Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut

By Josh Katzenstein jkatzenstein@nola.com
NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

The New Orleans Saints made wide receiver Cameron Meredith a healthy scratch in the first two games this season, but in Week 3, he was effectively the team's No. 3 receiver.

In Sunday's 43-37 overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons, Meredith played 34 of 79 offensive snaps (43 percent). Michael Thomas led the receivers with 75 snaps (95 percent), Ted Ginn Jr. was second with 52 (66 percent), but Meredith played more in his Saints debut than Tre'Quan Smith (26, 33 percent) and Austin Carr (13, 16 percent).

Meredith wasn't particularly productive Sunday as he caught one pass for 11 yards, but he scored a touchdown on the play to give the Saints a 23-21 lead in the third quarter.

Coach Sean Payton spoke last week about his desire to get Meredith, Smith and Carr more involved in the offense. Carr had one catch for 25 yards, making a tough play while absorbing a hit, while Smith had zero targets.

The Saints will likely continue to alter the roles among their receivers depending on matchups, but Sunday's game showed that coaches are starting to trust Meredith.

Here are some other notes from the snap count report:

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

I also liked the fact that Davenport was in for 50% of the snaps ... his most of the season thus far.

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

Agreed and he did well!

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

Davenport has looked good thus far.

Oh, and he got a sack on Matty ;).

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

He stands a decent shot of getting another (or more) on Eli this week.

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

I’m going to go ahead and say that Davenport and Jordan each get 2 sacks apiece!:bng:

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

Craig Robertson still at 0 aside from special teams.

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

Bout' time!

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

Imagine if anyone on the team other than miridith could get open!

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

I said the same thing to my wife yesterday. I can easily see that happening.

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

No easier way to get appreciated by the Saints fans :-D

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

Pretty sad when your number 3 receiver is targeted once then winds up on the injury report. One less time than your FB.
Is that what Payton meant by getting them more involved? Hey at least Carr had 1 nice reception. Squat from Smith.
Thomas and Kamara can’t keep this train rolling all year.

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

I'm sure it brightened your day to see Meredith on the injury list ... even though it was only with limited practice.

As for the number of targets, when your #1 WR has 40 targets (catching 38) it means your QB isn't needing to check down to further reads very often ... even if they are open, as well. Thomas is going to be the primary read on most passing plays and if his defender cannot stay with him he's going to keep getting the vast majority of the looks ... unless he's given a break. But don't you worry, as the primary slot receiver Meredith will get his share of touches as the season progresses.

:)

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

Cameron was a full participant today at practice.

Source: https://www.neworleanssaints.com/new...york-giants#TW

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

As I figured. Coming off a lengthy recovery period it would be expected to have some soreness after a game. That would explain the lightened workload for one day of practice.

It's really amazing how some fans always look for the worst in any little tidbit of news. I'm really looking forward to seeing him after a second full week of working with the ones. Hopefully we'll see a little less of Thomas as that number one read.

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

OR Brees or Payton don’t trust him enough to go his way.
OR he can’t get open. I seriously doubt defenses are giving him extra attention.
We have been best when we have spread the ball around. This year not so much and I doubt it’s by design.
The Atlanta game was better. Watson got his.
As for Meridiths injury I had someone go all Tonya Harding on him because it’s so important for me to win that $20 bet.

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

**** Davenport didn’t practice?

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

Meredith has appeared in one game. He scored a TD on his very first target. I have little doubt there will be more to follow. If he wasn't trusted he wouldn't be in the game. Right? :)

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

Now that's more concerning. Says hip. I wonder if it's a pointer?

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

It’s all in the game plan we have not unleashed the beast of this offense yet / hope cross me toes and all that Ingram will let us see what comes later?

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

The Saints are currently #3 in passing offense, #4 overall offense, and #2 in scoring offense.

Yes, it will be scary when they open it up.

:D

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

When MI returns downfield blocking will be critical. That is how we made money last year. Tre'Quann will be in the mix more. Way more physical than CM and built for it. CM would be great trade bait. Better suited or an Arizona.
Be great if we could get a decent CB for him.

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

Wait! You're suddenly giving up on trading Ingram?

And, yes, I expect Smith to be in the mix more because of Ginn's affinity for dropping passes and fumbling. He plays a different position than Meredith, however. He's not a slot type receiver like Meredith.

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

Saints' Cameron Meredith: Practices fully Thursday

Meredith (knee) was a full practice participant Thursday, the Saints' official site reports.

After progressing from limited to full in the span of two days, Meredith's health doesn't seem to be a question mark, especially after ranking third among Saints wideouts in offensive snap share (43 percent) in his debut with the team Sunday in Atlanta. It wouldn't surprise if he takes in an even bigger role in a Week 4 road game against the Giants.

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

Pick him up while you can ...

Weekend Waiver Wire Stashes (Week 4 Fantasy Football)

Wide Receivers

Cameron Meredith (NO) vs WAS
We finally saw Meredith get on the field last week and that’s promising. This move of snagging Meredith is not just for Week 5, though, as he can be streamed in Week 4 if you’d like him to. The Giants is a great matchup for him in the slot, as is Washington in Week 5. He’ll match-up with B.W. Webb in New York, who has been horrific in coverage, and then go on to play second-year cornerback Fabien Moreau in Washington, evading Josh Norman‘s coverage. He may have caught just one pass last week, but he made it count and should see more snaps going forward.

Re: Saints snap counts: Cameron Meredith plays sizable role in season debut
 

Nice read