Best and worst Saints PFF player grades from Week 2 vs. Buccaneers
 

Best and worst Saints PFF player grades from Week 2 vs. Buccaneers

John Sigler
September 19, 2022 2:44 pm CT

We shouldn’t put too much stock in simplified player grades from Pro Football Focus, but the analytics service does create an opportunity for recapping some of the most impactful performances from Week 2’s New Orleans Saints game – both the good and the bad.

To thin out some noise from too-small sample sizes, I’m only listing players who were on the field for at least 33% of snaps with the Saints offense or defense. This better reflects who was on the field most frequently. Let’s get to it.

Top 5 offense (minimum 22 snaps)

1. C Erik McCoy: 79.8
2. WR Michael Thomas: 75.8
3. RG Cesar Ruiz: 75.4
4. LT James Hurst: 68.6
5. TE Juwan Johnson: 66.0

McCoy and Ruiz were really impressive on Sunday, paving the way for some big gains on the ground and winning his matchups with Vita Vea and Akiem Hicks (until Hicks exited the game with an injury). It’s just one game, but this really feels like something Ruiz can begin to build off of.

Thomas won his battles with Carlton Davis, converting a first down on all three of the receptions he made when covered by Tampa Bay’s top cornerback, also scoring a late touchdown. The lone incomplete pass sent his way when matched up with Davis was broken up by the defender.

Johnson again saw more snaps on offense (53) than Adam Trautman (33), matching Trautman’s reps as a run blocker (15 each) while remaining the team’s go-to option on passing downs at tight end. I’ll wait a little longer to let the sample size continue to grow, but Trautman appears to have been displaced as TE1.

Top 5 defense (minimum 22 snaps)

1. LB Pete Werner: 88.4
2. LB Demario Davis: 79.9
3. DE Cameron Jordan: 78.2
4. LB Kaden Elliss: 77.1
5. DE Carl Granderson: 72.6

Werner was phenomenal again on Sunday, with all 6 of his tackles constituting defensive stopcs (meaning the offense typically gained half or fewer of the yards needed to convert a first down). He was tested 4 times in coverage and only yielded 6 receiving yards. He’s quickly climbing the ranks among pro linebackers.

Jordan lost this round to Buccaneers right tackle Tristan Wirfs on passing downs, which isn’t too surprising given Wirfs is one of the best players at that position of his generation. But Jordan did a great job controlling the line of scrimmage and winning on running downs. He isn’t the pass rusher he once was, sure – but he’s still a critically important all-around defender for this team.

Elliss came up big in pass coverage, with both of the targets sent after him falling incomplete (he got a mitt on one of them for a pass deflection). Granderson also produced a couple of stops in high-leverage situations. The Saints defense played their hearts out for much of the game and deserve credit for keeping it close even as the offense collapsed.

Read the rest including bottom five of each side here ...

Re: Best and worst Saints PFF player grades from Week 2 vs. Buccaneers
 

Interesting stat here, too.

Re: Best and worst Saints PFF player grades from Week 2 vs. Buccaneers
 

I still can't understand why we didn't get Thomas involved more earlier in the game. If you're going to force anything to anyone, Thomas is that guy. That's a no brainer.

Juwan Johnson is going into his third year now and looks like he can be a real contributor if we utilize him more. He certainly looks the part on the field. PFF fooled us on Trautman his first season... we had a lot of false hope there.

Re: Best and worst Saints PFF player grades from Week 2 vs. Buccaneers
 

There were definitely some positive takeaways from the game Sunday. I'm not sure if Winston wasn't going through progressions and only focusing on the first option, or if Carmichael had told him to keep dropping the bombs. It is so frustrating to know we have all that talent and not be able to score.

Re: Best and worst Saints PFF player grades from Week 2 vs. Buccaneers
 

Re watching the game, Jarvis & MT were open & creating separation. Head scratcher on not getting proven vets more involved early.

But to force feed (15 targets) Olave against a disciplined Tampa defense was crazy to me.

Better QB decisions & play calling must get better vs Carolina.

Re: Best and worst Saints PFF player grades from Week 2 vs. Buccaneers
 

I don't see it as a playcalling issue. Schematically, players were open. Better decisions need to be made. That's on Winston.

Re: Best and worst Saints PFF player grades from Week 2 vs. Buccaneers
 

I think everybody as far as play calling and game planning goes has a little bit of fault in this starting from the top down.

Defense has done their job
Offense on the 1st drive was effective.. Did the play calling change or did Tampa adjust that quickly?

Who knows what's really going on right now..

Dennis trying to make a name for himself and put his stamp on things making his direction known on how he wants it to go and Pete following suite?

Carmichael has made some questionable calls that were blew up.
Happens to the best of them at some point or another.
The Ingram 2 pt conversion and the Taysom sub/ins come to mind.
Expand the pkg and plays when he's in...
Payton did the same

Just hoping it clicks soon and that the lightbulb comes on, and if Jameis needs to sit they don't waste time in making the decision.

Jameis has made big mistakes no doubt.
I think he was still rattled from the first game getting slammed around.
I'm pulling for the dude no doubt but it should be very clear what this thing is going to be as a whole sooner rather than later.

Maybe now he's cautious with the back issue and it's a subliminal thing.
It's definitely apparent he's hesitant to scramble and run for it probably due to avoiding potential collision.

History shows that when he's forced to make these comebacks it's feast or famine .
He's only human man.
Yes, some of that is due to his own shortcomings and also shooting himself in the foot throughout the game .

I think it's still too early to write him off.

I'm not making any excuses for him it's just alot of moving parts that need to be figured out from within imo.
Was it all on Jameis or is he being guided to read a certain way?

New regime probably outsmarting themselves.

I just think it's too early

Re: Best and worst Saints PFF player grades from Week 2 vs. Buccaneers
 

I think what K is talking about is the run game part of the play calling. Guys were getting 4 and 5 yards a clip. The game was close enough that you could still run the ball even after they scored that td. Take what the defense is giving you. We played right into their hands. Running the ball like we were would of forced safeties to play closer and open up the passing lanes

Re: Best and worst Saints PFF player grades from Week 2 vs. Buccaneers
 

I agree Pete. If he’s playing like this come week 5 then yea, you can make a switch.

Re: Best and worst Saints PFF player grades from Week 2 vs. Buccaneers
 

4 my brother.. 5 is pushing it lol

Let's give him 2 more weeks..
If he's hurt, he's hurt man.

It's his time.. it's just very unfortunate now he has 4 fractures to contend with also.
Damn the luck

Pulling for him

Just realized..
I think we're thinking the same thing on the week 5 move with 4 games to prove it.
I agree with You also then👍👍

I just think giving him 3 weeks injured may be a bit much.

We're about to find out regardless right?
Buckle up soldier