The New Orleans Saints went into their Week 16 game with the Tennessee Titans missing some key contributors with injuries, and damage sustained during the win cost them a few more. It directly impacted the snap count distribution for each position group, so let’s dig into it.
Offensive backfield
- QB Drew Brees, 68 (97%)
- RB Alvin Kamara, 44 (63%)
- FB Zach line, 26 (37%)
- QB Taysom Hill, 25 (36%)
- RB Latavius Murray, 25 (36%)
Kamara turned in his best game since his big day against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3, and Hill made an impact while lining up at a variety of positions. This is the platonic ideal Saints backfield snap distribution.
Skills positions
- WR Michael Thomas, 61 (87%)
- TE Josh Hill, 42 (60%)
- WR Tre’Quan Smith, 38 (54%)
- TE Jared Cook, 36 (51%)
- WR Ted Ginn Jr., 25 (36%)
- WR Deonte Harris, 13 (19%)
- WR Krishawn Hogan, 7 (10%)
Hill has outsnapped Cook for most of the year, largely due to his proficiency as a blocker. But there’s no mistaking Hill’s impact in the passing game for Cook, who has averaged 77 receiving yards in his last five games. He’s also caught five touchdown passes in that time, giving the Saints something close to a consistent threat opposite Thomas.
Offensive line
- OT Terron Armstead, 70 (100%)
- OT Ryan Ramczyk, 70 (100%)
- OC Erik McCoy, 70 (100%)
- G/C Will Clapp, 70 (100%)
- G/C Nick Easton, 70 (100%)
- OT Michael Ola, 10 (14%)
Clapp and Easton had to stand in for Andrus Peat and Larry Warford, and the difference was palpable. The Saints offensive line is strong enough to absorb one of those losses, but they struggled without each of their Pro Bowl guards. The good news is that Peat should return soon, while Warford may be facing a more-extended absence. The unit posted a stronger performance in the second half than the first, but hopefully they can all get healthy before the playoffs begin.
Special teams
- QB Taysom Hill, 28 (80%)
- LB Craig Robertson, 28 (80%)
- CB Justin Hardee, 28 (80%)
- SS J.T. Gray, 25 (71%)
- RB Dwayne Washington, 23 (66%)
- LB Stephone Anthony, 22 (63%)
- CB Patrick Robinson, 20 (57%)
- FB Zach Line, 18 (51%)
- DE Carl Granderson, 17 (49%)
- TE Josh Hill, 17 (49%)
Deonte Harris is the star on special teams, even if he doesn’t play as often as his peers. We shouldn’t take for granted how impressive it is that Hill has turned into a really strong special teams asset while also growing into a larger role on offense. It’s a shame that Hardee dropped the pass that would have converted a first down, but it’s just a reminder that his NFL fortunes lay at cornerback, not receiver, where he played in college.
Defensive line
- DE Cameron Jordan, 52 (84%)
- DT David Onyemata, 44 (71%)
- DE Trey Hendrickson, 40 (65%)
- NT Malcom Brown, 33 (53%)
- DT Shy Tuttle, 21 (34%)
- DT Mario Edwards Jr., 17 (27%)
- NT Taylor Stallworth, 16 (26%)
- DE Carl Granderson, 14 (23%)
The Saints ran a deep rotation along the defensive line, and it benefited them against Tennessee. They racked up five sacks and eight tackles for loss, and had a few other big plays wiped out by questionable penalties. This is a unit the Saints can lean on despite having lost Sheldon Rankins and Marcus Daveport. The bargain-bin additions of Tuttle and Granderson as undrafted rookie free agents can’t be understated.
Linebackers
- LB Demario Davis, 62 (100%)
- LB A.J. Klein, 62 (100%)
- LB Manti Te’o, 22 (35%)
This might have been Davis’s best game of the year, and it could be Klein’s best performance, too. They were each disruptive at and behind the line of scrimmage, and Davis particularly avoided being picked on in free agency. However, their aggression was used against them at times when the Titans dialed up play-action or misdirection (much like the San Francisco 49ers did not long ago), and that’s something other teams can learn from if the Saints don’t adjust to it.
Defensive secondary
- SS C.J. Gardner-Johnson, 62 (100%)
- CB Marshon Lattimore, 62 (100%)
- CB P.J. Williams, 56 (90%)
- CB Patrick Robinson, 48 (77%)
- CB Janoris Jenkins, 27 (44%)
- FS Marcus Williams, 24 939%)
- CB Eli Apple, 11 (18%)
- SS J.T. Gray, 9 (15%)
Apple and Marcus Williams have been fixtures of the Saints defense, having rarely missed a snap this season (and in Williams’ case, not at all in his first few years in the league) but they were both helped off the field with injuries. Some snarky fans would point to that as addition by subtraction, but that’s a mistake. As many plays as those young players may give up in coverage, they’re also often in position to make a big play when the team needs it. If either of them are going to miss extended time, the Saints may struggle to replace them. Jenkins wasn’t encouraging in his first outing, but he’s still picking up the playbook.
