Tag: Zack Baun

Zack Baun joins fellow Badgers J.J. Watt, T.J. Watt for offseason training

Saints LB Zack Baun training with fellow Badgers J.J. Watt, T.J. Watt

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A couple of former Wisconsin Badgers huddled up this summer, with Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman J.J. Watt sharing on Instagram that his younger brother T.J. Watt and New Orleans Saints linebacker Zack Baun joined him for a training session ahead of training camp.

Baun was a college teammate with the younger Watt in 2015 and 2016, and went on to find success in the same pass-rushing role in 2019. But the Saints have tasked him with playing out in space more often, with his focus this summer falling at weakside linebacker. Still, maybe he picked up some tricks from two players with 8 combined Pro Bowls behind them.

He didn’t play much in 2020, even after starting linebacker Alex Anzalone struggled — which prompted a midseason trade for Kwon Alexander. Baun initially trained at strong side linebacker, but totaled just 82 snaps on defense compared to 247 on special teams. Now both Anzalone and Alexander are off the roster, and Baun has an opportunity to compete for snaps.

Still, someone is going to be left on the sidelines between him, rookie draft pick Pete Werner, and Demario Davis, unless the Saints suddenly start fielding three linebackers (something they did on less than 100 snaps last season). Hopefully his hard work this offseason pays off.

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The jury is still out on a frustrating 2020 Saints draft class

The New Orleans Saints got neither quantity nor quality out of their 2020 rookie draft class, picking a part-time starter in the first round

Here’s the final entry in our 2021 NFL draft countdown, recapping last year’s rookie class with just one day left before the cycle starts over. The Saints took a quality over quantity approach in 2020’s pandemic-impacted offseason, but they didn’t get either virtue based on their initial performance. Here’s hoping things improve in 2021. In the meantime, let’s review what happened last year:

How every former Badger in the NFL performed during Wild Card weekend

Quarterback Russell Wilson, running back Jonathan Taylor, defensive end T.J. Watt and others were in action this weekend in NFL Wild Card

Several former Wisconsin Badgers entered NFL Wild Card weekend with a shot at winning and advancing on to the next round.

Although some played well on the field, QB Russell Wilson, OLB T.J. Watt, FB Derek Watt and RB Jonathan Taylor all saw their season end this weekend.

Related: Badgers in the NFL: Top 10 plays of the year

There were a few, however, that were part of the winning side and advanced to the next round—OLB Zack Baun, LB Jack Cichy, OT Rob Havenstein, OT David Edwards.

Here is how every former Badgers performed during NFL Wild Card weekend:

4 New Years Resolutions the Saints should adopt in 2021

The New Orleans Saints have a list of changes and decisions to consider going into 2021, with hours left to figure it out on New Years’ Eve.

Ringing in the new year is a time for change, for big decisions, and for resolutions, and even the New Orleans Saints aren’t exempt from that. They’re knocking on the door of the playoffs with some questions yet to be answered about who they are, where they’re headed, and what sort of legacy they might be leaving behind. Exciting as their season has been, we still don’t really know what their identity is.

And the Saints can change that for the better with some tweaks after flipping to a fresh calendar. They won’t play their next game until 2021 has come around, so it’s time to do some self-scouting and decide what kind of team they want to establish themselves as in the new year.

Kwon Alexander diagnosed with season-ending injury

New Orleans Saints linebacker Kwon Alexander was diagnosed with a season-ending Achilles injury, jeopardizing his future in the NFL.

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The New Orleans Saints’ fears were validated after Friday’s win over the Minnesota Vikings, with the initial belief of an Achilles injury for linebacker Kwon Alexander being ratified by further evaluations. ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the update on Alexander’s condition, which was confirmed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

It’s a big loss for the Saints defense. Alexander had been a transformational addition to the unit, adding much-needed experience and athleticism next to All-Pro linebacker Demario Davis. Without him, the Saints will have to go back to starting fourth-year pro Alex Anzalone with Davis. Anzalone has shown flashes before, but his mistakes this season prompted the team to trade for Alexander in the first place.

Alexander appeared in seven games for the Saints after their midseason trade with the San Francisco 49ers, totaling 27 tackles (17 solo), 4 pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a pair of fumble recoveries. He’s exactly the sort of playmaking presence the team hoped to get in trading up for Zack Baun in this year’s draft, but the rookie hasn’t gotten on the field much outside of special teams.

Additionally, NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports that Alexander’s contract carries a $2 million injury guarantee that will trigger on April 1, 2021 if Alexander remains on the roster. The recovery time for Achilles surgery can last as much as six months, so it’s likely he’ll still be around. Regardless, the Saints were probably going to work on his contract (he’s due to count $13.4 million against the salary cap next season) anyway.

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Kwon Alexander gets the starting nod for Saints vs. 49ers

The New Orleans Saints traded for linebacker Kwon Alexander, who started against his old San Francisco 49ers team after a week of practice.

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New Orleans Saints fans will see a new number in their defense when the black and gold kick off with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday: linebacker No. 58, Kwon Alexander. Acquired in a Nov. 9 trade with the 49ers, Alexander initially spent a week going through COVID-19 testing before practicing with his new teammates during the last week. It didn’t take him long to pick up the playbook.

Reporters on the scene noted that Alexander was warming up with the Saints first-team defense, along with incumbents Demario Davis and rookie Zack Baun. Former starter Alex Anzalone was pushed down to the second unit with backups Craig Robertson and Kaden Elliss, while reserve Chase Hansen was inactive.

How often Alexander will play against his old squad is anyone’s guess, but he practiced fully after missing time in San Francisco with a high-ankle sprain and expressed confidence in his understanding of the playbook. If he can offer them an edge against an offense he knows well, he might be difficult to take off the field.

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2021 NFL Draft: Updated future Saints picks after trade deadline

For now, the New Orleans Saints are projected to own a pick in each round of the 2021 NFL Draft after trading for Niners LB Kwon Alexander.

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Well that was a dud. The 2020 NFL trade deadline passed by so quietly that it was hardly noticed, if you weren’t paying attention. Like most of the league, the New Orleans Saints filed their moves with the NFL office well ahead of the cutoff date, having worked out a trade for San Francisco 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander.

So now we know exactly what sort of draft resources New Orleans will carry into 2021. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that the Saints included a conditional fifth-round draft pick in their trade package for Alexander (along with backup linebacker Kiko Alonso, returning from a 2019 season-ending injury).

And the conditions for that pick are interesting: if Alexander meets enough play-time incentives, the Saints will send their 2021 fifth rounder to San Francisco. But if Alexander does not get on the field often enough, either due to his recent high-ankle sprain, simply taking longer to pick up the system, or some other factor, then the 49ers will have to wait until 2022 to receive New Orleans’ fifth-round pick.

It’s a little more complicated than your standard pick-swap conditions, but not ridiculously so. Certainly not as contrived as what the New Orleans Pelicans will be receiving from the Los Angeles Lakers over the next half-decade.

Anyway: here are all of the 2021 draft picks the Saints are scheduled to make after the Alexander trade, as well as their draft-day maneuvering in 2020 and with projected compensatory selections:

  • Round 1 (own)
  • Round 2 (own)
  • Round 3 (compensatory for losing Teddy Bridgewater)
  • Round 4 (own)
  • Round 5 (conditional, could revert to 2022)
  • Round 6 (compensatory for losing A.J. Klein)
  • Round 7 (own)

To recap on a few of the picks traded earlier this year, the Saints swapped out their own third- and sixth-rounders in 2021 so they could move up the board in the 2020 draft. The rookies acquired in those moves were linebacker Zack Baun and quarterback-turned-tight end Tommy Stevens.

Additionally, the compensatory picks projected to New Orleans after Bridgewater and Klein signed with new teams in free agency are just that: projections. We won’t know for certain whether the NFL is awarding those selections until they are announced in the spring, so don’t get too attached to the idea of the Saints owning a selection in each round for once.

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Saints rookies Cesar Ruiz, Zack Baun to make their 2020 debut

The New Orleans Saints are expected to play the Las Vegas Raiders with G Cesar Ruiz and LB Zack Baun, their top picks in the 2020 NFL Draft.

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Last week, just two rookies got on the field for the New Orleans Saints: tight end Adam Trautman (who played  7 snaps on offense and 9 on special teams) and defensive tackle Malcolm Roach (23 snaps on defense). But that’s going to change in a big way in Week 2.

The Saints are expected to have their first-round draft pick in the lineup, with former Michigan center Cesar Ruiz filling in at right guard. Ruiz missed the season opener while recovering from a training camp ankle injury, but he turned in two full days of practice and should dress out for this kickoff against the Las Vegas Raiders.

We won’t know for certain until the Saints begin their pre-game warmups at Allegiant Stadium, but it makes more sense to slot Ruiz in at right guard where he can continue to pick up the cadence from second-year center Erik McCoy. But the offensive line should play better as a whole wherever he ends up starting.

And Ruiz will be joined by the other top Saints draft pick, Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun. Baun missed time in training camp with a tweaked hamstring, so the Saints gave him an extra week of practice to get up to speed before deciding he was game ready. But New Orleans played just three snaps in a base defense with three linebackers in Week 1, so Baun’s contributions will likely come on special teams.

Saints coach Sean Payton said as much in his Sept. 19 conference call: “He is going to be up in this game. A lot of it had to do with just a decision in regards to the kicking game. He’s doing well, he is healthy. He’s had a good week of work. You will see him a lot in special teams. No specific reason.”

The Saints ruled out second-year linebacker Chase Hansen after he suffered a hip injury in practice, and Hansen played 13 special teams snaps (as many as punter Thomas Morstead and tight end Josh Hill) in Week 1. So Hansen’s absence opens an immediate vacancy for Baun in the game’s third phase, but it’s unclear how often he’ll run with the defense. For now, he’s behind starting strong side linebacker Kaden Elliss on the depth chart.

New Orleans could play more base looks against the run-based Raiders offense and star running back Josh Jacobs, and Baun has more positional flexibility than Elliss or Hansen (he often played on the line of scrimmage at Wisconsin). So there may be more opportunities for him outside the kicking game than it appears at first glance, but if that’s the case Payton is keeping it to himself. Would he do that?

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Saints take a cautious approach in first full-contact scrimmage

The New Orleans Saints gave many veteran players the day off in their first full-contact scrimmage at training camp, some due to injuries.

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The New Orleans Saints have been practicing in pads and helmets for two weeks, so on Friday they raised the tempo with their first full-contact session in an organized scrimmage. But they weren’t at full strength, with a number of starters and role players sitting out. The full list, per reporters on the scene:

  • DE Marcus Davenport
  • FS Malcolm Jenkins
  • LB Zack Baun
  • LB Anthony Chickillo
  • OL Andrus Peat
  • OL Cesar Ruiz
  • OL Ryan Ramczyk
  • RB Alvin Kamara
  • RB Ty Montgomery

You’ll notice that includes three of the five starting offensive linemen, as well as Kamara, the team’s second-best pass target, and each of their top two rookie draft picks.

Some of those players are managing injuries; Saints coach Sean Payton said that Ruiz and Jenkins are expected to return to action soon, while Kamara missed time earlier this week with a stomach virus. Montgomery was rattled on a hit in Thursday’s practice but was able to finish the session. Baun exited practice back on Monday, having pulled up after chasing down Taysom Hill. Ramczyk has been getting a lot of veteran’s rest during camp after undergoing a knee scope early in the offseason.

So this probably isn’t a lot to worry about. None of these injury situations appear to be serious, and the Saints still have more than two weeks to go until their season opener. Many of these players are known quantities, so it makes sense to spare them from unnecessary hits in a full-contact practice session. But the Saints are notorious when it comes to keeping medical details close to their vest, so stay tuned for updates.

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Saints parting with Nigel Bradham is big news for Zack Baun

The New Orleans Saints cut Nigel Bradham, giving a nod to their young linebackers like Zack Baun, Kaden Elliss, Chase Hansen, and Joe Bachie

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On paper, Nigel Bradham is the sort of player most teams would want to have on their roster. He’s an NFL veteran entering his ninth year at the pro level, and a Super Bowl champion from his time with the Philadelphia Eagles. Even if he didn’t start ahead of promising youngsters like rookie draft pick Zack Baun or Alex Anzalone, having someone with as many quality reps to his credit is valuable.

But that didn’t stop the New Orleans Saints from releasing Bradham on Monday, just weeks after signing him and with just a handful of padded practice sessions on the books. So what gives?

One explanation would be how impressive the new additions have looked in training camp. Baun and Anzalone specifically have dominated practice reps with the first-team defense, playing together with Demario Davis in base sets and rotating in and out next to Davis in more-common nickel formations. And Baun’s college experience as a hand-in-the-dirt defender on the line of scrimmage gives him some versatility that Bradham lacks.

But it’s deeper than Bradham not being able to crack the starting lineup. The Saints have several backups they’re invested in, like second-year pros Kaden Elliss (a sixth-round draft pick out of Idaho) and Chase Hansen (a college safety from Utah who lost his rookie year to an injury). Longtime special teams captain Craig Robertson is also in the mix, and so is rookie standout Joe Bachie.

Bachie, an undrafted free agent signed from Michigan State, made a quick impression on Saints linebackers coach Michael Hodges (who is also very high on Baun). He just hopes Bachie can chip in enough on special teams to make the roster.

Hodges talked up Bachie in his Aug. 19 media conference call: “I love Joe, he is so smart. He could play all three positions for us and that’s without even repping at the sam linebacker. He’s just such a veteran linebacker, inside linebacker, meaning this guy’s been playing mike linebacker since he’s been nine years old so there are a lot of things that carry over.”

So if Bradham wasn’t going to start next to Davis or make an impact on the kicking game (he never played more than 59 special teams snaps in a full season during his four years with the Eagles), the Saints probably figured that they would be better served running with the first- and second-year linebackers instead.

We’ll see if that gamble plays off. But so far, it’s easy to see why they’re so encouraged with the youth movement on defense.

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