New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Joe Morgan looked like he had a clear shot at the No. 3 spot when the team entered training camp last summer.

Morgan's rookie season in 2011 was derailed by a knee injury. In 2012 he caught only 10 passes but three went for touchdowns. He averaged 37.9 yards per catch.

Morgan's quickness was an asset it looked like the Saints could utilize more in 2013.

However, he didn't get that chance. Morgan did not make it to the first preseason game. During the Black & Gold Scrimmage in August, a routine tackle by rookie safety Kenny Vaccaro resulted in a freak accident.

Morgan's knee buckled when he hit the turf, and he had to be assisted off the field by trainers. He would be diagnosed with a partial ACL and meniscus tear that immediately landed him on injured reserve, the second time in his three-year career that he'd miss a season due to a knee injury.


"It was just one of those unfortunate things where I got hurt," Morgan said. "It wasn't anybody's fault. That's part of the game, what happens."

The Saints moved on, putting rookie Kenny Stills into what essentially would have been Morgan's spot. They still finished No. 2 overall in passing offense, averaging 307.4 yards, down only slightly from 2012's No. 1 passing offense of 312.3 yards. In 2011 they averaged 334.2 passing yards.

It didn't help that the Saints lost two deep-threat receivers in Morgan and Devery Henderson, who they released in the offseason.

Henderson's production declined in 2012, but he still made several big catches.

Morgan's highlight reel in 2012 was limited, but included several eye-catching plays, such as a 48-yard touchdown reception where he was able to get open deep downfield, throw a defender off his back and juke past another to get in the end zone.

So with his potential in mind, it was with much disappointment from fans when Morgan went down in August. The Saints re-signed Robert Meachem after he was cut by the San Diego Chargers.

And Stills certainly stepped up in his place, catching 32 passes for a league-leading 20 yards-per-catch. Henderson is the only other receiver in franchise history to match or better that average with the same amount of receptions.

"I think we definitely have guys on the roster that can play in that role," said wide receiver Marques Colston. "You saw the Tampa game. You saw Kenny Stills with his 76-yard touchdown. Meachem had a couple of big plays (against the Seattle Seahawks). We're definitely confident with those guys moving forward."

But the sentiment persisted all season that the Saints still lacked a consistent deep threat.

Quarterback Drew Brees didn't disagree with the assessment that the Saints were below average in that respect. But he said he felt like the deep threat was still there.

"I felt like we made our fair share of plays I would say maybe a few went over that (final) six- or seven-game span we were a little below our big-play average, our scoring average or what have you," Brees said. "I don't sit here and necessarily attribute it to one thing or another. We still dialed up our shots, we still called them, we still attempted them, but maybe for whatever reason we didn't get as many as we normally have."


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Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

Forgot about this guy...

This is a great breakdown of the TD vs Tampa.The language evades me, but the diagrams work :)

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

Another under thrown ball

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

Morgan can not stay healthy... Another Ivory.

We have deep threats but they are useless if they can not get off the line. A deep strike from Drew Brees is not all about his arm, a lot of it has to do with the receiver getting a free release and burning the defender off the line. A QB can have a cannon for an arm but if the defender is right there with the receiver it will be jump ball.

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

I think its two-fold.

I'm convinced that this year, Drew has less time to let deep routes develop, and cannot step up into the pocket as well as he could in previous years.

Some more speed at WR can certainly help.

A perfect solution is better play from the O-line and some more speed at WR. I'll bet we address both this off-season.

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

Who though, because for me that draft ( at least the first two rounds ) is for us to keep improving our d..... The First pick for me a corner or fs with ball hawking qualities..... Maybe if we are lucky Justin Gilbert.... Defense, and kick returning....

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

Morgans got talent but he has to stay healthy, AA couldn't stay healthy either and we finally moved on this is Morgans do or die season I think.

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

I wouldn't burn our first two draft picks on a #4 in yards and points/game (#2 passing/ #19 rushing) defense that would have been better if healthy. We did that with a number of injuries to starters.

Not when our starting offense was 10th in scoring.

The defense is fine and did its job. Offense needs to be addressed with an injection of youth.

Added: I do believe that going into our last draft... We had no clue what we had on defense and the picture is a lot clearer and brighter now.

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

The defence has a couple of leaky holes the offense needs the roof replaced

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

Precisely. The holes have plugs already, they just need to be healthy.

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

I hope we address the offensive line. I think the defense was great and gets some guys back next year. Maybe a CB, but I still think the offensive line could use the most help.

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

Bad luck for Morgan. I hope he makes it back, somewhere.
I like what Stills tried to do with his time.
We have got to look forwards and rejuvenate the offense with raw talented youth

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

The problem wasn't having enough options, it was the process of getting the ball downfield. Whether it was Drew, the offensive line play, play calling or lack of a play action passing game, options weren't the issue. Execution was.

I would love to have Morgan back at full strength, but not having Morgan wasn't the problem.

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

Yep... add a stud LT or C and we'll all be amazed at all of the deep threats we have on this team

oh, and Stills is as fast as Morgan, so not sure I get the aritcle

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

Do you mean RT?

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

I wouldn't imagine a center in the 3rd round and a WR in the 4th would hurt, if Payton takes a center that guy from Arkansas looks ready to plug and play, I just don't know what round it would take to get him.

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

Then why wouldn't you use the first two picks of those six picks to turn fine....... Into special.... A ball hawking safety, another shutdownish corner, or and OLB...... I believe you can fix your o line in the middle rounds like you have
Always done..... and instead of wasting a pick on a wide out you can go get an established one for cheap..... Maclin, Nicks....etc....

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

Title should be " New Orleans Saints deep threat options were limited without good pass protection " having Joe wouldn't had helped the oline any.

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

Joe will see you in camp.

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

I wouldn't say Nicks is established .. this season was a big dud and hes injury prone. I'd rather get fresh legs than old hurt ones.

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

A few reasons -

Because there is a possibility with a healthy Robinson and Butler + another year with Rob Ryan we have special and just have not seen it on the field yet.

Because I don't want to be the Denver Broncos... On Opposite Day of course. Meaning lopsided. Denver and Manning have a phenomenal offense but for lack of a better term their defense blows and the only reason their W/L record and QB records look the way they do this season is because they are in the AFC. Dallas put up 51 on them and the Jaguars put up 19... 19 for the Jags is huge lol. The AFC was very weak in defense this season, of the top 6 defenses in the league all were NFC. Top AFC defenses, Houston, Cleveland, Buffalo <----- anyone fear those? ;)

Because of the reason above but with a different angle, when you are in an extremely defense dominant Conference having an epic defense doesn't win games if you can't put points on the board.

Lastly, "if it ain't broke don't fix it". Offense or lack of was the reason we lost all of our games this season. It's broken for a Sean Payton Saints offense.

I know.... I'm a Chatty Cathy today but here is another way to look at it. Ask your self:

You get 1 pick, which would be the largest game winning improvement: A shut down Talib or an Andre' Johnson in the draft?

My answer would be that Talib would be a marginal increase in talent but Johnson would be a +7 points per game at least.

Many times in life I've tried to perfect something that was great only to screw it up in the end.

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

I think we have some areas needing depth and/or upgrading.

On offense, O-line and WR
On defense, CB FS and LB

Free agency and the draft will address all of them.

But ask yourself, at pick 27 there may be an A+ WR and a B+ CB.
I'm taking that WR

or

There may be an A+ OLB and a B+ WR... I'm taking that LB.

Basically its just the long version of BPA at certain areas of need, or BPA at any position if they're difference makers.

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

Gordon? Also, Terrence Williams or Miles Austin from Dallas since the cowboys don't know what to do with them on O.

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

But Nicks was the no.2 receiver in NY and Eli is not as good at getting the ball in his hands which leads to injury. Usually injured receivers have gotten less production. The giants also are a team that has given opponents notice to play hardball.

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

You and I finally agree on something, we need a receiver.

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

If we absolutely can't improve the defense because of our need on the O-line, then I think that's ok. But we do need more play making ability in the secondary, and more depth. We just do not create enough turnovers, and that was the biggest strength of our championship team in '09.

So I'm not saying it has to be defense, but if the right guy is there I wouldn't call it a wasted pick. Just take the best player available between offensive lineman and cornerback. Don't reach for a lineman if he isn't first round material.

As far as the WR corps, there is no lack of talent. It's a lack of physicality. I'm not sure we can necessarily fix that in this draft, but if we can it's going to have to wait till after the first round. We have greater needs.

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

How does the whole roof need to be replaced Armstead was handling business near the end....C, RT..... Of course I personally would love a new infusion of youth along with Khiry, maybe like Andre Williams.... Boston College.... But that would definitely be asking for to much.....

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

Imo as you say we need a C, RT and most of the WR are at the stage of their career thay they need to start being replaced.

Re: New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited without Joe Morgan
 

The headline is wrong.

New Orleans Saints' deep-threat options were limited by lack of protection up front.