Tag: slot

Alontae Taylor says he won’t be replacing Marcus Maye at safety

New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor moved to the slot in 2023, but says he won’t be replacing Marcus Maye at safety in 2024:

The New Orleans Saints secondary will look different this season with the team intending on releasing starting free safety Marcus Maye when free agency begins in a few weeks. Could another position switch be on the way for cornerback Alontae Taylor, who moved to the slot for the first time in 2023?

Don’t bet on it. Taylor shot down the idea of learning another new position in 2024 in response to fans on social media, who were discussing the notion of playing him at free safety in the wake of Maye’s departure. Whether he primarily covers the slot or moves back outside, he wants to be listed at cornerback.

While the Saints do have an intriguing internal candidate to replace Maye in second-year pro Jordan Howden, they’re going to need more players in the group with Johnathan Abram, Lonnie Johnson, and Ugo Amadi all headed for free agency. And we can’t ignore that Abram finished the season ahead of Howden on the depth chart. He may not be as ready for a full-time starting role as we think.

But as for Taylor: hopefully this experiment in the slot was just a one-year plan. No player was targeted more often or gave up more catches and yards than he did when guarding the slot last season, and he allowed the second-most touchdown passes in the league in that role. He’s a dynamic player on the outside, where he’s played since high school, but he was miscast in the interior over the slot. One benefit to the Saints possibly trading Marshon Lattimore this summer is that it would open a path to keep Taylor in the starting lineup where he’s played his best football.

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Dennis Allen is doing Alontae Taylor a disservice with failed slot experiment

Alontae Taylor has allowed more catches and yards from the slot than anyone else in the NFL. Dennis Allen deserves some blame for not better preparing him for a new position:

Did you notice that Alontae Taylor was benched last week against the Los Angeles Rams? It was gnarly. The New Orleans Saints’ second-year cornerback was torched in coverage and beaten badly with the Rams’ pre-snap motion on some big gains on the ground, prompting head coach Dennis Allen to bench him. Veteran safety Ugo Amadi, who played ahead of Taylor on the depth chart all summer, finished the game in his place.

Everyone got their licks in. Per Pro Football Focus charting, pass-catching Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (3 receptions for 30 yards), slot receiver Cooper Kupp (2 receptions for 19 yards, both first downs), and rookie receiver Puka Nacua (1 catch for 41 yards) each made plays with Taylor in coverage before Allen pulled him from the game.

And Taylor wasn’t happy; team leaders like Tyrann Mathieu had to cool him down on the sideline, and he’s doing the best he can to learn from the experience, telling NewOrleans.Football’s Mike Triplett that he’ll return to the starting lineup on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But his first year playing the slot has been full of tough learning experiences. When covering the slot, Taylor leads the NFL in targets (90), receptions (60), and yards allowed (549). He’s charged with yielding four touchdown catches, which is tied for third-most. No other player has drawn more than 65 targets or given up more yards.

He’s visibly struggling in the transition. And Allen has to shoulder much of the blame here. As a former defensive backs coach who spends a lot of hands-on time with the secondary, he hasn’t done a good enough job preparing Taylor for this job.

Taylor didn’t get enough quality reps in over the summer to be thrust into the position; he was consistently playing behind Bradley Roby and Amadi on the third-string defense through minicamp, training camp, and preseason before Roby was a surprise roster cut in August, which sent Taylor rocketing to the top of the depth chart before he was ready for it. Rookie cornerback Adrian Frye, who wasn’t brought back after roster cuts, played twice as many snaps in the slot (42) as Taylor did (21) across three preseason games.

He just hasn’t had the reps. Look at the number of snaps Taylor has played in the slot in college at Tennessee and in the NFL with the Saints:

  • 2018 (college): 2
  • 2019 (college): 21
  • 2020 (college): 6
  • 2021 (college): 15
  • 2022 preseason: 0
  • 2022 regular season: 22
  • 2023 preseason: 21
  • 2023 regular season: 666

It’s easy to understand why Allen wanted Taylor in this role. He’s getting one of his most energetic and athletic defenders on the field by any means necessary. Taylor couldn’t dislodge Paulson Adebo from the outside corner spot in camp, opposite Marshon Lattimore, leaving only the slot for him when everyone is healthy. And Isaac Yiadom has played so well in Lattimore’s place that it’s debatable whether Taylor would be an upgrade there.

But it’s hard enough to pick up the pro game and adjust to the speed of your competition in your second year in the league in any circumstances. Doing so while picking up a totally new position is exceedingly difficult. That the Saints didn’t adequately prepare Taylor for the challenges in front of him is an outright disservice to the player. There are just two games left in the regular season. It’s possible Taylor could spend his offseason reviewing the tape and putting all of his time and effort into fully learning his new position. But as has often been the case with Allen running this team, that’s coming a day late and leaving the Saints a dollar short.

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The ceiling is high for second-year Saints CB Alontae Taylor in the slot

Alontae Taylor is focusing strictly on being a slot corner. It may take time to reach it, but his dedication and athletic profile creates a high ceiling at the position | @southexclusives

Bradley Roby was the most surprising cut when the New Orleans Saints trimmed their roster down to 53 players this week, but it wasn’t a move the team made without reason. The move meant Alontae Taylor was moving into the slot. This is a move many thought he could make when picked in the 2022 NFL draft. He spent the offseason splitting time between the slot and battling with Paulson Adebo for starting outside at cornerback, where he played very well as a rookie.

That’s the biggest reason the ceiling is still high for Taylor. His athleticism lends itself to being able to play in the slot and now he can focus on it. The preseason was a bit shaky for him, but it’s important to note he was learning a new position. He was never able to fully dedicate himself to it. Now that playing outside is off the table, Taylor’s development on the inside can be more rapid.

Tyrann Mathieu was once one of the best slot corners in the NFL. He’s now a safety for the Saints and a valuable resource for Taylor. Taylor said he’s leaning on Mathieu to help learn the position. Entering in second season in the league, he provides the willingness to tackle that is reminiscent of past players at the position. Taylor has the potential to combine the aggression in the run game and coverage skill in a way we’ve never seen in the slot in New Orleans.

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Will Chris Godwin play on the outside more in 2023?

Chris Godwin played 66% of his snaps in the slot last year. Where will he line up next season?

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WR [autotag]Chris Godwin[/autotag] is back to full strength and ready to produce in 2023. But where will he be lining up among his fellow receivers?

Ever since he came into the league, Godwin has lined up in the slot more and more often each year. He was featured there on only 14% of his snaps in his rookie year in 2017, according to PFF, and that number has increased every season — he lined up in the slot 57% of his snaps in 2020, 61% of his snaps in 2021 and 66% of his snaps in 2022.

Now, though, with Russell Gage as WR3 and not a whole lot of depth behind him and Mike Evans, it could be possible that Godwin sees more action on the outside, more akin to how he was used when he first got to Tampa Bay. This could also help him avoid injury, too, since wideouts in the slot are more susceptible to getting hit down the middle of the field.

When coach Todd Bowles was asked if playing on the outside more could preserve Godwin, he didn’t want to give up whether or not he would be moving more outside next season:

“I don’t know if it preserves him. Everybody knows he’s a great player, so when they see ’14’ out there, there’s going to be attention directed towards him – whether he’s in the boundary to the field, in the slot, or outside because he’s that good of a football player. He takes care of his body. Obviously, he came back from the injury in great shape. I think they’re going to continue to key him but obviously the good players get paid attention to. He continues to make plays, so we’re looking for him to continue to make plays.”

Godwin’s most productive season came in 2019, where he played 55% of his snaps in the slot. He caught nine touchdowns that year with 1,333 yards on 86 receptions.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

That being said, he caught seven touchdowns in 2018, tied for his second-most in a season, playing just 30% of his snaps in the slot. He’s proven that he can be a weapon on the outside, and the team may just look to move him out there again when its new-look offense takes the field in 2023.

With Russell Gage returning for another year and the selection of Trey Palmer in the 2023 NFL draft, the Bucs have options for next season. With Godwin back from injury and some younger receivers coming in for depth, it’s very possible that Chris Godwin will be bumped toward the sideline more than he has been in four years when the regular season begins.

Bulk of early practice reps for Packers WR Jayden Reed coming from slot

The first step for Packers rookie WR Jayden Reed: Learning the offense from the slot.

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One of the reasons the Green Bay Packers drafted Jayden Reed in the second round of the 2023 draft was his versatility. But not surprisingly, the rookie receiver has taken most of his snaps from the slot to begin OTAs.

“A lot of slot and a little bit of outside,” said Reed following Tuesday’s practice. “It’s kind of similar to college, but I’m primarily in the slot now, so it’s different. I like working in space, and I’ll fit in the NFL playing in the slot but also rotating outside.”

Following the selection of Reed, Packers Vice President of Player Personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan spoke with the media and discussed the versatility that Reed brings. Sullivan said that he has the speed to play outside, with the Packers clocking him at 4.37 during the pre-draft process, but also the strength to line up from the slot. Sullivan also added that Reed could be used on jet sweeps and pointed out his experience as a return man as well.

Reed had nearly a 50/50 split during his college career of time spent in the slot and time spent on the boundary. And while he will see snaps outside, it’s not surprising that most of his time up to this point has come from the slot.

As offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said last week when meeting with reporters, the coaching staff has to be mindful of what they put on the plates of their young pass catchers initially. Although Reed has the skill set to take on a variety of roles, he first has to become comfortable playing from the slot before being given more responsibilities.

The Packers are also in their early installs of the offense this offseason. While it’s important for the Green Bay pass-catchers to be able to move around the formation, playing both inside and out, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are more boundary targets than anything else. So as receivers one and two on this team, and with the offense laying the foundation at this point in the offseason, the slot is where there is an opening at the moment. Watson, Doubs, and Reed will all see a mixture of slot and boundary snaps as the season progresses, but at this point, it’s about building upon the basics of the offense.

Given Reed’s frame at 5-11 and 187 pounds, more of his playing time could end up coming inside rather than out, especially playing alongside Watson and Doubs, unlike than the near 50/50 split we saw from him at Michigan State.

Lining up in the slot will give Reed a clean release at the line of scrimmage, allowing his speed to put the defender in a bind. With more space to operate within, there will be YAC opportunities, along with Reed potentially being a go-to target for Jordan Love in the quick passing game and over the middle.

Along with Reed, second-year wide receiver Samori Toure has also been rotating in and taking snaps with the first-team offense as well.

Of course, it is still very early in the process, but in Reed’s short time with the Packers, he has caught the attention of the coaching staff, both with his speed and play on the field, but also his mentality off of it.

“I’ve had just about every coach come up to me, on our staff, and be like, ‘Holy wow. That guy is twitchy, fast and explosive.’ He has all those traits,” said wide receivers coach Jason Vrable last week. “You could see it on the college tape. Toss him a ball and he’s gonna go make a play. But probably the more impressive thing is just his mentality. I told him the other day, I said, ‘You remind me of Randall (Cobb). You really do. You’re laser-focused. Your love for football. The other day, I was just thrilled for him. I said, ‘You really love ball, don’t you?’ He’s like, ‘This is everything, Coach.’ There’s something about guys who end up being successful that have that inner drive. When he walks into the building, his eyes are like all ball.”

This is the time Saints are expected to make 2023 draft selection Thursday

This is the time the New Orleans Saints are expected to make their 2023 draft selection on Thursday night — assuming they don’t trade out of No. 29:

One of the better moves the NFL has made in recent years is embracing the spectacle of the annual draft — a rare merger of the college and pro games in which fans from both spheres can come together in celebration and boo league commissioner Roger Goodell every time he steps to the podium. Moving the draft from one city to the next has done wonders for expanding its outreach and drawing massive crowds, and the 2023 draft in Kansas City will be no different.

But here’s the important bit: when are the New Orleans Saints going to make their pick? We know they’re slotted in at No. 29 overall for Thursday night’s first round, but what time are they expected to go on the clock?

Last year’s 29th overall pick, Chattanooga guard Cole Strange (who went to the New England Patriots), was announced at about 10:22 p.m. CT. So if you aren’t able to tune in for the full prime-time event, set a reminder to tap in around that time.

Here’s how to watch the first round of selections:

  • What: 2023 NFL draft, first round
  • When: Thursday, April 27, at 7 p.m. CT
  • Where: Kansas City
  • Channel: ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network

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Rookie WR Christian Watson effective and efficient from slot for Packers

Rookie Christian Watson was one of the NFL’s most efficient receivers from the slot in 2022.

When we look back on Christian Watson’s rookie season with the Green Bay Packers, one of the first things we will remember was his big play ability and how that reshaped the offense. But in addition to that, he was also very efficient from the slot.

Watson spent about one-third of his snaps lined up inside and had 22 targets. He ended up catching 16 of them at 12.9 yards per catch with three touchdowns. Overall, he ranked 15th out of all receivers with at least 18 slot targets in yards per route run – again, showcasing his efficiency.

The bulk of Watson’s snaps should continue coming from the boundary, where his home run ability can really be maximized. Since Watson’s emergence in Week 10, both Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers have mentioned how his presence has affected how opponents defend Green Bay. We’ve also seen on several occasions where his gravity is on display, as safeties are pulled towards him to protect against the big play, which then opens up opportunities for other pass catchers.

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With that said, this versatility to line up in the slot is important as well. For one, the LaFleur offense very much emphasizes movement, whether that be different alignments or pre-snap motion. More so early on in his tenure, LaFleur discussed the illusion of complexity, which in short, keeps defenses off balance by running a variety of plays from similar looks, along with plays that begin similarly but are different. In order to accomplish this, versatility amongst the skill-position players is key.

Lining up inside also gives Watson free releases off the line of scrimmage. Although Brian Gutekunst didn’t mention Watson by name, on Friday when meeting with reporters, he did mention that the young receivers as a group can be better at getting off press coverage. In Week 18, we saw Detroit give the Packers receivers fits in this regard. From the slot, however, that isn’t an issue, and when that’s the case, Watson’s speed becomes a real issue.

Watson being effective from the slot also gives the Green Bay offense the opportunity to attack the middle of the field – especially when against Cover-2, where there will be a lot of space, which the Packers saw a lot of towards the end of the season with opponents wanting to limit the downfield passes. Watson’s final two touchdowns against Dallas were prime examples of this as he got a clean release while lined up inside, ran across the middle of the field, and with the defenders unable to keep up, he had two uncontested catches that ended with touchdowns.

As Watson’s role and production continued to grow, his effectiveness from the slot flew a bit under the radar, but it will be an important element for this Packers offense moving forward.

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Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie getting increased playtime in the slot

#Chiefs draft pick Trent McDuffie might have found his home at slot cornerback.

Kansas City Chiefs rookie CB Trent McDuffie is being deployed in a different way in recent weeks.

Over the past two weeks, McDuffie has played 83 of his snaps at the slot cornerback position. In the seven weeks he played prior, McDuffie played just 18 snaps in the slot. What’s behind the recent change? Some of it has to do with how they’ve utilized CB L’Jarius Sneed against bigger receivers like D.K. Metcalf and Courtland Sutton. Some of it also has to do with McDuffie having an increased level of comfort.

Speaking to reporters following the game, McDuffie spoke about the transition to playing more in the slot.

“I think that they have done a good job of just continuously throwing me in there throughout the season,” McDuffie said. “So, I feel like I’ve gotten a lot of practice at it. Now it’s in the game environment, getting game reps and just getting comfortable with it but I mean, outside (or) inside, I love it all so
whatever I can do to help the team out is what I’m going to do.”

McDuffie getting more work in the slot has allowed another side of his game to show. He was sent on a timely blitz in Week 17 against the Denver Broncos, notching his first career sack and a forced fumble that was recovered by fellow rookie George Karlaftis.

“They (the coaching staff) just put me in the position to go make plays, and it’s on me to go make them,” McDuffie said. “So, I mean hats off to (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) Coach Spags for making a call to let me blitz because he knows I love to blitz. That’s all it was.”

The turnovers have been hard to come by for the Chiefs’ defense, who are tied for the fifth-fewest in the league (18) through 16 games. Whether it’s McDuffie or one of his teammates, he’s hopeful the turnovers will continue to flow with his new role.

“I think it’s huge no matter what,” McDuffie said. “Anybody to make a play — rather it’s the sack-fumble, rather it’s a strip, rather it’s a pick. Turnovers create a lot of energy for the defense. So, continuing to do that, I think will help us move forward.”

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More opportunities for Packers rookie WRs means more slot snaps for Allen Lazard

Getting Packers rookies Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs on the field more should mean more slot opportunities for veteran WR Allen Lazard.

From the jump, rookie wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson were integral parts of the Packers’ Week 1 offense. Once Allen Lazard is back in the mix, that continued reliance on the young receivers will provide Matt LaFleur with more flexibility to play Lazard from the slot, where he has been a more effective pass-catcher.

All offseason, we heard Rodgers say how he prefers production over potential and that the Packers’ top-three receivers were going to be the veterans Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Sammy Watkins. However, with Lazard, unfortunately, missing Week 1, Watson and Doubs’ roles increased.

Watson finished the game with 40 snaps, the second most among the Packers’ wide receivers, while Doubs finished with 35. Neither lit the stat sheet up, but Watson’s speed and playmaking ability were evident, even when the ball didn’t come his way. And Doubs finished second on the team in receiving yards, including first among receivers.

If Green Bay were to rely more heavily on thier experienced pass-catchers, Lazard and Watkins would have to be on the boundary with Cobb in the slot. Because Cobb is strictly a slot receiver, there is little flexibility with this trio in terms of moving them around.

However, if Doubs and Watson continue to play significant roles once Lazard returns, LaFleur now has the ability to move Lazard inside, where he has been much more effective.

Over his career, Lazard has spent a fairly equal amount of time playing from the slot as well as on the boundary – although he has lined up out wide over 100 more times – but last season there was a noticeable difference in production when he was in the slot.

Out of 119 eligible receivers, Lazard ranked 30th in yards per route run, according to PFF. During the final five games of the regular season, when Lazard totaled 290 yards and five touchdowns, 57% of his snaps came from the slot. Meanwhile, in the first 10 games of the 2021 season, Lazard totaled just 223 yards, with only 39% of his total snaps coming from inside. Overall, about 60% of Lazard’s receiving yards came from the slot.

From the slot, LaFleur can create mismatches for Lazard and more easily scheme him open than what he can on the boundary. Lazard’s ability as a run-blocker will also be much more evident from there as well.

As of now, we do not know if Lazard is going to play against Chicago. So far, he has been a limited participant through the first two days of practice. But if he does return, one of Watkins, Cobb, Doubs, and Watson is going to lose out on some snaps–there just isn’t enough playing time to go around.

Based on Rodgers’ comments over the summer, it’s easy to point to either Doubs or Watson being the ones to lose out on playing time, and who knows, maybe that happens. But the odd man out should be Cobb.

For one, with Doubs and Watson as boundary targets, that means more opportunities for Lazard from the slot, which as we’ve discussed, is a very good thing. This is also a Packers’ offense that needs the playmaking ability of those young receivers, and for this unit to be at its best, they’ll need to be able to rely on those rookies this season. That reliability and trust with Rodgers can only be built through live reps.

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Analysis: New playmakers emerge on Saints defense in Week 1 win

Analysis: New playmakers like Justin Evans and Marcus Maye emerged on the Saints defense in their Week 1 win in Atlanta, via @MaddyHudak_94:

The New Orleans Saints salvaged their season opener to defeat the Atlanta Falcons through impeccable fourth-quarter play. Otherwise, it wasn’t pretty. Taysom Hill, plainly, was the entire offense through three quarters. He ran in 2 of the team’s 4 total first downs in the first half. New Orleans converted a mere 3 of 11 third down attempts prior to the fourth quarter.

Then Jameis Winston briefly entered the injury tent and proceeded to play the best quarter of his career. He amassed 75 passing yards in his first scoring drive. The offense converted 10 passing first downs in the final quarter alone. Winston brought poise under center that had felt absent since Drew Brees retired – doing so with zero turnovers. That calm command was matched in the kicking game with Wil Lutz’s return. After missing a 44-yard attempt early on Sunday afternoon, Lutz recorded a 49-yarder in the third quarter and sealed the victory with 19 seconds left on a 51-yard field goal. The Saints found a way to win, but it wasn’t pretty. Let’s take a deeper look after reviewing the tape: