Tag: Ranking

Saints uniforms finish at sixth-best in NFL rankings

The New Orleans Saints received high marks for their classic black and gold uniforms in a recent ranking of each NFL team’s preferred look.

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The New Orleans Saints were wise to select black and gold as their go-to colors. The look is immediately distinctive, and fits the history of the city well. Thankfully, the black-and-gold combination also matches many outfits and interior decorating styles, making it easy for fans to show their loyalty.

It also helped the Saints earn a high spot in a recent uniform ranking from our friends over at Touchdown Wire. Specifically, the Saints uniforms were ranked sixth-best in the entire NFL:

The black and gold work splendidly with the fleur-de-lis that speaks to New Orleans, the Big Easy and the Saints. Good look.

Now that’s nice to see. The Saints have made a misstep here or there — the early 2010’s collars were unsightly at best, featuring an incomplete transition from gold trim to the jersey fabric — but there’s little to complain about the look these days.

While the black home jerseys are great, the Saints also earn kudos for the NFL’s best alternate jersey. Their while-and-gold “Color Rush” kits are the best around, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Saints tried to make them their official away look. The gold pants often paired with black jerseys were phased out last year (only worn in a Week 2 loss on the road to the Los Angeles Rams), so there’s obviously room for change in New Orleans.

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Saints offensive line carrying rare continuity, elite performance into 2020 season

The New Orleans Saints offensive line measured among the best in the NFL by Football Outsiders, but their health and continuity is important

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Just how good is the New Orleans Saints offense line? After re-signing left guard Andrus Peat (a two-time Pro Bowl alternate), they’re set to return all five starters from lats year’s unit. That’s an impressive feat in itself, but it means a lot more after you dig into what the analytics have to say about offensive line performance around the league.

Fortunately, analysts like the crew at Football Outsiders are on the cutting edge of quantifying how well the big blockers up front play. The Football Outsiders staff contextualizes their main grades well with a number of different factors, but we’ll be focusing on two key categories to determine how the Saints perform: adjusted sack rate (reflecting performance in pass protection) and adjusted line yards (which demonstrates run blocking efficiency), which are each contextualized for factors like down, distance, and opponents.

We took things a step further and filtered the list down to the offensive lines that perform at an above-average rate in both categories. Just a dozen teams from around the NFL passed the test in both categories, achieving an adjusted sack rate of lower than 7% as well as an adjusted line yards average higher than 4.26. Here’s how the list shook out (ranked by an average of each team’s placement in the two metrics):

  1. Dallas Cowboys: 4.3% adjusted sack rate, 4.91 adjusted line yards
  2. New Orleans Saints: 4.7% ASR, 4.92 ALY
  3. Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders: 5.9% ASR, 4.63 ALY
  4. Baltimore Ravens: 6.0% ASR, 4.73 ALY
  5. New England Patriots: 5.3% ASR, 4.49 ALY
  6. Los Angeles rams: 3.7% ASR, 4.27 ALY
  7. Green Bay Packers: 6.4% ASR, 4.63 ALY
  8. Indianapolis Colts: 6.0% ASR, 4.41 ALY
  9. Minnesota Vikings: 6.7% ASR, 4.60 ALY
  10. Los Angeles Chargers: 6.2% ASR, 4.37 ALY
  11. San Francisco 49ers: 6.9% ASR, 4.53 ALY
  12. Philadelphia Eagles: 6.4% ASR, 4.34 ALY

That places the Saints right at the top, in a tier of their own with the Cowboys. Behind them are the Ravens and Raiders, with the Patriots, Rams, and Packers clustered together. The rest of the group is fairly evenly matched.

So how do the seven best units compare moving into 2020? Four of them are either replacing starters who retired or left in free agency, or working players back into the starting lineup after their 2019 season ended with injuries. The Saints are one of just three teams (joined by the Raiders and Rams) projected to start the 2020 season with the same starting five that they kicked off with in 2019. Of course that could change for all teams after the draft and once injuries start to take their toll, but at this early stage the Saints should rightfully be seen as the NFL’s best offensive line.

The continuity the Saints enjoy will be important, doubly so in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. With teams expected to have less practice time than usual during the offseason, any offensive lines adding new pieces could have a steeper learning curve once games begin. By keeping the same starters together with the same position coaches, the Saints should have an immediate edge not just on other elite units around the league, but the less-impressive lines already playing catch-up.

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Ranking the best free agent signings in recent Saints history, behind Drew Brees

The New Orleans Saints have signed some big-time veterans in unrestricted free agency, with Drew Brees clearly on top. But who’s behind him?

Which free agent additions rank highest in the Sean Payton era? The New Orleans Saints have signed many contributors off the open market, but their misses (Jairus Byrd, Brandon Browner, Jason David) haven’t convinced them to change an always-aggressive approach. Seriously, the list of veterans added since 2006 is long — just off the cuff, the names that come to mind include Keenan Lewis, Curtis Lofton, Nick Fairley, Ben Grubbs, Delvin Breaux, Brodrick Bunkley, David Hawthorne, Craig Robertson, and Scott Fujtia.

While Jonathan Vilma is one of the greatest Saints in the recent era, it’s important to remember that he was acquired in a trade with the New York Jets, not as a veteran free agent.

But which five players would you pick out as the greatest free agent signings in recent Saints history — since 2006, when Payton took the job and ushered in a new era of football in New Orleans? We gave it our best shot in the ranking you’ll find below.

5. Darren Sproles

Where were you when Sproles played his first game with the Saints, in the 2011 season-opener? He inspired a furious comeback effort with a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown, and didn’t let off the gas during his 48-game stint for New Orleans. While he stuck around for just three years before getting traded to the Philadelphia Eagles (where he went on to play six seasons before joining their front office), Sproles was an electric jolt to the Saints offense as both a receiver (averaging 45 receiving yards per game) and as a runner (logging 5.7 yards per carry), despite his smaller stature.

4. Jabari Greer

Greer has a case to make as the best non-Marshon Lattimore cornerback to play for the Saints since 2006. If not for his ugly, unfortunate 2013 knee injury (which ended his career with just 66 games played for New Orleans, including the playoffs), Greer would be remembered even better as someone the Saints recruited in free agency before their 2009 title run. But the stats speak for themselves: Greer’s 68 regular season pass deflections rank second-best in Saints history.

3. Larry Warford

While he did take a step back in 2019, there’s not much to complain about with the overall steadiness of Warford’s play since he joined the Saints. He’s a solid pass protector (who, like many guards, should not be tasked with single-blocking Aaron Donald) and a great run blocker, who almost single-handedly enabled a few touchdown runs in the 2018 playoffs by pushing Carolina Panthers defensive tackles out of the back of the end zone. Warford has made the Pro Bowl as an alternate in each of his first three yars in New Orleans; let’s see if he can make it four-for-four.

2. Demario Davis

Davis deserves serious props for stepping up his game since landing in New Orleans. The Saints signed him expecting a productive linebacker and a good locker room presence; instead, he’s beaten those expectations by becoming the best three-down linebacker in the NFL, a vocal leader of the team, and a tireless advocate for justice off the field. If not for Brees himself, Davis would be the easy choice for top free agent signing in recent Saints history. Now can they please work out a contract extension to ensure he retires in black and gold?

1. Drew Brees

Brees has done it all. He won the first Super Bowl victory in Saints history. He elevated the team’s national brand from a Cleveland Browns-esque laughing stock to an annual title contender. He’s broken just about record out there, surpassing other NFL greats like Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady. He’s a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee and maybe the best free agent signing of any team in the history of this league, much less New Orleans.

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The Athletic ranks CFB’s best coaches – Is Kirby Smart too low?

The Athletic ranked the best coaches in college football, but did they rank Georgia football’s Kirby Smart too low?

This week, Stewart Mandel and Bruce Feldman of The Athletic ranked college football’s top coaches.

Kirby Smart checked in relatively high on both lists, but is he high enough?

Here are the two lists.

Stewart Mandel:

1. Nick Saban (Alabama) and Dabo Swinney (Clemson)

3. Ed Orgeron, LSU

4. Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma

5. Kirby Smart, Georgia

6. Brian Kelly, Notre Dame

7. James Franklin, Penn State

8. Dan Mullen, Florida

9. Paul Chryst, Wisconsin

10. Bill Clark, UAB

Bruce Feldman:

1. Nick Saban, Alabama

2. Dabo Swinney, Clemson

3. James Franklin, Penn State

4. Ed Orgeron, LSU

5. Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma

6. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M

7. Kirby Smart, Georgia

8. Brian Kelly, Notre Dame

9. Kyle Whittingham, Utah

10. Scott Satterfield, Louisville

Let’s discuss:

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PFF names Ryan Ramczyk, Michael Thomas top-10 NFL players

New Orleans Saints tackle Ryan Ramczyk and wide receiver Michael Thomas went top 10 in the Top 101 Players of 2019 from Pro Football Focus.

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The Pro Football Focus team put together its list of the top 101 NFL players of 2019, and they’ve saved the best for last with two New Orleans Saints cracking the top 10: right tackle Ryan Ramczyk and wide receiver Michael Thomas. The Saints were one of two teams to send multiple players to the top 10, along with the Pittsburgh Steelers (represented by edge rusher T.J. Watt and defensive lineman Cameron Heyward).

Ramczyk was the highest-ranked offensive tackle on the list, and the second-best offensive lineman behind Philadelphia Eagles guard Brandon Brooks. Thomas placed highest of all wide receivers and trailed only San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle among all pass-catchers. Here’s what PFF had to say about Ramczyk’s rise to the top;

9. T RYAN RAMCZYK, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

This was a vintage season for right tackle play, and the best of them all was Ryan Ramczyk, who won PFF’s Best Run Blocking award over the regular season. Ramczyk’s run-blocking grade of 91.8 was the best among players who didn’t miss significant time, and as a pass blocker, he didn’t surrender a single sack all season. In total, Ramczyk allowed just 20 total pressures from 659 pass-blocking snaps, and he shut down some of the best pass rushers in the NFL, including blanking Houston’s J.J. Watt (albeit with a holding penalty) in the first week of the season.

Ramczyk put together an impressive resume in 2019, shutting down a ridiculous list of pass rushers including the elder Watt, Dallas Cowboys star DeMarcus Lawrence, and Chicago Bears sack artist Khalil Mack. Not bad for a junior college transfer who started one year at left tackle for Wisconsin before being picked by the Saints, and immediately moved to the right side.

As for Thomas: there isn’t much more to say in explaining his greatness, but PFF analyst Sam Monson took a shot at it:

8. WR MICHAEL THOMAS, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Michael Thomas smashed the all-time single-season receptions record in 2019, breaking Marvin Harrison’s mark with a week to spare and ending the year with 149 catches from just 180 targets (82.8%). On the season, quarterbacks passing to Michael Thomas had a passer rating of 123.3, and he did this despite Drew Brees missing five starts with an injured thumb. Thomas was one of the most dominant players in football because even though teams knew exactly what the Saints wanted to do, few could even put a dent in his production.

Here’s where all seven Saints players who made the cut ended up ranking:

  • 8. WR Michael Thomas
  • 9. T Ryan Ramczyk
  • 21. LB Demario Davis
  • 38. S Marcus Williams
  • 45. EDGE Cameron Jordan
  • 62. QB Drew Brees
  • 76. T Terron Armstead

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Terron Armstead clocks in on Pro Football Focus’ top 101 players of 2019

New Orleans Saints tackle Terron Armstead earned well-deserved recognition on the Top 101 NFL Players of 2019 list from Pro Football Focus.

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New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead has finished too many seasons as one of the NFL’s best at what he does, but lacking the accolades his peers enjoy. He wasn’t named to the Pro Bowl until 2018 (returning in 2019), and has only cracked the AP All-Pro list once (in 2018, as a second-team entry). Sure, Armstead’s lengthy injury history has hurt his reputation, but there’s few left tackles around who combine his all-world athleticism with painstakingly-polished technique.

However, Armstead finally got his due from the list of the top 101 players of 2019 from Pro Football Focus. Players 101 through 76 have been revealed so far, and plenty of Armstead’s Saints teammates should join him. but for now, he’s the only member of the black and gold to make the cut:

76. T TERRON ARMSTEAD, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

At his best, Terron Armstead is one of the best tackles in all of football, but an in-season injury affected his play and caused him to miss time. Even his absence showed how good he is, though, as Drew Brees completely changed his game when his reliable blindside protector wasn’t in the lineup by dramatically speeding up his release. Armstead surrendered just one sack all season, including the team’s lone playoff appearance, and the sack came in that game. In total, he allowed 24 pressures across more than 600 pass-blocking snaps and remains one of the best pass blockers in football.

While this was a drop from last year’s ranking (47), Armstead placed ahead of several tackles around the league, including Tennessee Titans bookends Jack Conklin (81) and Taylor Lewan (88), Indianapolis Colts right tackle Braden Smith (92), and Atlanta Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews (96). We’ll find out in the days ahead who the analysts at Pro Football Focus ranked ahead of Armstead, but it’s great to see him getting this well-deserved recognition. Now where will Ryan Ramczyk place?

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Alabama Softball ranked either No. 1 or 2 in national polls

Roll Tide Wire recently reported Alabama Softball’s ranking checking in at No. 1 according to D1Softball’s preseason poll. Now, three more national polls have been announced and Alabama remains at, or near, the top. In addition to the @D1Softball …

Roll Tide Wire recently reported Alabama Softball’s ranking checking in at No. 1 according to D1Softball’s preseason poll.

Now, three more national polls have been announced and Alabama remains at, or near, the top.

In the USA Softball and D1Softball rankings the Crimson Tide is the top team in the nation.

The NFCA and Softball America polls have Alabama in the No. 2 spot.

NFCA and Softball America has Patrick Murphy and ‘Team 24’ sitting behind the Washington Huskies.

Alabama has a chip on their shoulder after losing in the first round of the Women’s College World Series in 2019.

Their revenge tour is set to begin on Feb. 7 as they travel to Tallahassee, Florida for the Joanne Graf Classic to play two games against North Carolina and host Florida State on Feb. 7-8.

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Saints’ Super Bowl 44 win ranked 17th-best of all time

The New Orleans Saints’ win in Super Bowl XLIV over the Indianapolis Colts was ranked the 17th best title game in NFL history by USA Today.

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The New Orleans Saints were recognized for their victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV by that game being ranked the 17th-best title game in NFL history by USA Today. It remains the most memorable game in Saints history, thanks to huge plays ranging form Pierre Thomas’s crafty running on a screen pass touchdown, to Thomas Morstead’s “Ambush” onside kick, to Lance Moore’s just-in two-point conversion and Tracy Porter’s famous interception returned for a touchdown. The writeup from USA Today’s Nate Davis summed it up well:

The Saints ended decades of futility courtesy of MVP Drew Brees’ pinpoint passing, coach Sean Payton’s surprise onside kick to start the second half and CB Tracy Porter’s game-sealing pick six of Peyton Manning.

This win in Super Bowl XLIV brought the first NFL championship to New Orleans in franchise history, providing the high point in the greatest era of Saints football. It ended a decades-long championship drought for the city and ushered fans into a new time where competing for another title has been the expectation, not the long-shot hope.

It’s not something the NFC South-rival Atlanta Falcons can boast. That team still hasn’t won a Super Bowl, and their loss in Super Bowl LI ended up earning the top spot in the USA Today rankings. We’d be remiss to forget how that game saw the Falcons surrender a 28-3 lead late in the third quarter in the most epic collapse in the championship game’s history. You love to see it.

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Ranking Texas’ 2020 Games In Level Of Importance

The schedule has its pros and cons, but should be in favor of Texas. Here is the 2020 schedule ranked game by game in order of importance:

The 2020 season is one of the most important seasons Texas has had in a long time. After a poor 2019 season, Head Coach Tom Herman was given another opportunity to show himself. Hiring new offensive and defensive coordinators after the season, if nothing changes on the field, changes could be made off the field.

The best quarterback the Longhorns have had since Colt McCoy is expected to be back for his senior season. Gaining Heisman hype both in 2019 and more than likely in 2020, Sam Ehlinger is going to need to be the man for Texas.

Mix in all of the other returning talent for the squad and this is the year to put it all together. The schedule has its pros and cons, but should be in favor of Texas, getting most of their big conference games at home.

Here is the 2020 schedule ranked game by game in order of importance:

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Alabama at No. 13 in post-Championship Week Playoff rankings

The Alabama Crimson Tide ended with a final record of 10-2, a record some programs could only dream of having. However for Alabama, there is a sense of disappointment. In the second-to-last rankings done by the College Football Playoff committee, …

The Alabama Crimson Tide ended with a final record of 10-2, a record some programs could only dream of having. However for Alabama, there is a sense of disappointment.

In the second-to-last rankings done by the College Football Playoff committee, Alabama was ranked No. 12, the lowest Nick Saban and Alabama has been ranked in years.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Alabama dropped yet again to No. 13 after not playing for a conference championship this past weekend.

It’s also very unusual for Alabama to be looking up at the numerous other fellow SEC programs that are ahead of them in the rankings.

Teams that are ranked higher than Alabama to finish the 2019 season: Auburn (No. 12), Florida (No. 9), Georgia (No. 5) and LSU (No. 1).

Alabama will now look to play in it’s final game of the season, which will take place on New Year’s Day against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.

Stay with us here on Roll Tide Wire as we will bring you all things Alabama football!

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