The New Orleans Saints came up short too early and too often against the Atlanta Falcons, but where do the faults lie? Which position groups are too thin or underperforming too frequently? To find out, we surveyed the Saints snap counts from their Week 10 loss and broke them down below. Here’s what we’ve learned:
Offensive backfield
- QB Drew Brees, 69 (100%)
- RB Alvin Kamara, 54 (78%)
- RB Latavius Murray, 17 (25%)
- FB Zach line, 9 (13%)
- QB Taysom Hill, 7 (10%)
The Saints found a great formula they can win with during Teddy Bridgewater’s stint at quarterback: a physically assertive running attack fueled by strong blocking up front, and heavy usage of the fullback. That plan flew out the window early on when miscues in the passing game (off-target throws and dropped would-be big gains) put the Saints into a negative game script. Kamara rarely left the field in his first game back from injury, but the Saints rarely allowed him to run the ball despite consistent success on limited touches. They didn’t have a very effective plan going into this game, and didn’t execute it very well, either.
Skills positions
- WR Michael Thomas, 66 (96%)
- WR Tre’Quan Smith, 57 (83%)
- TE Jared Cook, 49 (71%)
- WR Ted Ginn Jr., 48 (70%)
- TE Josh Hill, 22 (32%)
- WR Krishawn Hogan, 11 (16%)
- WR Deonte Harris, 2 (3%)
This game was one to forget for the receiving corps; Thomas may have reeled in 13 of his 14 targets, but he was held out of the end zone like everyone else. And all of the receivers listed after him combined for one catch on five targets, with Ginn dropping all three of his opportunities. Brees was a little off-target at times, sure, but the Saints badly needed someone besides Thomas to make a play, and none of them were up to it. It’s continued to be a disappointing first season in black and gold for Cook.
Offensive line
- T Terron Armstead, 69 (100%)
- T Ryan Ramczyk, 69 (100%)
- G Larry Warford, 69 (100%0
- C Erik McCoy, 69 (100%)
- G Will Clapp, 49 (71%)
- G Andrus Peat, 22 (32%)
- G Patrick Omameh, 1 (1%)
An injury to Peat shortly before halftime pushed Clapp into the lineup, but neither of them played well. Peat was repeatedly bullied by Falcons interior lineman Grady Jarrett, one of the league’s better pass rushers at his position, and he ended up on his back too many times before exiting the game with an arm injury. Clapp has shown before that he can handle a big role in a pinch, but there wasn’t much to be encouraged by in his prolonged action against one of the NFL’s thinnest defensive lines. Atlanta runs a one-man show up front, but the Saints offensive line was challenged across the board by players they should (on paper) outclass.
Special teams
- QB Taysom Hill, 24 (89%)
- CB Justin Hardee, 24 (89%)
- LB Stephone Anthony, (24 89%)
- LB Craig Robertson, 24 (89%)
- SS J.T. Gray, 18 (67%)
- RB Dwayne Washington, 18 (67%)
- FB Zach Line, 15 (56%)
- TE Josh Hill, 14 (52%)
- CB Johnson Bademosi, 14 (52%)
Hill is back to the top of the special teams rotation, joined by an expected sight (Hardee) and a surprise entry (Anthony). It probably shouldn’t be too surprising that Anthony is excelling in this role, despite his past struggles on defense with the Saints. He’s still a phenomenal athlete and played often for first-year Saints coordinator Darren Rizzi when he coached the Miami Dolphins special teams units a year ago. Anthony is someone Rizzi is familiar with, giving him an inside track on what he’s capable of in the return game. Bademosi was signed a few weeks ago following veteran tryouts and is already playing frequently, which is noteworthy.
Defensive line
- DE Cameron Jordan, 72 (91%)
- DT David Onyemata, 43 (54%)
- NT Malcom Brown, 40 (51%)
- DT Sheldon Rankins, 37 (47%)
- DT Mario Edwards Jr., 26 (33%)
- NT Shy Tuttle, 26 (33%)
- DE Trey Hendrickson, 20 (25%)
The Saints are committing a lot of playing-time to defensive linemen who aren’t rewarding them for it. Davenport and Rankins, each former first-round picks, have failed to so much as touch an opposing quarterback in their last three or four games. Jordan met his match in rookie Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary, who contained him for much of the contest. Hendrickson might be their fastest pass rusher off the edge but he’s not getting many looks in the rotation as it stands. If Davenport continues to struggle and pressure quarterbacks, the Saints may need to consider flipping their snap counts just to remain competitive.
Linebackers
- LB Demario Davis, 79 (100%)
- LB A.J. Klein, 68 (86%)
- LB Kiko Alonso, 35 (44%)
Alonso received his second-highest snap count of the season, and his marks his third consecutive game with 20-plus appearances on defense. His athleticism out in space was on nice display a few times in Sunday’s game, and Davis was consistent as always (and maybe put in the best production as a pass rusher for New Orleans on blitzes against Atlanta). However, these second-level defenders were too often caught unawares when Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan bailed out of the pocket, twice allowing him to jog for the first-down marker and keep drives alive. That can’t happen.
Defensive secondary
- SS Vonn Bell, 79 (100%)
- CB Eli Apple, 79 (100%)
- FS Marcus Williams, 79 (100%)
- CB P.J. Williams, 68 (86%)
- SS C.J. Gardner-Johnson, 37 (47%)
- CB Marshon Lattimore, 34 (43%)
- SS J.T. Gray, 7 (9%)
- CB Justin Hardee, 1 (1%)
So, how did the Saints cope with losing Lattimore? P.J. Williams was promoted to his spot and initially tried to shadow Julio Jones, though a quick 54-yard bomb made that decision appear dubious. With Williams moved to the outside opposite Apple, the rookie Gardner-Johnson was called up to play the slot, an area he’s thrived in during recent weeks. The Saints are better with Lattimore back in the lineup (obviously), but it’s good to see that they have a plan they can work with until he’s able to shake back from a strained hamstring. Marcus Williams has broken up 10 passes and accounts for three of the team’s four interceptions through nine games.
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