New Orleans Saints' Offensive Player Grades vs. Buccaneers
by Andrew Juge on Jan 4, 2011 6:00 AM CST
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Since the Saints essentially quit at the end of the Bucs game, I'm not going to put too much effort into the grades either. It's been a great season with the Saints ending up 11-5 and getting a wild card birth. I know that pales in comparison to the top seed a year ago, but as a Saints fan for the 30 years of my life, a wild card birth is not much to be disappointed with. Below are the grades.
Drew Brees: B- (2.87) A lot of you blast me if Brees' grade is ever lower than a B-. Even if he plays a bad game, the general sentiment seems to be that he does nothing wrong and it's the fault of people around him. That's fine, I give up. Brees gets a B- for a below average performance. He finished 22-38 for 196 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception that wasn't his fault. He also lost a fumble. The turnovers hurt the Saints badly. Don't get me wrong I love Drew Brees as much as anyone else that's a Saints fan. We'd be lost without him. I just think, overall, this was a slightly disappointing year by his standards.
Chase Daniel C+ (2.33) He didn't get a chance to show much, and I was sure if the fumbled pitch to Bush was his fault or Reggie's. He had good command in the huddle and delivered accurate footballs, though. I feel good about him coming in in a pinch if we ever needed him. He finished 2 for 3 for 16 yards.
Reggie Bush: B+ (2.33) Bush finishes the season with a much lower GPA than last year (2.69) as was the case for most players on the roster. Statistically he was phenomenal. 9 carries for 70 yards, 5 catches for 55 yards and a punt return for 7 yards. He showed the kind of game he can put together if he gets the touches. Unfortunately, it wasn't all perfect as he dropped a easy pass in open field that could have yielded a big gain, and he dropped a pitch on a 3rd and 1 play that resulted in a huge loss. He still dances around too much at times, but overall I thought it was his best game of the season.
Julius Jones: D- (2.08) He fumbled on a goal line carry, which was inexcusable. That fumble ultimately cost the Saints the win, in my opinion. He had 4 carries for a whooping 6 yards, and 2 catches for 3 yards. He was useless. I hope he doesn't get snaps in the playoffs, because we're in deep trouble if he does.
Chris Ivory: B (2.83) Too bad he got hurt because he was running the ball with power and authority before he left the game. He had 33 yards on 7 carries, with his most notable run coming on an off guard play where he ran into star linebacker Barrett Ruud and just obliterated him. Ruud went backwards on his behind, and Ivory kept trucking. Talk about getting owned.
Heath Evans: B- (2.60) He did a good job blocking most of the day, with the exception of a terrible lead blocking job on the Meach-around. Yeah, I just said that. He also had a reception for 2 yards.
Lance Moore: B (2.90) Falling down on that pick was a really tough break. He did a great job moving the chains, though, and there's no doubt he'll be making plays in the playoffs. He had 6 catches for 53 yards.
Devery Henderson: D (2.04) His GPA was 2.77 last year, so this season was a major drop off. He was targeted 4 times and came up with no grabs. He and Brees are just not on the same page this year. At least two of those balls were difficult but makeable catches. He's just not making plays in traffic. He did an ok job on kick returns averaging 23.7 yards on 6 returns, but got blown up a few times.
Robert Meachem: D (2.38) His GPA was 3.02 last year, so this season was also a major drop off. He had 1 catch for 5 yards and a rushing attempt for -3 yards. A very poor game from him.
Adrian Arrington: B+ (3.33) He finished with 7 catches for 79 yards and he was by far the most productive receiver. I honestly don't know if Marques Colston will be ready in time for the playoff game next week. If not, Arrington could be a nice fill in. He proved he definitely has some ability.
Jimmy Graham: B (3.06) What a fantastic season by the rookie, who ends the year the highest graded offensive player (11 games graded). He got injured and never came back, but before he left he came up with a big third down conversion and a jumpball touchdown. He had 2 catches for 15 yards and a touchdown. I made the claim last week that he's the best red zone option right now for the Saints, and a few people disagreed with me. Still feel that way?
Tory Humphrey: D (1.00) He sucked. He's more of a blocking tight end and he was thrown into the fire trying to make a play in the passing game. Brees and Daniel both tried going his way, but he just didn't get any separation whatsoever and showed poor hands. He did get the Saints an illegal contact penalty, but that was it. Hopefully the three players ahead of him on the depth chart can come back next week.
Jermon Bushrod: C- (2.33) He struggled mightily in protection. As this season progresses I feel like he keeps getting worse. Not a good sign heading into the playoffs. He was responsible for the strip/sack. I just don't think passing non stop plays to his strengths, and he's been exposed the last few weeks because pass rushing ends are leaving running lanes knowing the run almost ever comes. Last year he finished with a 2.51, so his performance was worse than a year ago overall in my opinion.
Carl Nicks: B (2.81) He ends the year the best graded lineman on the Saints. He was flagged once but he was also a major part of the reason why the Saints ran for 106 yards and 4.8 per carry.
Jonathan Goodwin: A- (2.75) I thought his blocking was impeccable in this game. He was dominating in the trenches and getting tremendous push all day long.
Jahri Evans: B (2.77) He had a holding call but otherwise did a good job overall. Pass protection and run blocking from his spot were mostly very good.
Jon Stinchcomb: B- (2.50) He got flagged for holding and struggled at times in pass protection giving up pressure which forced Brees to step up in the pocket, but he was excellent in run blocking, laying some devastating lead blocks while pulling. Sadly, all 5 starting linemen received worse GPAs this year than they did last year.
Zach Strief: B- (2.33) It got pretty annoying hearing "number 64 is reporting eligible", because the Saints had lost so many tight ends to injury that Strief was in on almost every play. He was flagged once for a false start, but he blocked well off the edge. On Jones' goal line fumble, Strief had bad luck because his lead block was fantastic. He finished with a 2.31 last year, so he's one of the only offensive players that received a higher GPA this season... so there's that.
My Offensive Player of the Game: Reggie Bush
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...psst....Andrew...
….you’re using the incorrect form of “berth” for your article…they aren’t being “born” into the playoffs! ;-)
Who Dat? TWO DAT! Do dat AGAIN!!!
i'm with you on Drew not playing up to his standards this year
And the only play I even remember heath evans was that missed block on Meach’s end around
World Champions at last
by mississippisaintsfan on Jan 4, 2011 7:30 AM CST reply actions
Btw
As much as I dislike Reggie bush … he DROPPED the pitch on 3rd and 1? How about … he failed to pull in a ridiculously off target pitch by Chase Daniel? That’s comparable to blaming Russell Erxleben for not handling a snap from center two feet over his head.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Re: #25 ... CUT THAT CHUMP.
wow CP!
Not to mention, the “easy pass” was no way easy, I was watching the game last night, Drew threw it behind him and Reggie’s momentum was in an opposite direction. And how many times am I going to tell yall, he’s an elusive back, he’s gonna dance a little sometimes that’s gonna net negative yards other times it’s a homerun (so long as he’s getting carries). Power backs sometimes try to plow someone too much when they couldn’t gotten more yards by juking…Still, very impressed by CP’s ability to step outside himself and be real about that pitch.
2010 is cuzzin's breakout year...run with that chip bruh!
Tory Humphrey always looks great catching the ball in pre-game warm ups. I don’t think he has bad hands … he’s just never been given much of an opportunity in the passing game. For better or for worse, I have a feeling that’s about to change.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Re: #25 ... CUT THAT CHUMP.
All said and done...
if I have to pick between Reggie Bush and Julius Jones, I’ll take Bush every time.
"Now you see that evil will always triumph because good is dumb."
When...
Ivory, Jones, and Betts got the ball earlier in the season I closed my eyes because I knew someone was going to fumble. Clearly Ivory got through his fumbling issues. Personally I have never been a Bushrod fan. I always thought Jamaal Brown (even with the false start penalties) was better than him.
I always thought Jamaal Brown (even with the false start penalties) was better than him.
Oh, there’s no doubt he was better. Just not anywhere close to six times better, which is what it would have taken to lock him up to a long term deal. While it’s true that you get what you pay for, you also shouldn’t be willing to pay for what you’ll never get.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Re: #25 ... CUT THAT CHUMP.
by coldpizza on Jan 4, 2011 10:48 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
A quick look at Saints RBs and their penchant to lay the ball on the turf:
Chris Ivory has fumbled once every 34.5 touches in his career.
Reggie Bush has fumbled once every 47.9 touches in his career.
Ladell Betts has fumbled once every 78.3 touches in his career.
DeShawn Wynn has fumbled once every 79.0 touches in his career.
Julius Jones has fumbled once every 110.0 touches in his career.
Pierre Thomas has fumbled once every 200.7 touches in his career.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Re: #25 ... CUT THAT CHUMP.
Ivory has a pretty small sample size
We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. I just can't figure out where else to play!
-- Pat Williams
by Fat Punk Kicker on Jan 4, 2011 12:04 PM CST up reply actions
One play in the Bucs game that made no sense to me whatsoever … on 3rd and 5, Payton pulls Lance Moore out of the four WR set, then Brees goes deeeeep to Henderson, who predictably drops the ball. Why? No, make that … WHY? A short pass to your most dependable WR is what this down and distance is practically screaming for … and our visored wunderkind seemingly goes out of his way to do just the opposite.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Re: #25 ... CUT THAT CHUMP.
Bad example there. Sounds like our visored wunderkind made the right play if it fooled the defense into letting Henderson get deep. It’s not Payton’s fault that Henderson can’t catch.
"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."
It’s not Payton’s fault that Henderson can’t catch.
It may not be Payton’s fault that Henderson can’t catch, but it’s definitely Payton’s fault for not recoginizing the fact that Henderson can’t catch. I’m not saying don’t throw to Henderson every now and then. But on a critical 3rd down play, maybe Payton should throw to someone who is a proven reliable receiver….like Moore.
Our fat punk kicker, Garrett Hartley, missed a game-winner and we lost for the second week in a row - Scott Fujita in 2009
by Ragin Who Dat on Jan 4, 2011 11:33 AM CST up reply actions
I agree here.
Maybe there was something that we don’t know as we weren’t on the sidelines. But, it seems that Payton has some WR sets at times that seem unusual. This was a good example of that. I think with so many injuries maybe it throws him off.
If Pro is the opposite of Con, what is the opposite of Progress? Congress!
-Men's Restroom - House of Representatives, Washington, DC
Henderson “gets deep” on practically every route he runs. He wasn’t even particularly open on the throw, Good throw, dropped … I just don’t get the logic of targeting that WR route in the first place. Against the Patriots last season, it’s a blown coverage. That’s different. The only plausible reasoning I can come up with that everyone on the shorter routes were covered. Still, why does he pull Moore in favor of Bush (poor downfield route runner) Arrington (inexperienced) and Meachem (limping slightly throughout the game)?
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Re: #25 ... CUT THAT CHUMP.
Just by way of feedback (since you read the comments), here' s some grades where I would differ and why
Arrington – solid A – He was called on to be the lead receiver and he responded. On a day when we didn’t have Colston, Meachem, Shockey, PT, Dave Thomas, and Jimmy Graham got hurt and left as well as Ivory – he was a shining light- the only offensive wide receiver who was. It was his first start- never even got in a game the whole season (career) and that’s no easy feat. I don’t want to hear about how Brees makes everyone a star, everyone complaind Brees isn’t himself all sedason long,and how Brees is playing subpar and throws ints out the wazoo. Arrington had a monster game considering the situation. You gave him a B+ which is close. But, an A is an A and anyone whoever strived for an A is never satisfied with a B+. A from me, I think he did way more than was expected .
Julius Jones has fumbled 1 time in over 300 carries. It was a bad and critical error, I agree. But, on a day when our offense seemed semi-motivated, it was an awful tough task to play so sporadically as he has. A little leeway here- a C- because he did some pass blocking and other things and stayed healthy. It seems a RB on our team is almost a candidate for a C if they finish the game!! Again, just a little mercy- he has done his job and averaged 4.0 ypc in such loimited action learning a new system. 4.0 yps is better than anyone on Green Bay’s roster and is pretty decent for the NFL. I think more carries would translate into more yards from him. I know we are just grading this game, but again I’m giving him a small break because of some difficult circumstances. He’s our only reliable RB!! It has been tough and he has helped our team even though he hasn’t starred and he might be a starter Saturday.
Tory Humphrey should be graded on his blocking. That’s what he does, that’s why he’s on the team. Think of him as an eligible third OT. I think he blocked well, but I didn’t review the tape. He’s not a receiver. Just like you wouldn’t grade Ivory on his (lack of) receptions, same with Humphrey.
Regarding Ivory- I guess I would be torn. I want to give him an A. He clearly was outstanding when he played and there was every indication he was a game changer if he stayed in the game. Having said that, I guess I really can’t critisize you grading him as a B, but I would have given him an A. He did what he did and it was A work. Injuries happen and I am not sure if a player should be penalized for injuries. Michael Vick missed several games due to injururies and he still is one of the leading vote getters in Pro Bowl. Just sayin…
Overall, I agreed with a lot of the grades. just a few differences. Thanks for the work you put in and readin the posts!!
If Pro is the opposite of Con, what is the opposite of Progress? Congress!
-Men's Restroom - House of Representatives, Washington, DC
by Philinwood on Jan 4, 2011 12:25 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
rec'd it
Why has it taken this long for AA to be promoted to the active roster, when he jumped everyone straight into the #1 WR spot?
"I understand this is a violent game. It's the only place you can hit somebody and not go to jail. So you understand that it's a privilege to play this game." Danny Clark
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