How Did They Do: Reviewing the Saints 2013 Draft Selections

Posted by David Billiot Jr May 4, 2013

Another NFL Draft has come and gone. The anticipation for the rookie draft begins the day after each team’s season ends and the chatter commences on the day after the Super Bowl. It’s a long three months for those teams that don’t make it to the Super Bowl. Mock draft after mock draft, talk about who wants to move up and who wants to move back, and speculation over what highly rated player will fall like a sack of potatoes in the first round, are most of the story lines from mid-February until late April. Most fans have their heart set on one player, only to become extremely disappointed when that man’s name isn’t called for their team’s selection.

Let’s move on to those who are headed down to Airline Highway for rookie minicamp this weekend. Continue reading →

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Why the Saints Should Pass on Tyrann Mathieu

Posted by Jonathan Christensen March 3, 2013

The New Orleans Saints enter the 2013 offseason with a litany of issues on the roster. None are as obvious on the team as the ones on the defensive side of the football, specifically in the secondary; the unit surrendered gobs of yardage and points at an alarming (and almost historically bad) pace. Cornerback will certainly be an area of emphasis for the Saints, and many expect the team to address the position during the upcoming draft in April.

Among the many intriguing prospects heading into the draft, none is more interesting than former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu. Although he only stands at a meager 5’9”, Mathieu is the rare type of playmaker that could totally change the shape of a defense. He was a special teams and dynamic defensive force during his time at LSU, directly impacting games on the biggest of stages.

Nonetheless, Mathieu comes with some baggage.

His troubles with drugs are well documented. He was kicked off the LSU football team after multiple offenses, and hasn’t played a snap in some time.

Nola.com columnist Jeff Duncan wrote recently that the Saints should consider selecting Mathieu if he is available in the third round. The argument makes sense; the Saints certainly have a need at nickel corner, and Mathieu fills that need beautifully. A support system would be present in New Orleans, and the potential for greatness is too large for the Saints to pass up.

All of those are solid arguments, but I wholeheartedly disagree.

Even with the woes of the New Orleans secondary ever so present, and the want of fans to see a local guy don the black and gold, Tyrann Mathieu needs to go to any other besides the Saints.

Mathieu has been enabled throughout his college career. Being kicked off of a nationally competitive team wasn’t enough for Mathieu to see the light; a subsequent arrest in October last year happened months after his dismissal. From all indications, it seems as though Mathieu has gotten his life back together and appears to be focused solely on football.

Most fans, analysts, and football executives certainly hope that is the case.

If Mathieu wants to succeed at the next level and reach his full potential both as a player and a person, he needs to get out of New Orleans. The pressures of returning to the former lifestyle of drugs and running with the wrong crowd would be undoubtably be higher if played for the Saints.

Tyrann Mathieu will soon be a millionaire. The rapid acquisition of wealth will undoubtably create the opportunity for the wrong people to reenter Tyrann’s life. As much as the organization would try to serve as a base of stability for Mathieu, they can’t monitor him 24/7.

Yes, family and friends would be close to lend support. But the probability of relapse is dramatically higher if he played in New Orleans.

I am rooting for Tyrann Mathieu. I hope to see him on the Sunday night highlights during the season and not on a news ticker detailing some arrest. I don’t want him to follow the sad trail of Len Bias or Dwight Gooden, and have fans always wonder about what could have been.

Unrealized potential and regret are some of the saddest things in life. For Tyrann Mathieu, starting this new chapter in his life will hopefully find a new setting.

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Payton to Return; Signs Extension with Saints

Posted by David Billiot Jr December 29, 2012

Whether the Saints finish 8-8 or 7-9 this season, we will all remember the week that they went 2-0 against the Cowboys. Nearly a week after a thrilling overtime victory over Dallas last Sunday, news broke on Friday afternoon that Sean Payton and the Saints had agreed in principle to a contract extension. It’s yet to even be determined whether or not the Cowboys will need a coach, but one thing is for sure. If they do, it won’t be Sean Payton.

The extension will be a five year deal with the terms being currently undisclosed. They are believed to be possibly be similar to the deal disapproved by the NFL earlier in the season.

As a grim 2012 season comes to a close, the ray of hope for 2013 is growing brighter and brighter. First, the decision to vacate the suspensions of the players involved in bountygate by Paul Tagliabue assured the Saints that they won’t go in to next season with the possibility of suspensions hanging over their heads. Now getting the winningest coach in New Orleans Saints history back on their sidelines for next year adds much needed stability and leadership. The final battle that’s left to be won, would be to get back a vacated 2nd round pick in the upcoming 2013 NFL draft. Roger Goodell stated that if the Saints cooperated with investigations that they may be re-awarded the pick, but that remains to be seen.

Payton will bring his 62-34 regular season record back to a team that is scrapping to finish the season on a three game winning streak just to get to .500. It’s been fairly obvious that his presence, leadership, and most of all his ingenuity have been largely missed through this roller coaster of a season. With a full off season to prepare, Drew Brees under contract long term, and a defense that is vastly improving and grasping on to new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme, the outlook for 2013 looks very bright.

Who Dat?!

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Week 16 Preview: Saints Offense vs. Cowboys Defense

Posted by David Billiot Jr December 23, 2012

Maybe because they Saints are basically out of the playoff picture, this game has not been talked about this week as much as anticipated. Personally, I thought it would be talked about a lot not only about the on field preview, but in terms of this being the two main potential coaching spots for Sean Payton next year. Let me start off by saying, I’m not one of those who believe he is leaving. I think he is happy where he is and there’s no chance he goes to Dallas. Well, maybe there’s a “chance”, but my wishful thinking would like to think otherwise.

Today’s game could actually play a huge role in Dallas’ potential pursuit for Payton. In a three-way tie with Washington and New York for the NFC East, Dallas controls their own destiny, as do the other two. A loss to the Saints will make it very hard for them to win the division, especially with having to travel to Washington in Week 17. If they miss the playoffs, Jason Garrett’s job could be in jeopardy. If Dallas makes the playoffs, it doesn’t seem conceivable that Jerry Jones would fire his old pal whom has so much history in the organization. By no means am I suggesting that Saints fans should hope for a loss today, but if something crazy happens down the line, think back to the result of this game. Continue reading →

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Saints and Sinners: Week 13 vs. Atlanta Falcons

Posted by David Billiot Jr December 4, 2012

Here’s a look back at what was a woeful performance by the Saints on Thursday night. Unfortunately, there was more bad than good. Without many positive thoughts to look back at, we’ll go ahead and jump right in.

Saints

Pierre Thomas

With the hopes of many lying in his hands, nothing went right for Drew Brees on Thursday night.

After what has seemed like weeks of an ongoing disappearing act from Pierre Thomas, he stepped up huge and quite frankly did everything he could to give the Saints any chance to win. He carried the ball 14 times for 84 yards, which was good for an impressive 6.0 yards per carry. He looked fresh and rejuvenated, after not seeing the ball very much over the last few weeks. He initially had a touchdown as well, but it was reviewed and overturned once his knee was ruled down short of the goal line. If not for the Saints constant deficit for the entire night, he may have even seen more carries and done much more damage. Regardless of how the rest of the season turns out for New Orleans, Thomas showed that he deserves to see the ball throughout the last few games.

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Brees Lays Egg: Saints Lose to Falcons and Drop to 5-7

Posted by Jonathan Christensen November 29, 2012

A 5 interception, no touchdown performance from Drew Brees low-lighted one one of the worst offensive showings in a very long time for the New Orleans Saints Thursday evening, as they squandered opportunity after opportunity in a dismal 13-23 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Brees’ stat line was atrocious: 28 of 50 passing, 341 yards, 0 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, the first time in his career with that many turnovers. His consecutive touchdown streak? Halted at 54 games. The most troubling mark on the evening, however, is the Saints’ record. At 5-7, the team’s playoff chances have all but evaporated. Even if the team wins out (which is highly unlikely), 9-7 may not cut it in a very competitive NFC.

Even with the ineptitude on offense, the Saints’ defense still put forth an otherwise solid performance. If there is one positive takeaway from tonight’s game, it is that the unit continues to make great strides on a weekly basis.

Next week, the Saints will take on a rejuvenated New York Giants team on the road, who are coming off of an impressive win over the Green Bay Packers.

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Week 13 Preview: Saints Defense vs. Falcons Offense

Posted by Jonathan Christensen November 29, 2012

The New Orleans Saints will play their second game in five days tonight in a primetime matchup against the divisional rival Atlanta Falcons. In their last meeting, New Orleans emerged victorious, giving the Falcons their first loss of the 2012 season. This time around, the Saints must win in order to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. It is truly do or die for the Saints, who must win out in order to get to 10 wins and a possible Wild Card berth.

Defensively, the Saints must resemble a unit that posted impressive performances against the Raiders and Falcons in order to come away with the victory. Eliminating the big play in the passing game as well as keeping the opposing rushing attack at bay will be key if New Orleans wants to win tonight.

PASS DEFENSE

Fact: Matt Ryan will pass for more than 300 yards against the Saints’ swiss cheese-esque defense this evening. New Orleans has had trouble defending the pass this season; the unit ranks near the bottom of the league (30th to be exact) in regards to passing yardage allowed, giving up an astonishing 298.3 yards per game. Nonetheless, the defense has made big redzone stops as of late, coming away with either huge turnovers or limiting teams to field goal attempts. That stalwart redzone defense will surely be needed against Matt Ryan and the Falcons, who currently average 26.7 points per game (8th league wide).

Speaking of turnovers, the Saints will need to come away with a few in order to win tonight. Matt Ryan has had trouble with giveaways lately (7 interceptions in the last 3 games isn’t a pretty statistic), meaning that the New Orleans secondary should be keenly aware whenever the ball is in the air. Tipped ball interceptions were especially plentiful during the Oakland game, and Saints should look for opportunities there.

New Orleans must also do a better job of containing TE Tony Gonzales, who ripped the Saints’ secondary to shreds during the last outing. Either Roman Harper or Malcolm Jenkins will be tasked with covering Gonzales in man coverage, and both will need to do an excellent job in coverage (especially Harper) in order for the defense to hold.

Lastly, limiting the big play must be a responsibility that is taken very seriously by the entire defense. The defensive line must get pressure on Ryan consistently, limiting his time to find the deep receiver. The linebacking corp must also do a good job when it comes to blitz gap assignments on passing downs; well-timed blitzes will throw off Ryan and the entire passing game, but having those same blitzes fall short will allow for the quarterback to find the open receiver with great ease. Finally, the secondary must do a better job keeping up with the speedy Atlanta receiving corps. Keeping the receiver in front will do wonders for the secondary and dampen the explosiveness of the Falcon passing attack.

RUN DEFENSE

The Saints’ run defense has actually done a decent job the past few weeks in terms of limiting the opposition. The unit’s highlight performance came against the Falcons in their earlier meeting this year, as Michael Turner was rendered useless, totaling only 15 yards on 13 carries. That’s a very shocking statistic, especially when you factor in that power running had been the calling card of the Atlanta offensive scheme up until very recently.

Turner has regressed this season. Atlanta knows this, and subsequently has started to feature backup/change of pace RB Jacquizz Rodgers more in the offense. Rodgers serves as the lighting to Turner’s thunder, and will see more snaps as the season rolls into its final month. Look for Rodgers tonight, especially in the redzone, where he has the speed and quickness to elude linebackers and even some defensive backs. Keeps tabs on him will be very important.

For New Orleans, sticking with the same model that led to success against Atlanta earlier this season should be the best course of action. Maintaining gap integrity on the defensive line, avoiding missed tackles, and being the more physical team up front will allow for the Saints to limit the Atlanta running game. If the Saints can take away the run from the Falcons, this will force Matt Ryan to throw more often than he really wants to. This creates some positives for the defense, as it allows for the pass rush to develop and allows for the time of possession battle to fall in the favor of New Orleans. If this happens, the chances for overall game success should lean more towards the Saints.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Saints Nickel Cornerback X

It is still unclear as to if Corey White will play tonight (as time of publication, he was still listed as questionable). Elbert Mack is expected to be available, as he is recovering from a concussion. If White is out, expect to see Johnny Patrick, who filled in nicely last week, in the nickel corner role. Whoever gets the snaps will need to both act as an effective coverage corner against multiple receiver sets, and a blitzer, when called upon.   Matt Ryan will certainly seek out the nickel corner when available, so a strong showing will be needed for victory.

DT Akiem Hicks

Hicks, a rookie DT out of tiny Regina, has been a rare bright spot along the Saints’ defensive line. His size (6’5”) has presented opposing offensive lines a slew of challenges on the inside, and gives the defense flexibility on run defense, acting as a pseudo nose-tackle. He also has great potential as a pass rushing DT, as he can be consistently found in the backfield on passing downs. When the defense rotates Hicks in, he constantly demands double teams. Getting him involved early would be huge for a New Orleans defense that needs any edge possible against Atlanta.

Player X That Is Covering Tony Gonzales

The biggest issue for the Saints’ defense will be Tony Gonzales. Who will cover him? Roman Harper has issues in pass coverage. Malcolm Jenkins usually is in a zone role. Most linebackers are too slow to keep up. All defensive backs are too small. Nevertheless, the Saints need to find a way to stop Gonzales. Harper will most likely be the player assigned that challenge, but expect to see Spags to send help when needed, especially in the redzone. Stop Gonzales, and New Orleans will win the ballgame.

PREDICTION

Although the Saints enter this game coming off of an emotional loss to the San Francisco 49ers only 4 days ago, this team will be ready to play. The entire organization knows what is exactly at stake, as any loss at this point in the season will almost assuredly erase any hope for the playoffs. On both ends of the ball, the Saints will look sharp, giving Atlanta their second loss of the season and keeping the possibility of a Saints home Superbowl still alive.

Saints 30, Falcons 21

Who Dat!

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Week 13 Preview: Saints Offense vs. Falcons Defense

Posted by David Billiot Jr November 28, 2012

With only two games and 18 days separating the last time these two bitter rivals played each other, the Saints travel to Atlanta to face the Falcons on Thursday Night Football tomorrow night. It’s a very short week and will be a tough challenge for New Orleans. They are coming off of one of their most disappointing losses of the season, falling to the 49ers 31-21. The loss was especially upsetting for one particular reason, among many others. While sitting back waiting for their 3:25 start, everything went the Saints’ way in the 12:00 games. Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Minnesota all lost. All New Orleans had to do was pull out a win and amazingly after an 0-4 start, the black and gold would have found themselves holding the #6 seed in the current standings. It was all for not, as the Saints’ offensive collapse doomed their hopes of putting themselves in the driver’s seat for the playoff race.

Things always get heated between the Black and Gold and the Dirty Birds.

The Saints gave up 21 points in less than four minutes in Sunday’s loss, thanks to two Drew Brees interceptions that were returned for touchdowns. After controlling the entire first half, his first pick-6 came with about a half of a minute left to go in the first half and started a 24-7 run by San Francisco for the rest of the game. The score right before halftime completely deflated the dome and gave the 49ers all of the momentum which they never did surrender. After the loss, the Saints offense dropped out of the top-5 in the NFL, now sitting at 8th. New Orleans is now 5-6 overall and 2-1 in the NFC South heading in to this week.

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Grading the Saints: Week 11 vs. Oakland

Posted by Jonathan Christensen November 23, 2012

The New Orleans Saints won again last Sunday, pushing their overall record to 5-5, a far cry from the 0-4 hole that marked the beginning of this season. The latest win against Oakland produced one of the more well-rounded victories all year long, as almost every aspect of the team showed positive improvement.

PASS OFFENSE: A

Brees didn’t produce the eye-popping, video game-esque numbers that fans are used to, but that proved to be unnecessary; the 20 of 27, 219 yard, 3 touchdown, no interception performance was more than enough. Brees was consistently efficient with his throws, finding the open receiver with great ease.

The offensive line, which has always been a strength of this team, is starting to gel; even without Zach Strief and Charles Brown (who left the game late with an injury of his own), the line was able to hold Oakland defensive line without a sack. A lack of pressure allowed Brees to operate with surgeon-like precision, not forcing passes into impossibly tight throwing lanes.

The New Orleans wide receiving corps, a deep unit of players with complimentary skill sets, made Brees’ job even easier – he completed passes to 8 different targets.

RUN OFFENSE: A

As a team, New Orleans was able to run the ball 28 times for 151 net yards. The 5.4 yard per carry average shows that the Saints have regained their confidence on the ground, allowing for a balanced offensive attack.

Moreover, the team knows that even if one running back is struggling, the enormous wealth of depth in the backfield will usually provide the difference. Chris Ivory, who provided this running-renaissance weeks ago with inspired performances against Philadelphia and Atlanta, had a good afternoon (8 carries, 37 yards), but hardly produced the teams’ best rushing performance.

That title belongs to Mark Ingram, who might have had the best performance of his young professional career. He finished the game with 67 yards on 12 carries, including a 27 yard touchdown run to open the second half that started to really put the game away for the Saints. Ingram ran with force throughout the game and looked like the Heisman-winning back that New Orleans traded up in the draft to select.

PASS DEFENSE: B-

This unit continues to give up yardage, and this week was no different. Carson Palmer threw for over 300 yards and connected for two touchdowns. Nonetheless, the Saints make stops against the pass when needed. Palmer wasn’t particularly efficient (he only connected on 55% of his throw), and he also turned the ball over twice on interceptions.

Timing on those interceptions proved to be a huge difference in favor of the Saints. The interception to Malcolm Jenkins, who is quietly doing a decent 2009 Darren Sharper impersonation, gave the defense a rare score, and the one to Roman Harper took place in the end-zone, erasing sure-fire points for the Raiders.

RUN DEFENSE: C+

Despite missing starting RB Darren McFadden and more than competent backup RB Mike Goodson, the Raiders were still able to pull off an impressive performance on the ground. Oakland gained a total of 120 yards on the ground on 26 attempts, good for 4.6 per attempt. Marcel Reece, who was the Raiders’ best offensive player on the field Sunday, provided a 100+ yard performance that kept the Oakland offense balanced throughout. In order for the Saints to remain on this winning streak, defending the run has to be a major point of emphasis.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A

Travaris Cadet’s 75 yard kickoff return to begin the second half led to the aforementioned Mark Ingram touchdown run, making his contribution all the more valuable. Overall, the entire special teams unit had a great afternoon. Garrett Hartley looks confident. Thomas Morstead continues to do his thing.

COACHING: B

The entire team is playing with a ton of confidence, especially defensively, and that is a true credit to the New Orleans coaching staff. Although the defense still is giving up, and  will most likely continue to give up, massive amounts of yardage, Spags has his unit coming up with game-changing plays almost at a weekly rate. As long as this continues and the offense still manages to produce at its current rate, the Saints can be successful and will win more games.

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Saints Crush Raiders; Get to .500 Mark for First Time in 2012

Posted by David Billiot Jr November 19, 2012

Just like that, the Saints are back at .500. Their dominating victory in Oakland today brought their record to 5-5 for the season. The Saints have won three games in a row since their Sunday night loss to Denver in October. Meanwhile, the Raiders drop to 3-7 for the season with their third straight loss.

Mark Ingram taunts former Saint Matt Giordano as he crosses the goal line on his 27 yard touchdown run in the 3rd quarter.

The Saints took an early lead and never looked back. Oakland had early success running the ball, but frequently stalled around mid-field. The Saints wasted no time, taking their first possession down field and cashing in on a 1 yard touchdown from Drew Brees. Once New Orleans took the 7-0 lead, the game was never in question for who was in control.

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