Tag: Stats

Countdown to Kickoff: Foster Moreau is the Saints Player of Day 87

We’re continuing our kickoff to the regular season with Foster Moreau. The veteran tight end is the Saints Player of Day 87:

The 2024-2025 NFL season is getting closer and closer, with only 87 days left until the New Orleans Saints kickoff against the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. As we count down the days until that first matchup, we look at the corresponding jersey number to the remaining days, which today is tight end Foster Moreau.

The number 87 is not foreign to Saints fans either, with wide receiver Joe Horn wearing it back in the early 2000s, as well as tight end Larry Hardy in the late ’70s and early ’80s.

With that said, let’s take a look at Foster Moreau’s background up to this point, as well as what we should or can expect from him this upcoming season.

  • Name (Age): Foster Moreau (27)
  • Position: Tight end
  • Height, weight: 6-foot-4, 250 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: 9.45
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $4,367,059
  • College: LSU
  • Drafted: Round 4, Pick 137 (Oakland Raiders)
  • NFL experience: 5 seasons

The tight end spot on the roster is an intriguing one for the Saints, as Juwan Johnson has suffered an injury that could hold him out through to Week 1, and Jimmy Graham as of this moment is not on the team anymore. This leaves a ton of snaps to be grabbed between Moreau, Taysom Hill, Tommy Hudson, Dallin Holker, and Michael Jacobson.

Moreau was primarily used as a blocker by Pete Carmichael last season for some reason, despite being a reception-heavy player. He had a career high 342 run blocking snaps last season, and only 160 routes run (less than half the total he ran the prior two seasons). Ultimately, his chance to break out could come now, with a wide-open tight end room and room to grow under a new offensive coordinator who prioritizes tight ends in his scheme. Klint Kubiak could be a difference maker for Moreau, and this could be a return to form for the former Raiders tight end.

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Jimmy Graham is not opposed to returning to football, and the Saints may need him

Jimmy Graham is not opposed to returning to football, and the Saints may need him with a significant injury to Juwan Johnson:

The New Orleans Saints have been put in a tough position with the injury to Juwan Johnson during the offseason. While there is hope he could return by week 1, there is also the chance that he does not or is not fully into the new scheme by then. This leads to the Saints having to make a decision quickly, and with Jimmy Graham still on the free agent market, he could be someone they look to consider.

According to Katherine Terrell of ESPN, Graham “hasn’t closed the door on football yet” and that “when he does retire, it’s going to be as a Saint.”

Graham played in 13 games for the Saints last season, grabbing only six receptions but four of which scored touchdowns. He previously shared his plan to row across the Arctic Ocean during the offseason, and later during the process posted on Instagram regarding the Saints and his appreciation for everyone. At the time it almost felt like a retirement speech, but now with the Saints down a tight end and in need of someone they can rely on for red zone touches, Jimmy Graham could be the guy they call on in the coming weeks.

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WATCH: Professional highlights of Wisconsin basketball signee Andrija Vukovic

WATCH: Professional highlights of Wisconsin basketball signee Andrija Vukovic

Wisconsin basketball rounded out its 2024-25 roster with the signing of Serbian forward Andrija Vukovic on Monday.

The 6’11” big man is technically part of Wisconsin’s class of 2024 and will enter the 2024-25 season with four years of collegiate eligibility.

Related: Wisconsin basketball 2024-25 starting lineup, rotation and bench with Andrija Vukovic signing

The 20-year-old forward most recently played professionally for KK Vršac of the Basketball League of Serbia, averaging 13 minutes, 6.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists on 66% shooting.

The numbers may be underwhelming, but he was a college-aged player playing amongst professionals. His film is a better reflection of the immense potential he brings to Greg Gard’s program.

Vukovic figures to immediately step in as a depth option behind Steven Crowl and Nolan Winter at center. He will be part of a larger front court rotation on the 2024-25 roster that also includes transfer Xavier Amos, veteran Carter Gilmore, Chris Hodges and others.

For a first look at what to expect from the international signee, Ryan Harings recently posted a montage of his game action on X:

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

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Countdown to Kickoff: Tommy Hudson is the Saints Player of Day 89

Countdown to Kickoff: Tommy Hudson is the Saints Player of Day 89

We’re down to 89 days before the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2024 season, starting with a home game against the division-rival Carolina Panthers. And we’re continuing to count down the days by dialing in on each Saints player to wear the corresponding jersey number. No. 89 is tight end Tommy Hudson.

Hudson wore the No. 88 jersey at rookie minicamp in May, but he’s since moved to No. 89. It’s a well-known number for a tight end to Saints fans, who saw Josh Hill use it in 126 games with the team from 2013 to 2020 (including nine playoff games).

But what is Hudson’s story? What are realistic expectations for him this summer? Let’s explore:

  • Name (Age): Tommy Hudson (27)
  • Position: Tight end
  • Height, weight: 6-foot-5, 255 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: N/A
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $915,000
  • College: Arizona State
  • Drafted: Undrafted in 2020 (Tennessee Titans)
  • NFL experience: 2 seasons

Hudson has not made as many plays at organized team activities open to the media as other guys like Michael Jacobson (who, like Hudson, is returning from last year’s practice squad) and Dallin Holker (the exciting undrafted rookie from Colorado State), but it’s still early and he has time to impress over the summer.

It’s going to be challenging for one of these three backups to win the spot Jimmy Graham held on the roster last year. Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau are entrenched on top of the depth chart. It’s unclear how many snaps Taysom Hill will see at tight end while moving around the offense (last year, he was inline on just 80 of his 425 snaps on offense) but either Hudson, Jacobson, or Holker is likely making the team. Hudson needs to show the coaching staff he can execute the blocking assignments Klint Kubiak will be asking of him while reliably catching the ball when it’s thrown his way.

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Countdown to Kickoff: Bryan Bresee is the Saints Player of Day 90

Countdown to Kickoff: Bryan Bresee is the New Orleans Saints Player of Day 90, but how can he improve in 2024 after a strong rookie season?

We’ve got 90 days to go until the New Orleans Saints open up their 2024 season with a Week 1 kickoff game against the Carolina Panthers, so we’re continuing our countdown with the No. 90 jersey’s current owner: defensive tackle Bryan Bresee. Last year’s first round draft pick enjoyed a strong rookie season, so let’s break it down:

  • Name (Age): Bryan Bresee (30)
  • Position: Defensive end
  • Height, weight: 6-foot-5, 305 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: 9.62
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $2,787,171
  • College: Clemson
  • Drafted: First round in 2023 (New Orleans Saints)
  • NFL experience: 2 seasons

Bresee was active in all 17 games last year, totaling 4.5 sacks and 9 quarterback hits with 7 tackles for loss and 6 passes defensed. He had 24 combined tackles. He was consistently pressuring quarterbacks and making plays in the backfield. So how can he level up in 2024?

The big priority for Bresee now is improving his run defense. He needs to do a better job anchoring against advancing blockers and plugging lanes to reroute ball carriers. He played too high at times as a rookie which led to him getting pushed off the line of scrimmage. The Saints limited his snaps accordingly, with Bresee playing 391 snaps on passing downs against 148 on running downs. He needs to prove to his coaches that they can trust him when the offense is looking to run the football. If he can do that, he’ll surpass veterans ahead of him on the depth chart like Nathan Shepherd (303 snaps in run defense) and Khalen Saunders (276).

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Countdown to Kickoff: Tanoh Kpassagnon is the Saints Player of Day 92

Countdown to Kickoff: Tanoh Kpassagnon is the Saints Player of Day 92, but his focus in 2024 should be getting healthy after a serious offseason injury

It’s such a shame that the New Orleans Saints are going to be without Tanoh Kpassagnon while he recovers from an offseason Achilles injury — the big defensive end has been one of their more productive free agent finds in recent years. Kpassagnon’s main goal this year is obviously getting healthy, but there’s a chance he could return to the field before the season ends in January.

Before we get to that, though, let’s get to know him a little better:

  • Name (Age): Tanoh Kpassagnon (29)
  • Position: Defensive end
  • Height, weight: 6-foot-7, 289 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: 7.38
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $3,303,000
  • College: Villanova
  • Drafted: Second round in 2017 (Kansas City Chiefs)
  • NFL experience: 8 seasons

Kpassagnon has turned into a great value signing for the Saints. After initially playing out a two-year, $4.5 million deal in 2021 he signed an extension valued at $5 million over two years in 2023. He’s coming off a career-high 34 quarterback pressures last season, but as we said earlier, he’s going to miss some time recovering from that torn Achilles tendon. He’ll be a free agent again in 2025.

So how long will he be on the mend? Recovery times vary, but a good example is Kpassagnon’s former teammate Kwon Alexander. The former Saints linebacker returned to the field in nine months after rupturing his Achilles, so if Kpassagnon can match his pace there’s an outside chance he could return in January, possibly in time for Week 18’s regular season finale. But Alexander was noted as one of the quicker recoveries we’ve seen in recent years, so fans probably shouldn’t expect Kpassagnon to suit up this season. If he beats those expectations, well; that would be fantastic.

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Wisconsin was a Big Ten leader in a key rushing statistic in 2023

Wisconsin was a Big Ten leader in a key rushing statistic in 2023

Wisconsin was among the Big Ten’s leaders in rushing yards before contact during the 2023 season, according to numbers from Sports Info Solutions.

Specifically, 29.7% of the Badgers’ carries had the running back gain three or more yards before contact with a defender, a mark good for No. 5 in the now-expanded conference.

Related: Where every Big Ten team ranks in ESPN’s 2024 College Football Power Index

The team ranked behind Penn State (30.3%), Ohio State (32.3%), Oregon (34.8%), and USC (35.9%) atop the Big Ten Conference, obviously counting the 2023 numbers from the conference’s new members.

The easy translation of this statistic is that the Wisconsin offensive scheme and line did well to open space for the running backs to attack. That does not automatically mean the Badgers had a top rushing offense, but rather the space was there for Braelon Allen and others to exploit.

There is obviously a strong correlation between yards before contact and overall rushing success. Penn State finished the 2023 season No. 1 in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game with 185.2 (4.7 yards per carry). Wisconsin, meanwhile, finished No. 6 with 161.2 (4.6 yards per carry).

The Nittany Lions boasted the top running back duo of Nic Singleton and Kaytron Allen, while the Badgers were mostly led by Allen.

The numbers are an interesting look at where Wisconsin had success in year one under new offensive coordinator Phil Longo. Longo emphasized keeping the program’s long-standing identity on the ground, and did so solidly for most of the season.

The big question entering 2024 is how can that rushing attack evolve, what can transfer QB Tyler Van Dyke bring to the offense and can 2023’s poor points-per-game number (23.5) skyrocket.

If the baseline of rushing success exists, I’d bet that answer is yes. But the Badgers will face one of college football’s toughest schedules and some of its top defenses. A significant all-around improvement is needed from Longo’s unit this season.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

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Countdown to Kickoff, Day 99: Chase Young is the Saints Player of the Day

Chase Young is the Saints Player of Day 99 as we count down to the 2024 kickoff. He’s hoping to make a big impact in a pivotal year:

There are 99 days remaining until the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2024 season against the Carolina Panthers, which means this year’s No. 99 is our player of the day: Chase Young. The veteran defensive end signed with the Saints as a free agent this spring, and he’s in line for a big role in the fall — once he’s healthy.

But first, let’s get to know him a bit better:

  • Name (Age): Chase Young (25)
  • Position: Defensive end
  • Height, weight: 6-foot-5, 265 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: N/A
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $3,442,000
  • College: Ohio State
  • Drafted: 2nd overall in 2020 (Washington Commanders)
  • NFL experience: 5 years

Before he can worry about anything else, Young must finish recovering from neck surgery he underwent in March to address an injury he played through in 2023. He’s expected to miss some time in training camp, but the Saints have protected themselves by structuring his contract so that it essentially gives them a refund for any games Young misses after Week 1.

For his part, Young is excited to learn from Cameron Jordan, one of the best in the game, while reuniting with old teammates like Pete Werner and Chris Olave. The former Buckeye had more sacks last year with Washington and the San Francisco 49erse than anyone in New Orleans (besides Carl Granderson, tying him at 8.5) as well as more quarterback hits and pressures than many of his new Saints teammates.

The hope is for Young to get healthy and juice up one of the NFL’s least productive pass-rush units. He’s facing a four- to six-month recovery, per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, so we’ll see if he’s able to return during training camp or later once the regular season kicks off. The Saints will be without backup defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon after his offseason Achilles injury, but they’ll be leaning on draft picks like Isaiah Foskey and Payton Turner until Young can get on the field.

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Chris Olave hasn’t gotten enough credit in PFF’s wide receiver rankings

Chris Olave wasn’t given enough credit in the wide receiver rankings at Pro Football Focus. The young Saints standout is badly underrated:

How is Chris Olave still underrated? The New Orleans Saints wide receiver roared into the NFL with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, but he’s having trouble getting respect even from those in the know at Pro Football Focus.

PFF’s Sam Monson shared his rankings for the top 32 receivers going into 2024, and they’re a mess. It’s bad enough that Olave was ranked behind players who haven’t even run a route in the NFL, with rookies like Malik Nabers (No. 25) and Marvin Harrison Jr. (No. 21) both ahead of him. But Olave is also ranked behind wideouts who have been in the league as long as him without achieving as much as he has, like Drake London and Garrett Wilson.

London is still searching for his first 1,000-yard season when Olave is already well over 2,000 yards in his career. He’s played in three fewer games than Wilson and caught 19 fewer passes but gained more yards and scored more touchdowns. The Offensive Rookie of the Year voters got it wrong in recognizing Wilson over Olave for that award in 2022, and we’re still mad about it.

Monson ranked Olave all the way down at No. 27 out of the game’s 32 best receivers, but he did have some nice things to say about him:

A smooth mover, Chris Olave averaged 2.07 yards per route run last season and has 49 explosive plays over his first two seasons in the league. With Derek Carr playing well down the stretch, Olave could have a big year in 2024.

Hopefully Klint Kubiak’s offense and a more-confident Carr lead to even greater heights for Olave in 2024. But he should already be seen as a top-20 player at his position. Just 15 players around the NFL have converted more first downs since he turned pro, and one of them is a tight end (Travis Kelce). Olave deserves more respect. Let’s hope he plays so loud in 2024 that national writers can’t keep ignoring him.

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This ‘disappointing’ preseason forecast nailed Derek Carr’s final passing stats

We said this preseason forecast would be disappointing for Derek Carr, but Bleacher Report nailed their predictions for his 2023 passing stats:

Opposing defenses weren’t the only ones who found the New Orleans Saints to be too predictable last year. We described the predictions for Derek Carr’s final stats from Bleacher Report as disappointing, but B/R’s Alex Kay had it down almost perfectly. And as we said at the time, this performance from Carr was a disappointment. We had higher expectations for him.

Still, here’s a hat tip to Kay for getting it right. Here are Kay’s predictions compared to the numbers Carr finished with in 2023 in parentheses:

  • 68% completion percentage (68.4%)
  • 3,901 passing yards (3,878)
  • 25 touchdown passes (25)
  • 13 interceptions (8)
  • 30 carries (32)
  • 118 rushing yards (40)
  • 1 touchdown run (0)

So Kay had Carr’s passing numbers down almost perfectly, though they overestimated how many times he’d turn the ball over. Carr was risk-averse to a fault last year and left some big-play opportunities on the field while being too eager to check down to Alvin Kamara or other receivers underneath coverage. Kay also expected Carr to make more plays with his legs than we actually saw.

But this doesn’t mean Carr can repeat this performance in 2024. It’s encouraging that he finished the season so strong; in his last five starts (where the Saints went 4-1), Carr completed 114 of 154 passes (74%) for 1,117 yards and 14 touchdowns, with just 2 interceptions. Extrapolate those averages over 17 games and you’d be left with 3,798 yards and 47 touchdowns against 7 interceptions. It isn’t realistic to expect 47 touchdown passes (the record in a 17-game season is 43, set by Tom Brady in 2021) or a 74% completion percentage but the yardage lines up with what we’ve seen before.

The point is that Carr needs to improve on those numbers. Extending the red zone efficiency he found late last year would be a big plus. Stepping up to make better throws under pressure between the 20-yard lines and playing like a quarterback his team can lean on would be massive. He averaged the second-fewest passing yards per game in his career last season. That can’t happen again. If he continues to underwhelm in a new offensive system, he might just be who he is. And that would be another disappointment.

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