first time all year, in perhaps their most crucial game of the season. After surrendering 10 unanswered points to begin the game, the defense stiffened up and made plays in key moments. Jarran Reed strip-sacked Jimmy Garoppolo and Jadeveon Clowney recovered the ball, returning it for his second touchdown of the season and putting Seattle on the board. Quandre Diggs had a key interception off a pass that deflected off Kendrick Bourne’s hands and set up Seattle’s second touchdown to take a 14-10 lead. The defense also did enough in overtime to stop the 49ers offense and force a field goal try, which Chase McLaughlin shanked badly. However . . .

The defense dropped interceptions that could have sealed the game in regulation

On the 49ers’ final drive before overtime, Tre Flowers dropped an interception off another deflection by Bourne, bobbling it but failing to come up with the ball. Garoppolo then threw a ball directly to K.J. Wright, but he also failed to catch it. The ball to Flowers was tough to corral, but the pass to Wright was thrown right to him, and he could have sealed the game for Seattle right then and there.

Crucial fumbles and takeaways galore

Both offenses routinely had the ball stripped, and two of these fumbles were returned for touchdowns. In addition to Clowney’s fumble recovery for a TD, 49ers defensive end DeForest Buckner scooped up a fumble by Germain Ifedi after a fumble by Russell Wilson, returning it for a touchdown that San Francisco would put an exclamation mark on with a two-point conversion, cutting the deficit to 21-18. Clowney also had a strip-sack of his own, with Poona Ford recovering to set up a rushing TD by Chris Carson (who also had a fumble before the Seahawks’ second TD) to make the score 21-10 in favor of the Seahawks. Speaking of key fumbles . . .

DK Metcalf’s red zone fumble before halftime was costly

With just over a minute to go before the half, Wilson completed a pass to Metcalf. The rookie second-round pick tried to power his way through to the end zone, fighting through tacklers along the sideline. As Metcalf spun inside the 5-yard line, 49ers defensive back Jaquiski Tartt stripped the ball from Metcalf at the 2. It was more of a great play by Tartt than a mistake by Metcalf, but a golden opportunity to score was squandered.

Sweet redemption for Myers

After nearly costing the Seahawks the game against Tampa Bay last week with two misses, one of which came as regulation expired, Myers made two clutch field goals. His first was a 46-yarder that gave Seattle a 24-21 lead with 1:45 in regulation, and his second was the game-winning 42-yarder that went just inside the right upright after Kyle Shanahan nullified Myers’ first attempt (which he also made) by burning his final timeout. There were many fans wondering if Myers should have been cut after last week, and some outright clamoring for it. It’s safe to say he got redemption in Santa Clara.

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