Tag: Stats

Braelon Allen isn’t even the best former Wisconsin Badger on the New York Jets offense

Braelon Allen isn’t even the best former Wisconsin Badger on the New York Jets offense

The “Wisconsin Badgers in the NFL” headlines are currently dominated by one player: New York Jets running back Braelon Allen.

There is other news, including continued dominance from Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt, a return to form by Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and ongoing injury issues with Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson. But no player is driving more conversation around their start to the 2024 season than Allen.

Related: Social media in awe of former Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen after big game in Jets win over Patriots

The former Badger great led the Jets in rushing with 55 yards on 11 carries in Thursday night’s 24-3 win over the New England Patriots. Social media reacted accordingly, wondering why he fell to the 134th pick (fourth round) of the draft.

The first three weeks of the season have seen Allen emerge as a significant piece of the Jets’ offensive attack, serving as more of a ‘1b’ to Breece Hall’s ‘1a,’ as opposed to a clear 1-2. It has been a fun ascendance to watch.

While Allen dominates the stat sheet and is hard to miss on the field, he isn’t even the best former Wisconsin Badger on the Jets offense. That would be center Joe Tippmann.

The Jets selected Tippmann in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft after a four-year Wisconsin career (2019-22) — two years as the program’s starter at center.

His rookie-year performance as the Jets’ starting center earned him a spot on  the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team. The former Badger was one of the offense’s most dependable players in 2023 despite the unit struggling after an early-season injury to starting QB Aaron Rodgers.

Tippmann has taken a significant jump in his second season. He has played a substantial role in the rushing success of both Hall and Allen — a rushing attack that is a big reason the team is 2-1 through three weeks.

The second-year pro’s overall performance has him graded as one of ProFootballFocus’ top centers in the sport.

So while Allen compiles impressive rookie year stats and continues to make NFL fans wonder how he fell to the Jets in the fourth round, just know another former Badger is a big reason for his strong play.

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

How Braelon Allen performed in Jets’ big Thursday Night Football win over Patriots

How Braelon Allen performed in Jets’ big Thursday Night Football win over Patriots

Former Wisconsin Badgers and current New York Jets running back Braelon Allen continued the strong start to his NFL career on Thursday night.

Allen was an integral piece of the Jets’ offensive attack in their 24-3 blowout win over the New England Patriots. He led the team with 55 rushing yards on 11 carries. He added three receptions and 13 receiving yards. While the rising star did not find the end zone as he had twice last week, his final line of 14 touches, 68 total yards and 4.85 yards per touch continue an impressive start to his young career.

Related: Every former Wisconsin Badger on an NFL 53-man roster entering 2024 ranked by career earnings

Allen entered Thursday night’s contest fresh off winning NFL Rookie of the Week for his effort in the Jets’ Week 2 win over the Titans. His final stats from that game were seven carries, 33 rushing yards, four receptions, 23 receiving yards and two total touchdowns.

The Badger great is up to 19 carries through three games for 96 rushing yards, 5.1 yards per carry and one rushing touchdown. He has six catches on eight targets for 45 receiving yards, a 7.5 yard per catch average and one touchdown.

The Jets have done a phenomenal job unlocking Allen’s ability in the receiving game — something the Wisconsin staff was not entirely able to do.

Importantly, Allen’s numbers get better by the week. He is on his way toward earning a bigger and bigger role in the Jets offense — even with star RB Breece Hall playing well as the starter.

The early returns from the former Badger’s rookie season raise a question of how NFL teams allowed him to fall to the fourth round.

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

Anfernee Orji leads the NFL in special teams tackles going into Week 3

Three New Orleans Saints players rank inside the top five in special teams tackles this season, and nobody has more than second-year linebacker Anfernee Orji:

The New Orleans Saints special teams unit has been an intriguing one to watch this season. With the new dynamic kickoff rules in effect they are one of the few teams avoiding touchbacks, and rather choose to kick to the returners and make the play to try and avoid letting them start possessions at the 30-yard line.

That’s created opportunities to make a play in kickoff coverage. Three Saints players rank inside the top five in special teams tackles around the league, and nobody has more than second-year linebacker Anfernee Orji.

And that’s despite not facing a single punt return (all three punts have been downed or fair caught). With that said, they have seen the most kick returns of any team against them, which is why the tackle numbers are so high. The three standouts are:

  • 1st – Anfernee Orji: 5 special teams tackles (4 solo, 1 assist)
  • T-2nd – J.T. Gray: 4 special teams tackles (2 solo, 2 assists)
  • T-2nd – Isaiah Foskey: 4 special teams tackles (1 solo, 3 assists)

Gray and Foskey are tied for second place with two other players, Jamien Sherwood and Jaylon Jones, meaning those four make up the top five alongside Orji who is first. The method the Saints have taken to force returns as often as possible has worked as well, with only 4 touchbacks and an average of 25.2 yards per kick return, as opposed to the automatic 30 for touchbacks. Additionally, it has given these three players the chance to stand out and get the energy pumping for the defense before they get on the field.

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The Saints are taking a unique approach to the NFL’s new kickoff format

With new kickoff rules being implemented, the New Orleans Saints are zigging when others zag. And it seems to be working:

The New Orleans Saints have approached the NFL’s new dynamic kickoff rules quite a bit differently than other teams, and it may end up being a successful method in the long run. They are zigging when others zag, and it seems to be working. Their special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi was very influential in designing the new kickoff format so it’s interesting to see him taking such a unique approach.

Most teams have been kicking for touchbacks or straight out of the end zone, which results in the opposing offense starting at their own 30-yard line. However, the Saints have employed a different strategy, targeting returns and letting their coverage team do the work. No team has faced more kick returns than New Orleans (14) or allowed more kick return yardage (353), but the math comes up to just 25.2 yards per kick return. That’s third-best among teams that have seen four or more kick returns this season.

There are only five teams in the NFL who have had touchbacks on less than 50% of their kickoffs. Those teams are:

  • Tennessee Titans (42.9%)
  • Carolina Panthers (25%)
  • New Orleans Saints (22.2%)
  • Chicago Bears (20%)
  • Washington Commanders (18.2%)

There is a method to this madness, and a few reasons why it may be employed more often by teams as they learn more.

First of all, the Saints’ coverage unit is spectacular, as they have been holding opposing teams to an average starting position at around the 27-yard line per Brian Baldinger of NFL Network. He also mentions that the Saints have kicked just four touchbacks so far this season. While three yards may seem like a minor distance to cover, it’s an additional three yards the opposing team has to cover to get into the end zone, which could force a field goal or two instead of a touchdown.

Additionally, kickoff returns are one of the more highly penalized plays in the NFL, with illegal blocks in the back, holding fouls, and illegal crackback blocks all being hazards. Against the Panthers in Week 1, the Saints forced a holding penalty on one of their kickoffs, setting up the Panthers at their 15-yard line despite a return to the 26 (enforced at the 25). While they did not draw any on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2, the opportunity is still there, rather than just giving up 30 yards to start.

While it is not a perfect concept, it is one that the Saints feel comfortable with, especially with All-Pro coverage ace J.T. Gray out on the field who is one of their best players overall. It also gives the team the chance to make a play and gain some momentum and energy heading into the drive, which is always a nice bonus.

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Blake Grupe ranks among the best kickers in the NFL with this advanced metric

Blake Grupe ranks among the best kickers in the league in this metric from NFL Next Gen Stats:

https://twitter.com/NextGenStats/status/1836773328520138974

The first few weeks of the NFL season have seen a drastic rise in kicker usage, as the quarterback play across the league has seen a pretty significant drop in total yards. This has allowed kickers to take on larger roles than ever, and their advanced metrics have seen a drastic rise to previous seasons.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the league-wide field goal accuracy has increased (by field goal percentage over the expected percentage) from +4.5% in 2023 to +11% this season. While the sample size is small so far for 2024, it has risen from -1.7% in 2019, which is a pretty drastic increase.

New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe ranks among the best in this statistic through Week 2, as he has a +33.0% field goal percentage over expected. This puts him at second in the league, behind only Ka’imi Fairbairn who has been off to a massive start this season. Grupe has missed only one kick this season, a PAT, but otherwise has drilled all five field goal attempts with a long of 57, as well as all of his remaining PAT attempts (10). He leads the league through two weeks in PATs scored and attempts as well.

A +23% over league average for Grupe in this analytic shows he is not only making field goals, but making difficult field goals, which is a great sign given he was put into a competition this offseason with rookie Charlie Smyth, which Grupe ultimately won. We will see how this analytic progresses in coming weeks with a larger sample size to look at.

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NFL assigns Scott Novak to referee Week 3’s Saints-Eagles game

Week 3’s Saints-Eagles matchup has their referee assignment. New Orleans is 3-2 with Scott Novak’s crew on the field:

The New Orleans Saints’ Week 3 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles has been assigned its head referee, which will be Scott Novak per Football Zebras. The Saints did see Novak last season as well, when they went up against the Carolina Panthers in Week 2, where he called only three penalties on them for 32 total yards.

Throughout the past few seasons the Saints have seen Novak a couple times, and they are now 3-2 all-time with him as the referee. His crew is tied for the 7th-fewest penalty flags thrown this season (28 flags, 4 of which were dismissed) with 17 on the home teams and only 7 on visiting teams. Additionally, his crews rank 4th-lowest in total penalty yards per game (77) this season as well. They’ve been vigilant for false starts which have accounted for 10 of those infractions.

Philadelphia has been fouled 16 times across two games, losing 53 yards to penalty in Week 1 and 57 yards in Week 2. Strangely, their biggest issue has been ineligible men downfield. The Eagles have been penalized three times for that while the rest of the NFL has combined for six fouls.

Penalties were not much of a concern for the Saints in Week 2 under Shawn Smith, as they only received five penalties for 40 yards. However, their Week 1 counts were significantly worse, as they took 10 penalties for 95 yards. Hopefully that improvement continues and Novak will lean more towards the more recent total and let the teams play, as he has been doing so far this season.

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Rashid Shaheed leads the league in 50-plus yard catches since 2023

Rashid Shaheed has the most catches of 50 or more air yards since 2023, almost double the next-closest player. He’s an elite deep threat:

https://twitter.com/RevDeuceWindham/status/1836082924145315911

Rashid Shaheed has developed into an elite deep threat in the NFL. Through the first two games of the season, he and Derek Carr have hooked up for the two longest receptions of his career and they both went for touchdowns.

Think of your fondest offensive memories from last year. Shouldn’t be a long thought. Running up the score versus the Atlanta Falcons — Jameis Winston’s famous “How much worse could it get?” line is probably first, and Carr telling Shaheed to “freaking run” would be a close second.

That was Week 1. Since then, no one has caught more passes that traveled 50 yards in the air. Shaheed’s deep threat ability has been an effective and frequent part of the offense since Carr joined in 2023. If you widen the scope to the year Shaheed entered the league, only Tyreek Hill has caught more 50-yard passes (10) than the Saints’ speedster has (8) since 2022.

Shaheed is dynamite in pads. He only has one touchdown of less than 30 yards, and seven plays where the ball traveled 50 air yards. Shaheed is a true threat from any place on the field. He’s achieving things no one else has over the last year and the early parts of this season. It’s time to start putting him on the list of best deep threats in the NFL.

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Derek Carr has a chance to place himself among the elite vs. Eagles

Derek Carr has an opportunity to join an elite group with a big game against the Eagles. Even Drew Brees didn’t pass this milestone:

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr has a chance to make history on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, accomplishing something only four players at his position have done. Carr has an opportunity to become the fifth quarterback in NFL history to pass for at least two touchdowns and maintain a passer rating of 100-plus in seven consecutive games.

It’s a feat that would place him within elite company. And it’s something his legendary predecessor Drew Brees never achieved throughout an illustrious career worthy of the Hall of Fame.

The only other players to have accomplished this in their careers are Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. Many would argue that these four players are regarded as the greatest players to ever take a snap under center. Carr reaching this milestone doesn’t tell the whole story of his career, but it would definitely depict the tremendous improvement he’s made dating back to the end of last season.

Since Week 15 of the 2023 season, Carr is first in the NFL in passing touchdowns, passer rating and completion percentage, and is looking to continue this impressive streak this Sunday.

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Where the Chargers rank statistically after Week 2

Here is how the Chargers compare statistically to the rest of the NFL after Week 2.

After defeating the Panthers in Week 2, the Chargers will face the Steelers this Sunday and look to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2002.

Los Angeles’ success has come from its dominant defense and rushing attack. The passing game has taken a backseat since the team has had no problem running all over its opponents the past two weeks.

With Week 3 coming up, how do the Bolts compare to the rest of the NFL? Here is where Los Angeles ranks:

Offense

Category Stat Rank
Points per game 24.0 ppg 11th
Passing offense 135.0 ypg 28th
Rushing offense 197.5 ypg 2nd
Total offense 332.5 ypg 12th
3rd down conversions 41.94% 10th
Red zone scoring 50.00% 10th
Sacks allowed 2 T-1st
Turnovers 2 13th

Defense

Category Stat Rank
Points allowed 6.5 ppg 1st
Passing defense 147.0 ypg 6th
Rushing defense 80.5 ypg 6th
Total defense 227.5 ypg 2nd
3rd down conversions 23.08% 2nd
Red zone defense — 1st
Sacks 6 10th
Takeaways 4 6th

 

Erik McCoy and Lucas Patrick make the PFF team of the week

Erick McCoy and Lucas Patrick were the highest graded Saints at Pro Football Focus. This earned them each a spot on the PFF team of the week:

New Orleans Saints offensive linemen Erik McCoy and Lucas Patrick each earned a spot on the Pro Football Focus team of the week after the Saints’ dominant victory against the Dallas Cowboys.

But one name missing from the list was Alvin Kamara. James Cook got the nod over Kamara after running 78 yards and two touchdowns while catching a 17-yard touchdown pass for the Buffalo Bills. Both had monster games, but Kamara was snubbed on this list.

Kamara simply had the better game. Cook finished with 95 total yards. Kamara had 115 rushing yards alone and added 65 yards through the air, for a total of 180. That’s nearly double the yardage. Kamara also had four touchdowns compared to Cook’s three.

That being said, it’s a PFF team of the week, and the criteria is obviously heavily based on their grades. Cook received an 87.3 grade while Kamara ended with a grade of 67.4.

McCoy and Patrick were the Saints’ two highest-graded players in Week 2. New Orleans dominated the trenches, and it was most evident on the interior. On occasions when there was pressure from the defensive ends, Derek Carr could always step up in the pocket.

More than just this week, McCoy and Patrick are the highest graded linemen in the NFL through two weeks. This speaks volumes for how well the Saints offensive line has performed. Carr has remained clean through two weeks, and he may owe McCoy and Patrick a couple steak dinners.

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