Tag: Isaiah Foskey

Todd Grantham’s responsibilities are changing under Darren Rizzi

Todd Grantham’s responsibilities are changing under Darren Rizzi. He’s moving from defensive line coach to an advisor role:

Todd Grantham’s responsibilities are changing under New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi. He’s moving from defensive line coach to a senior advisor role after the team dismissed Dennis Allen. Rizzi says Brian Young, a 15-year coaching veteran on staff as a pass-rush specialist, will run the defensive line room.

“It’s a shuffle. Shuffle the deck there a little bit on defense,” Rizzi told reporters Wednesday, when asked whether he would characterize these  changes as a demotion and promotion. “You have to understand the workload change because Dennis got removed. Dennis was, daily, in the defensive staff rooms so we quote-unquote lost a defensive coach. Not only a head coach, we lost the play caller. Now Joe, who is doing his stuff, he’s now coordinating, his workload changes. His day-to-day workload the fans may not understand completely, we just re-divvy it up. I just felt this was the best way to shuffle the deck there.”

Grantham’s focus will be advising defensive coordinator Joe Woods as he begins calling plays in Allen’s stead; it’s a less hands-on role than what he’s had here before. That isn’t the only change on the defensive side of the ball, but it is the most notable. Young will work with linebackers coach Michael Hodges to coordinate the defensive run game each week.

But change was needed. The Saints were on pace to set an NFL record for the most yards allowed before contact on running plays, which was a direct reflection on Grantham’s unit. The defensive line was getting pushed off the ball and not making plays. The lack of development for young draft picks like Payton Turner and Isaiah Foskey speaks for itself, even if Rizzi took the high road here.

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Anfernee Orji leads the NFL in special teams tackles going into Week 3

Three New Orleans Saints players rank inside the top five in special teams tackles this season, and nobody has more than second-year linebacker Anfernee Orji:

The New Orleans Saints special teams unit has been an intriguing one to watch this season. With the new dynamic kickoff rules in effect they are one of the few teams avoiding touchbacks, and rather choose to kick to the returners and make the play to try and avoid letting them start possessions at the 30-yard line.

That’s created opportunities to make a play in kickoff coverage. Three Saints players rank inside the top five in special teams tackles around the league, and nobody has more than second-year linebacker Anfernee Orji.

And that’s despite not facing a single punt return (all three punts have been downed or fair caught). With that said, they have seen the most kick returns of any team against them, which is why the tackle numbers are so high. The three standouts are:

  • 1st – Anfernee Orji: 5 special teams tackles (4 solo, 1 assist)
  • T-2nd – J.T. Gray: 4 special teams tackles (2 solo, 2 assists)
  • T-2nd – Isaiah Foskey: 4 special teams tackles (1 solo, 3 assists)

Gray and Foskey are tied for second place with two other players, Jamien Sherwood and Jaylon Jones, meaning those four make up the top five alongside Orji who is first. The method the Saints have taken to force returns as often as possible has worked as well, with only 4 touchbacks and an average of 25.2 yards per kick return, as opposed to the automatic 30 for touchbacks. Additionally, it has given these three players the chance to stand out and get the energy pumping for the defense before they get on the field.

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B/R says Saints should put Payton Turner on the trade block

With just one year left on his contract, Bleacher Report argues the New Orleans Saints should put Payton Turner on the trade block:

Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler called for the New Orleans Saints to put Payton Turner on the trade block. Fowler listed a player from each team that should go on the trade block.

Fowler had various reasons for a player’s inclusion. Crowded position group, expiring contract, or a change of scenery. Turner is on the last year of his deal, but him getting a new contract after a trade is doubtful because of the injury history. Change of scenery is obviously the route Fowler is going.

Turner hasn’t turned into the player the Saints desired him to be since drafting him in 2021. Heading into Year 4, he may never turn into that, but he could turn into draft compensation from another team via trade.

A large part of Turner not hitting his ceiling is health-related. In three seasons, he has played just 15 games. Turner’s shown flashes, but flashes aren’t enough at this point. Sustained production of some sort is required, and Turner’s availability removes him from sustaining poor or positive performance.

It’s difficult to predict a change of scenery would lead to Turner staying healthy. It certainly didn’t work for Marcus Davenport. Turner would result in minor compensation if he were traded.

On top of that, the Achilles injury to Tanoh Kpassagnon means Isaiah Foskey would step into fourth pass rusher role. Turner is injury-prone, but Foskey hasn’t even shown the flashes to make you believe in him. Never say never, but Turner is likely staying in New Orleans for the final year of his contract.

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Carl Granderson is the Saints’ surest thing at defensive end

There’s a lot of question marks at defensive end for the New Orleans Saints, but Dennis Allen says Carl Granderson isn’t one of them:

Carl Granderson has earned the full trust of Dennis Allen. In his interview after Day 3 at New Orleans Saints training camp, Allen was asked to clarify a sentiment from a previous interview. He expressed concerns about each of the Saints defensive ends, singling out Cameron Jordan, Chase Young, Isaiah Foskey and Payton Turner.

Do you see someone missing? When asked about Granderson’s exclusion, Allen made it clear this wasn’t a memory lapse.

“Carl has earned the right to be someone we’re really going to count on,” Allen said. If that wasn’t clear enough, Allen took it a step farther and named the questions marks and variables surrounding all other players at the position.

“Carl’s a guy who just continued to improve,” Allen added.

This speaks volumes about the view of Granderson inside the locker room. He’s coming off the best year of his career. In 2023, he set career highs in sacks (8.5), tackles for loss (14) and quarterback pressures (58), leading the team in each category. Granderson  hit double-digit tackles for a loss for the first time in his career, and he’s looking to achieve that same accomplishment with sacks this upcoming season.

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Saints spend top-10 pick on Penn State DE Abdul Carter in 2025 mock draft

It’s still too soon to accurately project the 2025 NFL draft, but Abdul Carter could be a good match for the Saints if they’re picking early again next year:

It’s still too soon to accurately project the 2025 NFL draft, but Penn State star Abdul Carter could be a good match for the New Orleans Saints if they’re picking early again next year. That was the case in this projection from Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy, which had the Saints picking at No. 8 overall.

Carter has the size the Saints covet at a listed 6-foot-3 and 259 pounds, and he comes from a program that’s sent several great pass rushers to the NFL. Defensive ends Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac were both top-100 picks this spring, which opened the door for Carter to move outside after initially playing off-ball linebacker. That was also the case for Micah Parsons, who was picked at No. 12 back in 2021.

And like Parsons, Carter is seen as a versatile defender who can make plays in coverage or rush the quarterback from a two-point stance. He needs experience playing on the line of scrimmage with his hand down but he has Pro Bowl potential if he can keep learning and developing.

He could make sense for the Saints. They haven’t gotten enough production out of high draft picks like Payton Turner and Isaiah Foskey or old pros like Cameron Jordan. The hope is Chase Young can transform the group this year but he’s working his way back from neck surgery and is only signed to a one-year deal.

But if the Saints are bad enough this fall to be picking at No. 8, it’s because Derek Carr bombed in Klint Kubiak’s offense. The ramifications for that could be big — how could Mickey Loomis sell fans on a fourth year with Dennis Allen at head coach if the Saints go 7-10 (like last year’s team picking at No. 8, the Atlanta Falcons), giving Allen a 23-28 record with New Orleans? If you include his Las Vegas Raiders run, as you should, Allen’s career record would be 31-56. That’s a win percentage of .356, which would be sixth-worst out of the 128 head coaches who have worked 87 or more games in NFL history.

Neither Allen nor Carr should be in the Saints’ plans if this is where they end up, and letting a new head coach draft a new quarterback should be their priority. It would be great if Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler is ready to compete for the job by this point but there’s no guarantee that either of them will be ready for it. Hopefully the Saints are so successful in 2024 that we aren’t worrying about things like this in the 2025 draft.

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Countdown to Kickoff: Isaiah Foskey is the Saints Player of Day 55

Isaiah Foskey is the New Orleans Saints Player of Day 55. What does a successful Year 2 look like for the former second-round pick?

We’ve got 55 days to go until the New Orleans Saints’ regular season kicks off, which makes the current No. 55 our Saints Player of the Day: Isaiah Foskey. What does a successful Year 2 look like for the former second-round draft pick? Let’s break it down.

  • Name (Age): Isaiah Foskey (23)
  • Position: Defensive end
  • Height, weight: 6-foot-5, 270 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: 9.61
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $1,985,164
  • College: Arkansas State
  • Drafted: 2nd round in 2023 (New Orleans Saints)
  • NFL experience: 2 years

Foskey may have fit the same athletic profile as past Saints draft picks like Marcus Davenport and Payton Turner, but he was seen as a very different prospect coming out of college. He won Notre Dame’s school sacks record (26.5) and was considered to be a very polished pass rusher compared to guys from smaller programs who didn’t have as much experience or success at lower levels of competition.

Still, his rookie year was frustrating. Foskey was buried on the depth chart behind other players and totaled just 84 defensive snaps while missing time with an injury. He didn’t collect a single sack. Obviously he has a lot of room to grow in Year 2.

Both Foskey and Saints head coach Dennis Allen have spoken about how he was too much in his own head last season — thinking too hard and not trusting his instincts, letting plays move past him while still trying to analyze it. More experience and a different approach could do a lot to help him meet his potential. He had some good moments during OTAs and minicamp practices, so building on that over the summer when the Saints regroup for training camp will be key. If Foskey can just be a productive part of the rotation after Tanoh Kpassagnon’s injury, this season will be an improvement over what we saw last year. Chasing greater heights and earning reps ahead of guys like Payton Turner would make it a real success.

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Payton Turner, Isaiah Foskey join Cameron Jordan at Von Miller’s Sack Summit

Payton Turner and Isaiah Foskey joined Cameron Jordan at the Sack Summit in Las Vegas, an event he co-hosts with Von Miller and Maxx Crosby:

The NFL is on summer break, but that doesn’t mean everyone is taking it easy. Cameron Jordan was joined by several of his New Orleans Saints teammates at the annual Sack Summit in Las Vegas, an event he now co-hosts along with its founder Von Miller and Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby.

Payton Turner, Isaiah Foskey, and Niko Lalos (who spent the 2023 season on the Saints’ practice squad) spent two days on the practice field and in the film room learning from the best sack artists around the league. Jordan shared photos and video from the event on his official Instagram account highlighting the event.

It’s good to see these young players taking initiative to get better. While the Saints added Chase Young to their defensive ends rotation along with Jordan and breakout starter Carl Granderson, the team is counting on bigger contributions from Turner and Foskey in 2024. An injury limited Foskey to just 10 games in his rookie season, totaling 9 tackles and a pass deflection. Turner missed most of the year with his own injury though he tallied two quarterback hits and a fumble recovery when he returned in Week 18.

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NFL analysts rank Saints front seven as the second-best in the NFC South

The battle for the best front seven in the NFC South is a tight race, and the Saints ranked second to the Buccaneers on the “Move the Sticks” podcast

NFL Network analysts and “Move The Sticks” podcast hosts Bucky Brooks and Daniel Jeremiah each picked the New Orleans Saints’ front seven as the second-best in the NFC South.

“I can’t say that there’s a group that really separates themselves from the pack,” Brooks said, reinforcing how close each team’s units are.

There was agreement on the Tampa Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons, who fell first and last in each analyst’s rankings. That’s where the conversation was focused. New Orleans has a stronger perception than their Carolina Panthers counterparts, and the Falcons, but no team stands head-and-shoulders above the rest.

The Saints’ front seven is driven by their linebacker corps. Demario Davis is the best player on the defense at any level. His consistent high level of play and availability earn him this honor. Pete Werner and Willie Gay had down years last season, but both have played well enough in the past to cause belief they’ll bounce back.

This will be the best trio of linebackers the Saints have had in a while. They struggled against the run last season, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see New Orleans deploy more three-linebacker sets than usual.

For all of the criticism around the defensive line, the potential remains there. Bryan Bresee and Isaiah Foskey move into Year 2. Foskey didn’t play much as a rookie but has the chance to earn a big spot in the rotation.

Chase Young comes in as well. This addition has the highest potential benefit for the Saints front seven. This addition mixed with players on the interior and edge stepping up could lead to the Saints front seven being the best in the division by season’s end.

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Payton Turner labeled a roster cuts candidate who could land elsewhere

Payton Turner has only played 15 games in three years. That untapped potential makes him a potential roster cut who could garner interest elsewhere:

Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay called New Orleans Saints defensive end Payton Turner a potential roster cut that should be on other teams’ radar. There are some notable names on the list alongside Turner, but his status as a former first round draft pick does make him more appealing than others.

This designation meant two things for Turner, from Kay’s perspective.  Turner may be released but has the talent to possibly contribute elsewhere. Kay argues Turner does indeed check both of those boxes:

He has the length and athleticism required to succeed on the edge at the professional level at 6’6″, 270 pounds while possessing plenty of explosiveness and power within that frame.

Although he hasn’t managed to translate those skills to the pro level yet, he has occasionally flashed when he hasn’t been sidelined by significant shoulder and foot injuries. He had a two-sack game against the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022, a contest that showcased his ability to disrupt.

Turner is obviously a camp casualty candidate. The Saints have drafted Isaiah Foskey early in the second round and also signed Chase Young in free agency over the last two years. New Orleans has been trying to find the answer at defensive end, but it’s been elusive.

Turner’s injury concerns have opened the door for more talent to walk in. The room could reach capacity with Turner as the odd man out. The problem with him is he has flashed his talent at times. It feels like if he was ever able to play over half a season he may be able to build upon some of these good moments. He’s only played 15 games in his three-year career.

If Turner is cut, another team could easily see those moments and give him a chance because of it. No one knows for sure what he could be with a full season. It’s likely a team would take the gamble to find out. But with Tanoh Kpassagnon possibly out for the year with a torn Achilles tendon, it’s unlikely the Saints are ready to cut ties with Turner just yet.

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Kool-Aid McKinstry signing may have set a new precedent for Saints

Friday’s Kool-Aid McKinstry signing may have set a new precedent for the Saints. It’s the soonest they’ve signed a second-round rookie under the new CBA:

This was a bit of a surprise. The New Orleans Saints announced Friday that second-round draft pick Kool-Aid McKinstry had signed his rookie contract, meaning all seven picks from their 2024 draft class had put pens to paper.

But that’s not all. This was the soonest a Saints second round pick had signed their contract under the new collective bargaining agreement, which came into effect in 2021. While that CBA did standardize rookie salaries and tie contract values to draft slots, there was still some wriggle-room left for players’ agents and teams’ front offices to negotiate things like guaranteed money, offsets paid by other teams after trades, and other details.

Those talks have sometimes taken months to work out, but that wasn’t the case for McKinstry. Here is when each of the Saints’ second-round draft picks signed their rookie contracts under the new CBA:

  • 2021: Pete Werner signed on June 8
  • 2022: Alontate Taylor signed on July 19
  • 2023: Isaiah Foskey signed on July 19
  • 2024: Kool-Aid McKinstry signed on May 31
It’s also possible that McKinstry is an exception — we’ll have to wait and see how things go in 2025. But it’s good to get these things out of the way sooner rather than later. It’s one less distraction to trail the team (however small) and one less order of business to conclude before training camp starts in late July. Now they can really focus on football.

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