Devery Henderson: Forgotten but not Gone

I’m pretty sure if you check back, last year we had more missed games by receivers- WRs, TEs etc. Dave Thomas played FB a lot after Evans went out, so DThomas was not out running routes. Shockey missed games last year as did Colston if I remember. I think Moore even missed some time.Meachem was getting less playing time last year also. This opened things up for Henderson to be targeted more. So this year there are less routes being run by Henderson because of so many viable receivers and he’s been targeted less as a result. Jimmy Graham gets targetd some too, we only had 2 viablke TEs last year and one was playing FB a lot. Also, without Reggie occupying defensive backs/schemes, the safeties can play deeper and take away a lot of the passes that Henderson makes his living on necessitating passes to go to Moore and Colston and the RB du jour on a swing pass. Without PT we have run less screen passes and the ones we have are less effective so that hurts the deep ball a) less ability to neutralize pass rush with screen passes, b) less safety and cb concern about screen passes.

Allow me to simplify things a bit. Henderson is currently the fourth best WR on this team. He’s “starting” (something that means absolutely nothing in the scheme) based on his tenure with the organization. a.) he isn’t in the lineup as often. b.) when he is in the lineup, he’s not gaining separation downfield quickly enough to offset the sub-standard pass protection Brees is getting. c.) other receivers are. Whether c.) is a product of better route running or shorter routes is open to interpretation. No matter how you slice it, his production has waned as a result. No worries. Devery signed his extension. Moore didn’t. Expect Henderson’s seemingly endless reign of mediocrity to continue, as he inches back up the target tally list by default.

I don’t have to write this even. Pizza is exactly right. Devery is just not in the game as much. You see more of Meachum now. Believe me, Payton knows the receivers that need to be in the game at a certain time. Oh, but Devery is by far not finished. I think once everyone is healthy again, Devery will get a bunch of playing time and get targeted once again. We will mix it up so much and Drew will make his way back to the top of the QB ranks where he belongs.
 Payton’s got a plan.
WHO DAT NATION WILL BE FREAKIN OUT AGAIN.

the speculation that Brees has lost confidence in Henderson.

Perhaps it’s quite the opposite.

Devery just isn’t getting as much bang for his buck these days. In other words, he’s not the big play threat he once was.

How does anyone know what Drew thinks about Devery? Did drew come out and say it? Too much speculation for me.All I can do as a fan is be supportive of the whole team.

how many does that leave that haven’t been bad- mouthed? Anyone??

51 all of last year. Seems he’s on pace.

I’m not ignoring the drops. It’s like a fg kicker who can’t kick, Henderson must catch, it’s his job.

2 last year.

1 so far this year. Yep, on pace.

He’s only scored 17 tds in his career with the Saints.

That’s probably what’s making everyone notice his absence and speculate about him being sidelined with purpose because of the drops.

He’s not even at the halfway mark compared to last year on total yards. Ah, but he is above average in the league. Yep, by the numbers, not by opinion.

Henderson is unquestionably the 4th best wideout on this team. Moore is healthy again and Meachem has over taken him on the depth chart. That combined with the lack of running game to keep teams more honest are more than enough reasons why Hands of Stone has been on the decline.

I dropped Henderson from my team last week, he will score tons of points now.

I think it’s time to abandon this theme. Devery had dropitis earlier in his career, but he got it cured last season. Look at the stats for drops in 2009: Devery didn’t even make the list. (Colston did, however…he tied for 4th in the NFC.)

In 2010, he’s not listed either. Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, and Harry Douglas all made the list for the Falcons. The Panthers contributed Steve Smith and Brandon LaFell. Tampa chipped in with Kellen Winslow and Mike Williams. Not a Saint to be found, however. (Admittedly, it’s a shorter list.)

and in regards to drops, the pass routes often have something to do with it. Crossing over the middle is a lot harder to “not drop” when you know a safety is about to take your head of vs. the quick pass at the line of scrimmage when the CB is isolated 7 yds off of you.

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More catches, more yards, more TDs. It amazes me how people just hold on to Henderson for dear life and defend him with such fervor. And let’s be honest here…the only reason why 90% of those people do it is simply because he went to LSU.

2) Drew’s knee was buggin’ him for a couple games (didn’t throw deep as much).
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That pretty much sums it up for my opinion.

regardless of the receiver

Brees has underthrown some deep routes this year, and they have (frustratingly) been intercepted a couple of times. I’m buying what the MSM says about teams playing deep cover 2 on us and forcing the throws to go underneath.

I’d say it was even probably a design element of all teams that game-planned for us in the offseason.

I will be interested to see if we can establish a running game in the coming weeks, and if we can bust a few big pass plays, with or without the running game established. Given the futility of our running game even before the injuries to PT and Red Cheese (paired with an ineffective deep passing game), I’m not sure which chicken or egg might take precedence here.

What i’d like to see us do is adapt and produce more yards and points however we can with whatever tools we have at our disposal, and against whatever the opposing defenses throw at us. C’mon, Payton! You are an ever-lovin’ wizard and resident genius, aren’t you? Figure this out, and fast!

Go here to read one of Wang’s posts about the deep passing game from earlier in the season.

Devery Henderson: Who? 22 receptions for 262 yards at a rate of 11.9 yards per catch and only 1 touchdown? His longest reception is only 39 yards? Those aren’t Jack Hunt numbers, those are Jack Hunt numbers! What the hell? Remember when this guy used to kick ass? And Message Board Guy was tirelessly attempting to convince you that he actually sucked, while at the same time concocting daily trade scenarios that would land the Saints Pro Bowl linebackers and high round picks? Good times. Yeah, yeah, I know. Defenses are suposedly playing to take away the deep pass and force the Saints to beat them underneath and all that. Because they’re just now figuring that out. Or something. “Wait, Devery Henderson is fast? Why was I not informed?!?” No, the real question is: Since when did that start working? I blame the absence of Reggie. Well, that and Drew’s grotesquely mangled knee.

source

that is was going to be a good discussion starter.

for a high round WR in the draft next year. We have a collection of role players. Good role players that make up a very good group, but role players nevertheless. I think Payloo will be looking for a young talented WR add to this group.

I just don’t think the Saints win the Super Bowl last year without having some very high quality play from the WR position. I think Colston has accumulated over 1000 yds receiving almost every year despite playing for an offense that typically spreads the ball around. I just can’t forget how awesome Meachem was last year, and I expect him to have a big second half after being slowed by that toe surgery. Moore has had nice year after missing most of last year due to injury.

   I think Devery’s issues do stem a little from Drew being a little off than usual with his accuracy, which I think could be tied with the offensive line’s inconsistancy. I know I can remember 2 or 3 passes off the top of my head where Devery had beaten his man, and Drew just simply missed the throw, (like Drew’s int against Pitt).