Tag: Kool-Aid McKinstry

Saints rookie DB is about to be thrown into the fire

Kool-Aid McKinstry started in Week 2, but playing opposite of Marshon Lattimore is a much different experience. This is why the Saints drafted him:

Kool-Aid McKinstry’s rookie season completely changed when Paulson Adebo went down with injury. McKinstry goes from being a minor player in the system to basically being a starter. But the New Orleans Saints drafted him so highly because an emergency like this might happen.

He’ll be the outside corner opposite Marshon Lattimore in the Saints’ nickel defense, which they run more often than almost any other personnel grouping. You’ll frequently see Lattimore, McKinstry and slot corner Alontae Taylor on the field together.

This is similar to the role McKinstry played against the Dallas Cowboys, but the difference comes from who is on the other side of the field. In Week 2, the rookie filled in for Lattimore. This week, he’s playing opposite of Lattimore.

Even though Adebo is a good cornerback, he was one of the NFL’s most-targeted players in coverage because teams didn’t want to try Lattimore. That tendency didn’t change with a rookie entering the lineup. Lattimore is rarely challenged. That’s another tendency that is unlikely to change.

McKinstry saw just two targets on 12 passing snaps in Week 2. He probably won’t see another game with just two targets. He also will see more than 12 snaps on passing plays as well.

In limited action, McKinstry has looked good. He’s about to really jump in the fire playing opposite of the Saints top corner. Expect to see McKinstry much more than you did against the Cowboys.

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This stat says Saints DB is the NFL’s most disruptive player through 7 weeks

Alontae Taylor has made a living in the backfield this season. Through seven weeks, he leads the league in creating “havoc plays”

The 33rd Team has a metric called havoc plays. A havoc play is any tackle for a loss, sack, interception, forced fumble or pass breakup. Instead of individualizing each stat, they compiled them into one stat.

Through seven games, Alontae Taylor has become a master of disruption. The New Orleans Saints defensive back leads the NFL in havoc plays, with 16.

Due to Paulson Adebo’s injury, Taylor’s role will change slightly. He’ll play opposite Marshon Lattimore in base defense. In nickel, Taylor will slide inside and Kool-Aid McKinstry will play outside.

The change in role only increases Taylor’s ceiling for havoc plays because he won’t have to come off the field. He still gets to retain his spot in the slot which is what sets him up for so many havoc plays.

Playing insides gives him more opportunities to blitz and be more aggressive in the run game. Taylor is second on the team 3.5 sacks this year. One of those sacks led to a strip sack of Jalen Hurts.

In addition to being a leader in sacks, Taylor also leads the team in tackles for a loss and is second in pass breakups. That last number in particular should increase by playing on the outside in base formations.

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Dennis Allen reveals plan at cornerback after Paulson Adebo injury

Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry will see bigger roles in the Saints’ secondary after Paulson Adebo’s injury. Dennis Allen shared the plan moving forward:

Paulson Adebo’s season ended last week after a broken femur. It’s a genuine tough break for a player who’s currently in a contract year. This extends the long list of injuries the New Orleans Saints have to deal with.

Luckily for them, cornerback is probably the one position the Saints are set up to deal with an injury. Dennis Allen announced Monday that Alontae Taylor will replace Adebo at outside corner in base defense opposite Marshon Lattimore. Kool-Aid McKinstry will fill in on the outside in nickel coverage.

This was the expected next step after Adebo’s injury. It’s the plan they’ve used for mid game injuries and also absences. Taylor has been excellent on the inside this year, so it was unlikely he’d abandon that position entirely. Now, he just won’t leave the field.

The rookie’s role grows as well. The Saints play a lot of nickel, so he will see the field frequently. That may not be the case this upcoming week, because the Chargers are such a run heavy team. In many games, however, McKinstry will see the field as much as most starters.

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Saints rule out two more starters with injuries vs. Broncos

The Saints ruled out two more starters with injuries against the Broncos, including top cornerback Marshon Lattimore:

Disaster struck the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night when the Denver  Broncos came to town, and their old head coach Sean Payton left no doubt who needed who after his offense climbed up to a 26-3 lead. But that’s not all. The injury bug came back with a vengeance.

First, starting cornerback Paulson Adebo left the field on a trainer’s cart with a vacuum splint immobilizing his right leg. He was quickly ruled out with a knee injury and taken by ambulance to a nearby medical center after having  X-rays taken at the Caesars Superdome.

But two more starters went down in the second half. Left guard Nick Saldiveri, who was filling in for Lucas Patrick, was ruled out with a shoulder injury and replaced by rookie backup Kyle Hergel. Saldiveri didn’t join the team on the sideline after halftime.

After that, the other starting corner, Marshon Lattimore, exited with a hamstring injury. He was examined on the sideline in the blue medical tent but returned to the bench without a helmet, and was also ruled out. First-year draft pick Kool-Aid McKinstry  had gone in to replace Adebo and he was joined by undrafted rookie Rico Payton in  Lattimore’s place.

This team can’t take many more injuries. Only 20 of the 53 players on the active roster have not been listed on the injury report this season. Whatever injury prevention methods the training staff has been trying are not working.

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Saints starting cornerback carted off the field vs. Broncos

Paulson Adebo was carted off against the Broncos with a serious leg injury. Rookie cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry stepped into the lineup:

New Orleans Saints starting cornerback Paulson Adebo suffered a brutal leg injury in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. Safety Jordan Howden tackled Broncos running back Javonte Williams, and they collided with Adebo right on his upper leg when he crashed in to assist with the tackle.

Adebo was clearly in pain after the play and unable to get up. The medical staff brought a cart out for the cornerback, and he was fitted with a vacuum splint to stabilize his leg.

Rookie corner Kool-Aid McKinstry stepped in to substitute Adebo. He and Alontae Taylor will split time on the outside opposite Marshon Lattimore. McKinstry started against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2 when Lattimore was out with injury. Taylor played outside when they were in base defense, and slid into the slot in nickel defense.

This looks like a season ending injury. What it does is give the Saints a chance to get an evaluation of the rookie. McKinstry seemed like a pick who would contribute more in his second year.

That timeline has been pushed up. The injury is a tough blow for Adebo. He was entering a contract year.

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Saints should make a big change at cornerback after blowout loss

The Saints must make big changes to end their losing streak. They should start by benching Paulson Adebo for rookie draft pick Kool-Aid McKinstry:

The New Orleans Saints must make big changes to end their four-game losing streak, but where should they start? Head coach Dennis Allen isn’t going anywhere so the changes need to begin on the field. And with starting cornerback Paulson Adebo setting a new career-high in penalty yards, it’s time rookie second-round draft pick Kool-Aid McKinstry get a shot.

Adebo’s 101 penalty yards this season are a career-high, and that’s with two of his penalties being declined (he’s never had multiple fouls declined in a single season before). He gave up 76 penalty yards as a rookie in 2021, 73 penalty yards in 2022, and just 27 penalty yards in 2023, but now he’s fallen back into bad habits. That regression must come with consequences.

And the team can’t afford his boom-or-bust play style. It’s a great thing that Adebo leads the defense with 3 interceptions and 10 pass breakups. On top of the penalties, he’s getting beat in coverage. Pro Football Reference charting has him with 30 receptions and 527 yards allowed. Only one other defender has given up more than 400 yards this year, and that’s Benjamin St-Juste at 402. The gap between Adebo and St-Juste is as wide as that between St-Juste and DeMarvion Overshown, whose yards allowed rank 16th-most.

Let’s check another outlet. Pro Football Focus has Adebo with 33 catches and 426 yards, so they’ve charged some big gains to other players. But Adebo’s 426 yards allowed are still the most in the league. Even if you assign blame to another defender in the secondary here or there, he’s still getting beaten far too often and for too many big gains.

Those mistakes extend to other phases, too. PFF charged Adebo with missing four tackles against the Buccaneers last Sunday, putting him at six misses on the season. PFR was more forgiving and had him with just one missed tackle this year, but there are often disagreements on stats like these. Either way the image of Chris Godwin shoving a stiff arm into Adebo’s face mask so he could pick up 7 more yards from deep inside Tampa Bay territory stands out.

Will McKinstry be a better fit? Maybe, maybe not. It’s worth finding out. Adebo was given a big opportunity to help himself in a contract year, coming off his best season as a pro, but he blew it and the Saints’ season is going down with him. They can’t keep doing what they’re doing after giving up 594 yards from scrimmage and allowing 51 points to be scored on their heads, extending a losing streak to four miserable weeks. The Saints drafted McKinstry for a reason. See if he can hold his own and let Adebo earn back his spot in the lineup after being at fault on so many negative plays.

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Kool-Aid McKinstry has given Saints an immediate return on their investment

Marshon Lattimore is returning to the starting lineup in Week 3, but Kool-Aid McKinstry has already showed why the Saints drafted him:


Marshon Lattimore is returning in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles after missing last week’s game with the Dallas Cowboys. His absence pushed Kool-Aid McKinstry into the starting lineup.

Dennis Allen struck again with another defensive back. In his debut, McKinstry showed why the New Orleans Saints traded up to draft him in the second round. McKinstry was drafted with Paulson Adebo entering a contract year and Lattimore’s future uncertain. Lattimore returned to the team amid trade speculation, but that didn’t change circumstances for the rookie much.

The consensus has been for the cornerback to step into the starting lineup next year and provide a good insurance policy as a backup in case of injury this season. Whether that means Adebo leaves in free agency or Lattimore is traded in 2025, odds are McKinstry will have a more prominent role in Year 2 than Year 1.

In one start, McKinstry looked primed to fit in both roles. Pro Football Focus gave him a 77.1 coverage grade. That was good for 10th-best among all corners in Week 2, and he did it against a very talented Dallas receiving corps.

Even without PFF’s grading, it was evident that McKinstry belongs. His biggest play was a break up against CeeDee Lamb in the end zone. You saw an all around solid performance beyond that play. He looked poised in the moment, and it’s clear what the Saints saw in him in April.

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Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) feeling better, expected to play Week 3

Marshon Lattimore missed last week’s game, but it’s expected he’ll be able to suit up as the Saints take on the Eagles — who are without A.J. Brown

This story was updated to add new information.

The Philadelphia Eagles will be down one of their lead receivers Sunday as A.J. Brown is still recovering from a hamstring injury. On the other side of the ball, the New Orleans Saints could be getting Marshon Lattimore back from a hamstring injury of his own.

The cornerback was a full participant on Friday and had no injury designation on the final injury report, meaning he’s expecting to play.

Lattimore missed the Week 2 matchup versus the Dallas Cowboys due to an injury suffered against the Carolina Panthers. Lattimore was a game-time decision. Ultimately, Dennis Allen held the cornerback out to keep from further injury.

Kool-Aid McKinstry joined Alontae Taylor and Paulson Adebo as the three cornerbacks in the secondary. Lattimore hopes to rejoin the lineup in Week 3.

When looking at the lead up to Week 2. It was clear Lattimore was close to ready. Allen’s tone after the game felt like the corner would have a good chance playing this week.

After the week off, Lattimore feels healthier. He actually practiced this week, which he didn’t do last week. Allen thought the cornerback would be mad at him for the decision. In the moment, maybe he was, but Lattimore agreed it was the right call to sit in hindsight.

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Report: Marshon Lattimore is OUT vs. Cowboys

Marshon Lattimore was a game-time decision ahead of Saints vs. Cowboys. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to go on Sunday:

https://twitter.com/josinaanderson/status/1835336487061139546?s=46&t=BGVU6QtA–q5wEiol6W64A

The New Orleans Saints will have to stop the Dallas Cowboys passing attack without Marshon Lattimore this week. He wasn’t spotted warming up before the game, and NFL insider Josina Anderson reports that he will be inactive at kickoff.

The Saints lead corner went down with a hamstring injury versus the Panthers in Week 1. This injury left him unable to practice the entire week and being a game-time decision on Sunday.

Because of his absence, Kool-Aid McKinstry will join the starting secondary alongside Paulson Adebo and Alontae Taylor. This was the combination that saw the field when Lattimore departed Week 1.

The Saints have to deal with the elite connection of CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott.

Lamb works out of the slot frequently, so this will primarily be Taylor’s matchup. Taylor’s season debut wasn’t just great, it was historic. The day stood out because of his ability to rush the quarterback.

Taylor needs to have an equally strong performance against the Cowboys. This time he’ll need to do it coverage against Lamb and the rest of the receiving corps.

It’ll be interesting if the Cowboys change tendencies because there’s a rookie on the outside. McKinstry’s inexperience could lead to the Cowboys targeting him with their best wideout.

McKinstry was drafted for this exact situation. The Saints knew he may have to step in for someone, and that is already true after the first game. This provides a huge opportunity for McKinstry to get game reps and show he’s prepared to take this job on next year.

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Report: Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) pushing to play vs. Cowboys

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) is pushing to play against the Cowboys in Week 2:

It doesn’t sound like the New Orleans Saints plan on Marshon Lattimore playing against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, but never say never. And if it were up to Lattimore he’d be out there.

That’s what NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported overnight, saying that Lattimore is “pushing to play, but it’s a long season and him being healthy is paramount. He’ll workout this morning to see.”

The Saints traded up to pick Kool-Aid McKinstry in this year’s NFL draft because of Lattimore’s injury history. And then he pulled his hamstring last week against the Carolina Panthers after missing most of training camp with a hip flexor injury.

There aren’t many tougher assignments a rookie could ask for than being thrown into a game with CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and the rest of the Cowboys receiving corps, but a trial by fire would tell the coaches what they have in McKinstry.

And it’s worth remembering the other corners on the 53-man roster include a rising star in Paulson Adebo and Defensive Player of the Week snub Alontae Taylor, as well as preseason fan-favorite Rico Payton. They have quality depth at the position. If giving Lattimore another week to rest his injuries helps him endure the next 15 games, going without him in Dallas might be worth it. But we won’t know if he’s able to go for sure until he tests his leg in pregame warmups.

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