Tag: New Orleans Saints

Sean Payton won’t be watching Colin Kaepernick’s workout

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton won’t watch Colin Kaepernick’s workout. He’s happy with Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater, and Taysom Hill.

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The NFL is hurrying to put together a Saturday workout for free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who ranks twenty-third in career passing rating in NFL history but hasn’t had a team in almost three years despite training five days a week to remain game-ready. Count New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton in the camp who isn’t interested in what Kaepernick has to offer.

“I won’t pay attention because it isn’t a need for us,” Payton said during his Thursday conference call with New Orleans media, hours before Saints practice. The Saints do have depth at quarterback that would envy any team around the league; Drew Brees is one of the greatest passers of all time, while Teddy Bridgewater proved to be a starting-quality fill-in during Brees’ absence. Taysom Hill rounds out the group as someone who has made strides early in his career.

However, that depth may be temporary. None of those three quarterbacks are under contract after this season, with Brees and Bridgewater both eligible for unrestricted free agency. Hill is designated as a restricted free agent, which is a little more complicated but doesn’t guarantee he’ll return.

Payton and the Saints would be wise to evaluate all available options, but in this case they’re hedging their bets that their quarterbacks depth chart should look much the same even after new contracts for Brees, Bridgewater, and Hill are drawn up.

Now, it doesn’t mean that the Saints won’t have someone in attendance to observe Kaepernick’s workout. Payton being disinterested doesn’t mean they won’t assign a scout or personnel executive to check in. Payton previously voiced support for Kaepernick’s ability to compete in the NFL despite a prolonged absence.

“It is a little surprising that he is still available, and I don’t think he will be available too long,” Payton said back in May 2017. “I think the key is the fit and the vision for a club offensively but I think there will be a team that has that vision and has an offense that builds around some of the things he does well.”

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Saints designate Keith Kirkwood to return from injured reserve

The New Orleans Saints started a 21-day countdown for wide receiver Keith Kirkwood to practice with the team and return from injured reserve

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Reinforcements might be on the way for the New Orleans Saints wide receiver corps. Second-year pro Keith Kirkwood practiced on Wednesday, hours after Saints coach Sean Payton commended his progress in recovering from an early-season hamstring injury. Kirkwood has been on the shelf since hurting himself in pregame warmups back in Week 2, but the Saints designated him to return from injured reserve on the official league transactions wire.

This starts the clock on a 21-day window for Kirkwood to practice and be promoted to the 53-man roster, or else revert to the injured reserve list. It’s unclear which game the Saints are targeting in-house for him to make his return, though the earliest he’d be eligible would be Week 13’s game with the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 28, per NFL rules.

If Kirkwood is able to suit up again this season, it’s easy to see how he could help the team. They have a wide-open void at the wide receiver position opposite Michael Thomas, who has caught 86 of the groups’ 116 receptions this year. The Saints weren’t able to find any last-minute upgrades at the NFL trade deadline, so Kirkwood might be their last remaining hope for to receiving corps to suddenly improve.

Teams are allowed to bring back two players from injured reserve each season, though it’s tough to say which Saints players may qualify. We can parse the list down a bit, however, because NFL rules stipulate only players who started the year on the 53-man roster may return from injured reserve later that season. That excludes most of the players on the list, which you can find below:

 

  • C/G Cameron Tom (ineligible)
  • LB Alex Anzalone
  • LB Kaden Elliss
  • LB Colton Jumper (ineligible)
  • LB Josh Martin (ineligible)
  • TE Garrett Griffin (ineligible)
  • WR Keith Kirkwood (designated to return)

Payton said earlier this year that starting middle linebacker Alex Anzalone would miss the rest of the season after shoulder surgery, so he won’t be a candidate. That leaves rookie linebacker Kaden Elliss as the only option left, but he tore his ACL on Sept. 22. There’s no way he’ll be recovered from that in time to play later this season. So don’t expect anyone but Kirkwood to return from injured reserve in 2019.

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NFL Week 11: 11 bold predictions

Look for the Saints to rebound and the Falcons to pick up their second straight NFC South victory.

Time to match up 11 bold predictions for Week 11 on the NFL schedule.

Rivers and Mahomes to provide air show

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The Chargers and Chiefs get together in Mexico City. Last year’s scheduled game for Mexico had to be moved to the LA Coliseum and the Chiefs and Rams put on a classic. Don’t expect 100-plus points this year in the thin air. However, do expect Philip Rivers and Patrick Mahomes to pass the night away. Look for 675 yards between them and at least five passing scores.

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NFL Next Gen Stats show Falcons’ pressure rate skyrocketed vs. Saints

NFL Next Gen Stats highlighted the team’s drastic change in pressure rate, as the Falcons generated pressure on 35 percent of the Saints’ dropbacks.

The Falcons had just seven sacks prior to Week 10, but managed to bring Saints quarterback Drew Brees down six times during Sunday’s win.

Atlanta’s front-seven was completely locked in for four quarters the first time all season. Grady Jarrett led the way with 2.5 sacks, although the entire defense deserves credit for never letting off the gas.

NFL Next Gen Stats highlighted the Falcons’ drastic change in pressure rate, as the team generated pressure on 35 percent of the Saints’ dropbacks.

This was a 16 percent uptick from the Atlanta’s 31st-ranked season average entering Week 10:

The Falcons made some coaching changes in the bye week, promoting linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich to defensive play-caller, and bringing assistant coach Raheem Morris over to work with the team’s defensive backs.

Ulbrich has downplayed the coaching changes as a major factor in the team’s defensive awakening, but the difference was obvious. Atlanta plans to keep this play-calling arrangement for the rest of the season, which seems like a good idea after Sunday’s result.

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Former Saints LB Vince Biegel turning into a bright spot for Dolphins

Few would argue that the New Orleans Saints made a bad move in swapping linebackers with the Miami Dolphins back before the NFL roster cuts deadline, shipping out a special teams ace and defensive reserve for a starting-quality veteran. Kiko Alonso …

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Few would argue that the New Orleans Saints made a bad move in swapping linebackers with the Miami Dolphins back before the NFL roster cuts deadline, shipping out a special teams ace and defensive reserve for a starting-quality veteran. Kiko Alonso has played well for New Orleans in his first few months on the job, gradually picking up more of the defensive playbook and earning increasingly-high snap counts.

But this is a case where both parties came away feeling good about what they’d gained. For Miami, it meant a talented pass rusher who’s just happy to have the opportunity. Vince Biegel has turned into a bright spot in a season that’s been tough to watch for Dolphins fans. He ranks second on the team in sacks (2) but leads the defense in hits (11) by a landslide. If he put up those same numbers for the Saints, he’d rank third-best in each category.

According to pressure rates charted by Pro Football Focus, Biegel places inside the top 10 for pass rushers league-wide, ranking just above Marcus Davenport. That shows that he’s performing well with consistency on a snap-to-snap basis, not just notching a few lucky plays.

And for Biegel and his family, the opportunity to start on a defense and make a career in Miami is something to be grateful for. Wins and losses are great (and his fortunes there would be widely reversed if the Saints hadn’t traded him), but the chance to write his own NFL story is something he appreciates.

“To be in (Dolphins coach Brian Flores) defense has been a blessing for me,” Biegel said earlier this season. “Coach Flo reminds me a lot of Dave Aranda, who was the defensive coordinator at Wisconsin, a guy who really loved to mix it up, a great defensive mind who really put guys in great positions to make plays.”

And he’s made some memorable plays for Dolphins faithful already, including his first career sack — which came against none other than New England Patriots legend Tom Brady. The list of players who can boast that kind of start to their career is brief, and it’s something Biegel takes pride in.

“For me, this has been the most comfortable defense I’ve been a part of so far in the league,” Biegel continued. “It’s been fun to be a part of this defense, make some plays, obviously for the team and continue to grow. As the season progresses, and hopefully (I) stay here for years to come I hopefully can grow and develop and to be a great, great player in this defense.”

So what does this mean for Saints fans? It’s certainly not something to complain about. Biegel was playing well in his role for New Orleans, but the opportunity to add someone as experienced as Alonso was too good to pass up, especially with Biegel buried on the depth chart. If anything, having someone to root for during Dolphins games is a plus for fans of the black and gold — so long as they aren’t the ones playing against Biegel and his new team.

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What will the Saints do without Andrus Peat?

The New Orleans Saints lost starting guard Andrus Peat for six weeks, putting Will Clapp and Nick Easton in the driver’s seat to replace him

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The New Orleans Saints offensive line took a hit on Wednesday when starting left guard Andrus Peat underwent surgery to repair a broken arm, putting him on the sidelines for about six weeks. So where do they go from here?

Peat’s immediate replacement is backup guard Will Clapp, who filled in for him during Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Clapp is a second-year player out of LSU with experience at both guard and center, though the Saints prefer him at guard. He allowed a few sacks to the swarming Falcons defense after being rushed into action.

Another name to watch out for is Patrick Omameh, who has been the final active lineman on most game days despite slotting in as a reserve after Clapp. He has started full seasons before at both left and right guard, though he didn’t play at a particularly high level. The experience he does have at starting often in the NFL can’t be undersold.

Additionally, the Saints can try and get some return on the investment they made in free agent blocker Nick Easton. New Orleans inked him to a four-year, $20 million contract earlier this year, though only the first year was guaranteed at the time of signing. However, Easton has been active for just three games this season, limiting his appearances to the special teams units. He obviously didn’t make a great impression on the coaching staff during the offseason.

Other candidates the Saints could look to on their roster include three rookies: Ethan Greenidge (a former left tackle for Villanova who started 43 games), Derrick Kelly (a Florida State product who played 34 games at both tackle and guard), and John Leglue (a local from Tulane who has played all five positions, plus long snapper).

To recap, here is how snap counts have shaken out for each of New Orleans’ offensive linemen through nine games, suggesting something similar to the in-house depth chart:

  • T Ryan Ramczyk, 609 (100%)
  • G Larry Warford, 609 (100%)
  • C Erik McCoy, 603 (99%)
  • T Terron Armstead, 598 (98%)
  • G/T Andrus Peat, 527 (86%)
  • G Will Clapp, 161 (26%)
  • G Patrick Omameh, 16 (2%)
  • G/C Nick Easton, inactive
  • T Ethan Greenidge, inactive
  • T/G Derrick Kelly, practice squad
  • T/G John Leglue, practice squad

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Could Teddy Bridgewater be the Buccaneers quarterback in 2020?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be wise to pursue New Orleans Saints backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in the offseason.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter Sunday looking to avenge their Week 5 loss, when New Orleans Saints backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater torched the Bucs secondary for 314 yards and four touchdowns in a 31-24 New Orleans win.

This week, however, Bridgewater will be watching from the sideline now that incumbent starter Drew Brees is back from a thumb injury.

While the Buccaneers won’t be facing Bridgewater in Week 11, they should keep an eye on him this offseason as a potential replacement for Jameis Winston, according to NFL.com analyst David Carr.

Carr, the 2002 number one overall pick by the Houston Texans and older brother of Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, listed five teams he feels don’t yet have their 2020 starting quarterback on the roster.

Not surprisingly, the Buccaneers were one of the five. Carr didn’t hold back in his criticism of quarterback Jameis Winston, and, when offering up a solution for the Bucs, turned his focus to Bridgewater.

Here’s part of Carr’s explanation:

“Winston is a turnover machine. He has thrown 17 TD passes yet he’s committed 18 turnovers (14 picks, four fumbles lost). This is not a recipe for success. It’s time that the Bucs realize Winston isn’t the future, and go hard after Teddy Bridgewater or Andy Dalton this offseason. There’s a chance the Saints won’t let Teddy, who went 5-0 as a starter this season, hit the market but if they let him walk and he doesn’t end up in Carolina (as I suggested earlier in this piece), he is an ideal fit for Bruce Arians and the Bucs’ offensive weapons.”

I think Bridgewater is the better choice than Dalton. Bridgewater is younger and more athletic, so more upside. Plus, Dalton has shown he’s not the answer in Cincinnati, so why would things be different in Tampa Bay?

Just because Bruce Arians worked his magic with one former Bengal in Carson Palmer, doesn’t mean lightning will strike twice.

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All eyes are on Marshon Lattimore on first Saints injury report

The New Orleans Saints will travel to take on Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11, but Marshon Lattimore and Andrus Peat are fighting injuries.

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The New Orleans Saints will travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers in a Week 11 NFC South showdown. This will be the second matchup between the two teams, the first being a 31-24 Saints victory in Week 5.

The injury report this week will be crucially important as all eyes will be on cornerback Marshon Lattimore after a hamstring injury during Week 10. Lattimore has proven to be the best secondary player on the Saints defense, and with Buccaneer’s wideout Mike Evans lurking, an additional challenge has been wrinkled in to the Saints’ game plan.

The initial injury reports published by the Saints and the Buccaneers on Wednesday are the initial reports for the week. A second, updated report will be released on Thursday. The final injury report with game status for certain players will be issued on Friday. Daily changes in practice participation are noted in bold text.

From the Saints

  • KR/WR Deonte Harris (Hamstring) Did not participate
  • CB Marshon Lattimore (Hamstring) Did not participate
  • G Andrus Peat (Forearm) Did not participate
  • FB Zach Line (Knee) Limited
  • LB Demario Davis (Hamstring) Limited
  • CB Patrick Robinson (Hamstring) Full

From the Buccaneers

  • CB Carlton Davis (Hip) Did not participate
  • T Demar Dotson (Non injury related) Did not participate
  • OLB Anthony Nelson (Hamstring) Did not participate
  • CB M.J. Stewart (Knee) Did not participate
  • G Ali Marpet (Ankle) Limited
  • OLB Carl Nassib (Hamstring) Limited

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Andrus Peat expected to miss six weeks with a broken arm

The New Orleans Saints lost starting left guard Andrus Peat to a broken arm against the Atlanta Falcons, and he’s expected to miss six weeks

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Bad news hit the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting that left guard Andrus Peat suffered a broken arm in Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Peat went through surgery Wednesday and the team expects him to be sidelined for six weeks, per Schefter’s report. That would put him on the shelf until their Dec. 22 game with the Tennessee Titans.

It’s a big loss for the Saints. Despite his inconsistent level of play, Peat was their best option to start at left guard as well as the immediate backup for left tackle Terron Armstead. He’ll likely be replaced by his own backup, second-year pro Will Clapp, though free-agent signee Nick Easton should also be a candidate to get playing time. Easton has been a healthy scratch in six of nine games after signing a four-year, $20 million contract with New Orleans earlier this year.

It couldn’t come at a worse time for Peat, who is scheduled to test free agency in the spring. The 25-year-old is playing out the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, guaranteeing him $9.625 million in 2019. The sad state of offensive line play around the league means he’ll have plenty of bidders looking to pay him to start at either left tackle or left guard, and probably put him out of New Orleans’ price range even with this injury.

And injury concerns are something that has dogged Peat throughout his career: he’s never played a 16-game season, despite coming close in both 2016 and 2017 with 15 games played in each outing, though his 2017 season ended with a broken leg. He missed three games in 2018 due to a sprained ankle, concussion, and broken hand, but made the Pro Bowl as an alternate. A growing list of injuries, poor positional fits (the Saints tried him out at both tackle and guard on each side of the line before settling at left guard), and a probably-high price tag mean his days in New Orleans may be numbered.

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NFL Week 11: How to survive and advance in your knockout pool

The Niners and Raiders are double-digit favorites in the same week for the first time since 1987. Does that make them safe picks?

The Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons combined to send many knockout pools to the finish line in Week 10. However, if you rolled the dice and went with the Bears against the Matthew Stafford-less Lions as a late audible, you were rewarded … barely. On to Week 11 as the drama builds and tension heightens.

Don’t think about it

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The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles get together for the first time since Super Bowl LII. This figures to be a great game to watch and if you somehow have either team available, keep them in the bank. The Rams and Bears get together again. Last year saw Chicago on top. Another game that is worth enjoying and not getting anywhere near. Would have to say the Steelers and Browns fall into this category. Pittsburgh is playing well and Cleveland is coming off a good win against Buffalo. It’s Thursday night and not worth ruining your weekend. The Texans and Ravens get together in what should be a showcase of two of the best QBs in the game, Deshaun Watson and Lamar Jackson. This could come down to who has the ball last and that is not the memory you want to take away from being eliminated from a knockout pool. Not going to try and figure out what Colts team shows up to face the Jaguars. If Brian Hoyer plays again, stay far away from Indy. And, in the Monday night matchup, San Diego plays host to Kansas City in Mexico City. This could provide plenty of offensive fireworks and is a great way to finish NFL Week 11 by enjoying it and not having to choose sides.

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