Tag: j.t. gray

3 Saints special teams aces recognized by Bill Belichick

New Orleans Saints players J.T. Gray, Anfernee Orji and Rashid Shaheed all made Bill Belichick’s first midseason team as standouts on special teams:

Former New England Patriots coach and eight-time Super Bowl champ Bill Belichick has quickly transitioned into the media landscape, with plenty of outlets competing for some of his time. His latest project is developing essentially an All-Pro Team halfway through the season called the All-Belichick Midseason Team.

The New Orleans Saints are represented three times on that list, all of whom play on special teams. J.T. Gray, Anfernee Orji and Rashid Shaheed all made the cut.

This is a major look for Orji. The young linebacker is looking to make a name in this league, and appearing on an All-NFL team created by the greatest coach of all time is certainly one way to do it. Belichick specifically highlighted Orji’s kickoff return coverage, even though Orji made it on the punt team. His 5 special teams tackles are among the most in the NFL.

Gray is a former All-Pro player on special teams. Coach called Gray, “a productive player ever since he’s came in the league.” He’s tied for the league lead with 7 special teams tackles, plus a blocked punt.

There were two kick returners on the team, and Shaheed was paired on this list with Cowboys’ returner KaVontae Turpin. Unfortunately, Shaheed’s injury will keep him from making the All-Pro team at the end of the season. His inclusion on this list shows you his trajectory, returning one punt for a touchdown in his six games this year.

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Tyrann Mathieu banged up vs. Falcons, now dealing with groin and heel injuries

Tyrann Mathieu was nicked up against the Falcons. He’s now dealing with a groin injury after a heel issue limited him in previous games.

Tyrann Mathieu exited Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons with a groin injury, per ESPN’s Katherine Terrell, adding to his list of ailments. The New Orleans Saints safety has already been limited in games with a heel issue, and he also dealt with a calf injury earlier this season.

But this groin injury could be the most serious of the bunch. Starting center Erik McCoy is out six to eight weeks after undergoing core muscle surgery for a similar injury. Hopefully it isn’t as dire aa situation. It’s a good sign that Mathieu observed the rest of the Falcons game from the bench with his teammates rather than moving to the locker room for treatment and further evaluation.

We’ll have to wait and see whether he misses time because of it. Either way, injuries are stacking up for Mathieu. The Saints have built their defense around several older players — Demario Davis, Cameron Jordan, and Mathieu himself — and each of them are either managing an injury or seeing a reduced role due to performance.

So younger teammates need to step up. J.T. Gray was pushed into Sunday’s game after Mathieu left, but he’s better-versed on special teams than defense, and it’s unlikely that’s the long-term goal for replacing Mathieu. Will Harris and Jordan Howden remain on the 53-man roster while Johnathan Abram, Ugo Amadi, and Millard Bradford are available on the practice squad. Whether any of them are called up for a bigger role is something to monitor in the days ahead.

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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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Penalties might be the Saints’ biggest blemish from Week 1’s big win

Penalties might be the Saints’ biggest blemish from Week 1’s big win. Dennis Allen’s team can’t afford so many mistakes against the Cowboys:

It’s tough to find much to complain about after the New Orleans Saints’ dominant win over the Carolina Panthers. A 47-10 landslide is a heck of a way to make a statement in Week 1. The offense was nearly unstoppable and the defense was locked in. But it wasn’t a perfect game.

As head coach Dennis Allen acknowledged afterwards, they can’t afford so many penalties and unforced errors against a better opponent — especially a Super Bowl contender like the Dallas Cowboys, who will play host in Week 2. So just how bad was it, really?

The Saints go into Week 2 with the second-most penalty yards (95) from the third-most fouls (10) among the league’s 32 teams. The offense was flagged five times for 45 yards while the defense drew 3 penalties for another 25 yards; the special teams units were also hit with 25 yards from a couple of infractions.

Here’s the full breakdown:

  • S J.T. Gray: kick catch interference (15 yards)
  • C Erik McCoy: unnecessary roughness (15 yards)
  • DE Payton Turner: unnecessary roughness (15 yards)
  • RT Trevor Penning: offensive holding (10 yards)
  • LT Taliese Fuaga: offensive holding (10 yards)
  • WR Bub Means: offensive holding (10 yards)
  • CB Paulson Adebo: defensive pass interference (5 yards)
  • DE Chase Young: defensive offsides (5 yards)
  • TE Foster Moreau: illegal shift (5 yards)
  • QB Derek Carr: delay of game (5 yards)

That’s three pre-snap penalties (two on offense, one on defense). If there’s a silver lining — there are actually two — this is something the Saints can control. We’ve seen them play disciplined football before. At the same time, their next matchup is with the league leader in penalties. The Cowboys were fouled 11 times last Sunday, costing them 85 yards, which was the fourth-most yardage total of the weekend.

So be prepared for more penalty flags to fly on both teams this Sunday. Cleaning up bad habits doesn’t happen overnight. So long as the Saints put in the work this week and players do a better job keeping their heads, it could be enough to tip the scales in their favor. But you have to think the Cowboys coaches are thinking the exact same thing.

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Johnathan Abram happy for reunion with his Mississippi State teammates

Johnathan Abram, J.T. Gray and Willie Gay were teammates at Mississippi State back in 2017. They have now reunited seven years later with the Saints:

Johnathan Abram’s head is full of ringing cowbells. Or at least the memory of them when he’s around teammates Willie Gay and J.T. Gray, who all took the field together back in 2017. They took significantly different routes to join the New Orleans Saints, but they all started out at Mississippi State before jumping to the NFL.

Gray joined the team as an undrafted free agent in 2018, and has been a Saint ever since, earning several postseason honors for his work on special teams. Abram and Gay made their way to New Orleans after being drafted by other NFL teams, Abram last season and Gay this offseason. They were actually division rivals on the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs for a time.

Their collegiate careers overlapped for just year. Gray was a senior when Abram and Gay arrived on campus in 2017. The latter two played one more year together before Abram went to the league, and Gay followed after.

In the words of Peaches and Herb, “reunited and it feels so good.”

Abram spoke about that bond after Wednesday’s practice session before Thursday’s off day. He reflected on each of his younger teammates and answered a question about the collegiate connection by acknowledging that “Bulldogs like to stick together.” Abram and Gray have gone bowling together, competing against the team’s wide receivers, and it’s clear the trio has a good relationship.

They like to “reminisce on how things used to be at MSU and how they’ve changed.” Abram described them as lifelong friends and the opportunity to play together again as a surreal blessing. That kind of staying power and camaraderie is rare in the NFL, and guys who have bounced around a couple of different teams don’t take it for granted.

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Countdown to Kickoff: J.T. Gray is the Saints Player of Day 48

Countdown to Kickoff: J.T. Gray is the Saints Player of Day 48. He’s already an All-Pro on special teams, but can he get in the defensive rotation at safety?

The countdown to the New Orleans Saints 2024 regular season kickoff is underway as we highlight every player who wears the corresponding jersey number. With now 48 days remaining before the Saints’ Week 1 game against the Carolina Panthers, linebacker J.T. Gray is the Saints Player of the Day:

  • Name (Age): J.T. Gray (28)
  • Position: Safety
  • Height, weight: 6-foot, 202 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: 7.90
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $3,480,000
  • College: Mississippi State
  • Drafted: Undrafted in 2018 (New Orleans Saints)
  • NFL experience: 7 years

J.T. Gray has been one of the more consistent players for the Saints since his arrival to New Orleans. Although his primary role is as a core special-teamer, Gray’s ascension in that role has allowed his name to ring across the league for a while now. In 2019, Gray received second-team All-Pro honors as a specialist in only his second season in the league, leading the league with 16 tackles on special teams. Gray would follow that up with his second All-Pro selection in 2021, this time with the first-team. He would also get his first Pro Bowl nod that same season, solidifying his status as one of the league’s best.

Gray’s play has continued to impress in the seasons following, enough to earn him a three-year extension with the team in 2023. Not only does his performance on the field do the talking but he’s also been one of the Saints respected leaders in their locker room as one of the team captains each of the last four years.

When it comes to this upcoming season, Gray’s presence will continue to be instrumental. His play could very well be a deciding factor on where the team ranks on special teams at year’s end. Something that is interesting though is where the team is at in terms of the safety position. With some uncertainty at the position opposite Tyrann Mathieu, Gray could push his way into some rotational snaps if things look the way they do now. It isn’t very likely, but the team hasn’t been this low on depth at the position in quite some time.

Could Gray make his way into the rotation in ’24?

We’ll just have to wait and see.

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Saints special teams ace J.T. Gray approves of new kickoff rule change

Saints’ two-time All-Pro ace J.T. Gray says the kickoff rule change adds excitement for fans and changes the value of special teams:

New Orleans Saints defensive back J.T. Gray is arguably one of the best players to speak on this year’s changes to the kickoff format, and he approves of the alteration. The two-time All-Pro special teams ace discussed the changes during an appearance on NFL Network’s “The Insiders.”

The NFL changed the kickoff rules to where the kicking team must remain at the opposing 40-yard line until the ball is caught or hits the ground. The kickoff has gone from one of the most exciting plays in football to a boring formality as of late. The change is meant to help the play regain its former glory by inviting more returns.

Gray may not be a returner, but he is a skilled player covering punts and kickoffs on special teams. On top of that, special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi pushed the rule change, so Gray is in a good position to speak on the tweaks. “In OTAs, we have been practicing that since Day 1,” Gray said.

Gray feels the adjustments will help with “changing the value of the special teams.” He makes a good point about how action on this play will get fans more excited. As stated earlier, the kickoff used to be a play fans looked forward to. Precautious safety measures removed the excitement of the game. Hopefully this rule change marries safety and excitement.

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Demario Davis, J.T. Gray recognized on Pro Football Focus 2023 All-Pro Teams

New Orleans Saints standouts Demario Davis and J.T. Gray were recognized on the Pro Football Focus 2023 All-Pro Teams:

Two members of the New Orleans Saints were recognized on the 2023 All-Pro Teams from Pro Football Focus, with linebacker Demario Davis making the cut (on the first team) along with special teams ace J.T. Gray (on the second team).

Davis was joined by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner on PFF’s All-Pro first team; PFF analyst Gordon McGuinness wrote that “Davis quietly had an incredible season himself, giving up just 6.6 yards per reception when he was the primary coverage defender and ranking behind only Warner in PFF grade (89.6).”

PFF tracking found that Davis finished the year with 75 solo tackles and 36 assists (48 of them qualifying as stops) and 22 quarterback pressures, his highest pressures total since the 2020 season. Davis only missed 11 tackles all season, ranking third-best among the 16 linebackers with 1,000-plus snaps in 2023.

As for Gray: he was credited with 11 special teams tackles this season, tied for 11th-most in the NFL. He recorded at least 48 snaps with five of the six kicking units while appearing in 14 games. He’s previously earned recognition as a Pro Bowler and Associated Press All-Pro and is still a highly respected player in his role.

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Bill Belichick singles out Saints’ All-Pro special teams ace J.T. Gray

Bill Belichick singled out the Saints’ All-Pro special teams ace J.T. Gray as ‘one of the top players in the league’ in the kicking game:

Bill Belichick knows excellent special teams players when he sees them. The New England Patriots head coach helped develop Matthew Slater into a fan-favorite and ten-time Pro Bowler for his efforts covering punts and kickoffs. And he sees many of the same qualities in New Orleans Saints ace J.T. Gray.

Few things have gone well for the Saints to start their season, but the special teams coverage has been excellent. New Orleans is one of five teams to limit opponents to a single kick return through four games (which was returned for just 24 yards). They’re also one of five teams to face 10 punt returns so far, but the Saints have held returners to just 63 yards. The other four teams in that crowd have given up 99 to 138 return yards. Gray leads the team with 3 special teams tackles in 3 games, having missed the season-opener with a shoulder injury.

“Real solid group led by Gray,” Belichick told reporters Wednesday. Speaking of Gray individually, Belichick said, “One of the top players in the league. Absolutely have to block him and account for him to have any chance of returns on punts and kickoffs.”

Belichick added, “He’s as good as anyone we play.”

Gray was an afterthought when the Saints signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State, back in 2018. His first contract with New Orleans carried just $5,000 in guarantees. But he impressed the team throughout his rookie training camp covering kicks, and he’s been a fixture ever since. He’s earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl recognition and signed another extension this spring guaranteeing him $3.5 million. This summer he was selected as a team captain for the third year in a row.

The Saints will be counting on Gray and his squad in the kicking game on Sunday. Points will come at a premium between New Orleans’ struggling offense and Belichick’s stifling defense. If Gray’s unit can help the Saints win the field position battle, maybe their teammates on offense or defense can capitalize on it and get New Orleans back in the win column.

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Kendre Miller and J.T. Gray return to Saints practice on Thursday

Kendre Miller and J.T. Gray returned from injuries to participate at Saints practice on Thursday

Rookie running back Kendre Miller and Pro Bowl special teams ace J.T. Gray returned from injuries to participate at New Orleans Saints practice on Thursday, potentially giving the team a boost in some phases they struggled to get going against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1.

Miller suffered a hamstring injury at practice after the team’s final preseason game and has been sidelined ever since, so his return is especially notable (even if he was reportedly wearing a red non-contact jersey). Jamaal Williams led the Saints with 45 rushing yards and as a team they managed just 69 yards on the ground in the season-opener. It would be huge if Miller can return and inject some big-play ability against the Carolina Panthers on Monday night.

As for Gray: he’s been dealing with a shoulder injury in recent weeks. He’s earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition for his skills covering punts and kickoffs, and that’s another area the Saints could improve after allowing the Titans to average 9.3 yards per punt return last week. Rookie punter Lou Hedley placed four of his five kicks inside the opposing 20-yard line but saw most of them returned for a net average of just 40.8 yards per try.

We’ll get a better idea of each player’s participation level and availability for Monday night’s game once the Saints publish their first injury report Thursday afternoon.

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