The New Orleans Saints were lucky to escape their Week 12 game against the Carolina Panthers with a win, thanks to some awful kicking by Carolina and a number of sloppy Saints penalties. There are some questions that need answering when reviewing the week’s snap counts, so let’s get to it.
Offensive backfield
- QB Drew Brees, 65 (98%)
- RB Alvin Kamara, 44 (67%)
- RB Latavius Murray, 26 (39%)
- QB Taysom Hill, 7 (11%)
On the surface, Murray’s snap count is unremarkable. He’s averaged 28.5 snaps per game this year, but the Saints didn’t give him enough touches compared to his time on the field. He received just seven carries but averaged more than nine yards per attempt on them, even scoring the game’s opening touchdown run. For whatever reason, Saints coach Sean Payton was determined to remain pass-heavy down the stretch and put Kamara in some tough spots in short-yardage situations. Hill’s seven snaps on offense were his fewest total since Week 4’s game with the Dallas Cowboys, when he came in on just six plays. It’s possible that the absence of fullback Zach Line (knee injury) and the exit of left tackle Terron Armstead (high-ankle sprain) forced Payton’s hand into a pass-heavy game script.
Skills positions
- WR Michael Thomas, 58 (88%)
- WR Tre’Quan Smith, 47 (71%)
- WR Ted Ginn Jr., 39 (59%)
- TE Jared Cook, 38 (58%)
- TE Josh Hill, 31 (47%)
- TE Jason Vander Laan, 16 (24%)
- WR Krishawn Hogan, 15 (23%)
Vander Laan was called up from the practice squad and featured on the opening drive as an in-line blocker at tight end, throwing the key block that freed up Murray’s long touchdown run. But the Saints sidelined him as the game wore on and their offense evolved into a pass-first approach, which was puzzling. It’s even more troubling considering Smith and Ginn were targeted eight times but turned in just three targets for 51 yards, with each player dropping passes that should have been big gains. The Saints need better personnel at wide receiver, but they may be too deep in the season to find it now.
Offensive line
- C Erik McCoy, 66 (100%)
- G Larry Warford, 66 (100%)
- G Nick Easton, 66 (100%)
- T Ryan Ramczyk, 66 (100%)
- G/T Patrick Omameh, 56 (85%)
- G/C Will Clapp, 10 (15%)
- T Terron Armstead, 10 (15%)
Credit to Omameh for stepping in early and holding his own at an unfamiliar position; he’s started full seasons during his six-year NFL career, but rarely played left tackle — his previous stops came at left and right guard. Whether the Saints will trust him to hold it down full-time until Armstead can return from his ankle injury remains to be seen. Clapp filled in for Andrus Peat at left guard in a pinch but the Saints went with Easton as his full-time replacement, and it’s worked out so far. McCoy had some rookie mistakes (failing to snap the ball on time at one point, drawing a delay of game penalty) but on the whole he’s made a big, positive impact.
Special teams
- QB Taysom Hill, 25 (81%)
- LB Stephone Anthony, 25 (81%)
- LB Craig Robertson, 25 (81%)
- CB Justin Hardee, 25 (81%)
- RB Dwayne Washington, 19 (61%)
- S J.T. Gray, 19 (61%)
- TE Josh Hill, 16 (52%)
Here’s your core special teams contributors, who did a great job coming away with a turnover early in the game. Gray blocked one Panthers player into the punt returner and the ball deflected off of him, which Hardee recovered for a huge swing in momentum. Hill obviously recovered fully from last week’s mild concussion, as seen in his high snap count on offense and prominent contributions here. The returns unit hasn’t been the same since Deonte Harris went out with a hamstring injury; hopefully he can recover soon.
Defensive line
- DE Cameron Jordan, 69 (91%)
- DE Marcus Davenport, 47 (62%)
- DT David Onyemata, 46 (61%)
- NT Malcom Brown, 39 (51%)
- DT Sheldon Rankins, 39 (51%)
- NT Shy Tuttle, 29 (38%)
- DE Trey Hendrickson, 19 (25%)
- DT Mario Edwards Jr., 17 (22%)
The Panthers stuck to a balanced approach on offense even late into the game, calling 28 run plays (plus an unscripted scramble by quarterback Kyle Allen) against 40 dropbacks. That allowed Davenport to remain on the field and he rewarded the Saints for it with two of the game’s biggest plays in Carolina’s final two snaps, sacking Allen on third down and rushing troubled Panthers kicker Joey Lyle into his missed chip-shot field goal on fourth down. As a group, the Saints defense sacked Allen four times and consistently got pressure, but coverage fell apart on the back end without Marshon Lattimore.
Linebackers
- LB Demario Davis, 76 (100%)
- LB Kiko Alonso, 47 (62%)
- LB A.J. Klein, 43 (57%)
Alonso again outsnapped Klein, making next year’s succession plan even more clear (Klein’s contract expires in March). This was a season-high for Alonso in snaps played, and he has appeared on 41% or more of New Orleans’ defensive plays in each of their last five games. The Saints are playing more sets with three linebackers now that he’s up to speed with the playbook, which may be due to Carolina’s refusal to quit running so often on Sunday.
Defensive secondary
- S Vonn Bell, 76 (100%)
- S Marcus Williams, 76 (100%)
- CB Eli Apple, 72 (95%)
- CB P.J. Williams, 70 (92%)
- S C.J. Gardner-Johnson, 62 (82%)
- CB Patrick Robinson, 9 (12%)
Lattimore wasn’t available in this game, and the Panthers took advantage of it. Carolina’s top wide receiver, D.J. Moore, victimized P.J. Williams in one-on-one coverage throughout the game — for reasons unknown, the Saints never adjusted to it by trying someone else against him. Moore’s crafty routes created separation before the catch and his athleticism helped pick up ground afterwards. Hopefully Lattimore can return soon. The Saints ran a nickel defense for much of this game, but the sheer volume of plays run allowed everyone to get plenty of action.
