Game Preview: New Orleans Saints
The Jets are looking to bounce back against a team coming off a loss to the Dallas Cowboys on TNF
Good morning Jets fans and welcome to Friday’s edition of The Jets Way. It’s the 10th of December which means in around a weeks time I’ll start to panic that I’ve done absolutely no Christmas shopping and then a week after that, I’ll be racing around the city trying to elbow my way past angry parents grasping the latest toys while trying to balance their phone and caramel waffle latte from Starbucks. Anyway, I digress, lets get into it.
🏈 Game Day 🏈
Who: New Orleans Saints @ New York Jets
Where: Metlife Stadium, New Jersey
When: 1:00 PM EST - Sunday 12th of December
Head to Head: 13 games, 6 wins, 7 losses
Offensive Ranking:
Points (Jets 26th, Saints 18th)
Total Yards (Jets 21st, Saints 23rd)
Passing (Jets 12th, Saints 25th)
Rushing (Jets 30th, Saints 14th)
Defensive Ranking:
Points (Jets 32nd, Saints 19th)
Total Yards (Jets 32nd, Saints 14th)
Passing (Jets 29th, Saints 22nd)
Rushing (Jets 30th, Saints 5th)
Turnovers:
Differential (Jets -16, Saints +1)
Defensive Interceptions (Jets 4, Saints 14)
Offensive interceptions (Jets 20, Saints 11)
Key Matchup: Zach Wilson v the Saints secondary. I could have easily picked the Jets’ 30th ranked rushing attack against the Saints 5th best rushing defense. But the Saints have 14 takeaways this season which is the joint 5th most in the NFL. They have four players who have at least 2 interceptions in P.J Williams, Paulson Adebo, Marcus Williams, and Marshon Lattimore.
The New Orleans Saints Offense
The Saints aren’t the offensive juggernaut that they were with Drew Brees at the helm, but they still have enough talent to beat you, especially when you have the last ranked defense in football.
The Jets will catch a break this weekend with leading receiver Deonte Harris missing the game through suspension, but then that break is instantly nullified with the expectation that All-Pro running back Alvin Kamara is expected back in the lineup.
There are some injuries to keep an eye on for the Saints with left tackle Terron Armstead listed as a limited participant so far and right tackle Ryan Ramczyk missing practice to start the week.
Taysom Hill is also dealing with a foot injury to go with having to wear a splint on the middle finger of his throwing hand. So the Saints are dealing with a few issues, and I’d say Harris is the major one. The Saints don’t have a ton of depth at receiver behind Marquis Callaway, so expect to see more of Easop Winston Jr. this Sunday.
Running Attack
If you’re the Jets you’re looking to make Hill beat you from the pocket. The Saints have a fine rushing attack and a good offensive line, but they don’t have a passing attack that should scare anyone. If you can contain Hill to the pocket, there’s a chance he’ll offer up some opportunities for your defensive backs to shift momentum through interceptions. Taysom threw 4 to the Cowboys last week and now has 5 on the season on only 49 passing attempts.
Kamara is elusive in the open field and that’s the area of the Saints attack that worries me the most. He’s forced 24 missed tackles on 143 carries this year to go with his 370 yards after contact. If Kamara won’t get you then Hill is likely to, he isn’t much of a passer from the pocket, but once he breaks containment he can take it to the house on any given down, his 6.6 yards per carry are testament to that. Expect to see Elijah Riley play in the box a lot and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Jets deploy a spy on the Saints QB to try and contain him.
The New Orleans Saints Defense
This Saints defense plays fast and it plays physical. It’s led by cornerback Marshon Lattimore and former Jet Demario Davis. Lattimore has 2 INT’s and 14 pass break-ups on the season (although he has been credited with allowing 7 touchdowns as well) and Davis leads the saints with 57 tackles.
Sean Payton has come out this week to question the effort and the tackling of his defense and that starts in the secondary. Cornerback Paulson Adebo and safety Malcolm Jenkins both have 9 missed tackles on the season and safety Marcus Williams has 8. In total the Saints have missed 94 tackles on the season.
Run Defense
Saying that, the run defense of the Saints has been its calling card this season. Led by the interior lineman Shy Tuttle and David Onyemata, the Saints defense eats up blocks and allows their linebackers to make plays on the ball carrier. Rookie Pete Werner has been the #1 graded run defender from the position for the Saints and Demario Davis, Kwon Alexander and Kaden Elliss aren’t too far behind.
The Saints linebacking core is what I envision the Jets wanting, they’re fast and athletic with + awareness and + recognition. Davis has 11 tackles for a loss on the season so far, the closest linebacker the Jets have to a number like that is CJ with 3.
Like with most teams who are proficient against the run, it really is a team affair. The Saints get great penetration from their defensive tackles, but they also get exceptional run support from their defensive ends in Marcus Davenport, Cam Jordan, and Tanoh Kpassagnon who can both generate pressure and protect the edge. Although Cam Jordan is currently on the COVID list and Kpassagnon has found his way to IR.
Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Sean Payton
Offensive Coordinator: Pete Carmichael
Defensive Coordinator: Dennis Allen
Special Teams Coordinator: Darren Rizzi
Jets Connections
Demario Davis - Davis was selected by the Jets in the 3rd round of the 2012 draft. He played with the Jets between 2012-2015 before landing in Cleveland. He’s been with the Saints since 2018 and had an All-Pro season in 2019.
Ty Montgomery - Ty spent one season with the Jets in 2019. It was largely a forgettable season with just 103 rushing yards and 90 receiving yards.
Brett Maher - The Current Saints kicker was actually signed as a UDFA out of Nebraska in 2013. He was waived to make room for Billy Cundiff.
Josh Adams - Currently on the Saints practice squad, Adams was with the Jets between 2019 and 2021.
James Carpenter - Currently on the Saints practice squad, James was a former 1st round pick of the Seahawks, he played for the Jets between 2015-2018.
Trevor Siemian - Played for the Jets back in 2019. He completed 3 of 6 passes in relief of Sam Darnold before tearing ligaments in his ankle and ending his season.
Sharif Finch - Spent the 2020 season with the Jets, spending time on the active roster for the games against the Rams and Browns.
Sad News
Horrible news to wake up to this morning as former Jets wide receiver Demaryius Thomas has passed away aged 33. It has been determined that this was related to injuries sustained in a car accident back in 2019. Thoughts are with his family and friends at such a horrible time.