Saints Snap Counts and Observations from Week 10

Putting the Vikings game to bed by looking at the Saints snap counts with some observations and notes from the game.

The Saints will have extra time to let Sunday's loss to the Vikings fester as they get away and try to reset during the bye week. The game was just frustrating to watch unfold, and there's really no other way to put it. Although New Orleans was able to rally and make things interesting, it was too little, too late for Dennis Allen and company. Here's a closer look at the snap counts from Week 10 with some observations and notes from the game.

What We Learned From the Saints In Week 10

Offense

Nov 12, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston (2) passes against the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Saints offense really never got going in the first half aside that one field goal drive. They looked flat and had a whole five possession in the first half, two of them being three-and-outs. New Orleans regressed on third down, going 4/14 in the game while totaling 280 yards (65 rushing, 215 passing). They did actually finish 2/2 in the red zone, but there's just too many things to worry about after the performance they turned in against the Vikings. The penalties were also really killer.

• Andrus Peat, Cesar Ruiz, Erik McCoy, Ryan Ramczyk, James Hurst - 67 (100%)
  The offensive line allowed three total sacks on the day, and it didn't matter who was playing quarterback, there was plenty of pressure going on. I distinctly remember a sequence where Danielle Hunter was called for an illegal hands to the face call that was followed up with him getting a sack. The offensive performance seriously regressed after this game.
• A.T. Perry - 56 (84%)
  Perry caught 2 balls for 38 yards and a score on 4 targets, seeing his first real big action of the year. He slipped on a route on one of his plays that could have had a chance for a first down, but focusing on the absolutely positive for his game, he had a big 23-yard catch over the middle and then the 15-yard touchdown from Winston that was a contested catch. He'll be a bigger part of things going forward, we would hope.
• Chris Olave - 54 (81%)
  Olave went from to being quiet to catching fire to finish with 6 catches for 94 yards and a score on 9 targets. He also had a big one negated due to a Shaheed penalty. It's still mesmerizing to see how he got that touchdown grab from Winston. He's going to have to step up even more with Thomas being hurt.
• Juwan Johnson - 51 (76%)
  For as much as Johnson plays, it's disappointing how little the Saints are getting him the ball. He finished a lone catch for 2 yards on 3 targets. There's just a lot to figure out for the offense.
• Alvin Kamara - 51 (76%)
  Kamara had some good runs in this game, and the two-point conversions were relatively easy for him. He finished with 9 carries for 42 yards (4.7 yards/carry) and caught all 7 of his targets for 33 yards. The screen plays should work a lot better with him, but they just didn't against the Vikings.
• Rashid Shaheed - 46 (69%)
  Shaheed caught 5 of his 9 targets for 24 yards, which included a long of 15. He did have some decent returns later in the game, and at least gave the Saints a shot at the Hail Mary at the end of the game.
• Derek Carr, Jameis Winston - 33 (49%)
  Let's start here. Derek Carr should be okay, but he's in the concussion protocol to go along with the right shoulder injury. It's AC joint related, which came from the game against the Packers back in Week 3. Carr finished 13/18 (72.2%) for 110 yards to finish with a 87.7 rating. He was sacked twice and took a vicious hit that forced him out of the game early, but the offense was completely out of sync for the first half. When Jameis Winston, he did a nice job of rallying the troops to provide a real valiant comeback effort for the Saints. He finished 13/25 (52%) for 122 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 picks to finish with a 59.1 rating. The full experience was on display with his highest of highs and lowest of lows with the picks. It's not fair to really say anything was on Winston, as he was trying to just make things happen. Dennis Allen was asked whether or not Winston's play would make him evaluate who the starter would be going forward following the bye week, to which he said that Carr is the team's starter. We'll see if Carr is indeed ready to go against the Falcons, but Winston will be ready if he's called upon.
• Foster Moreau - 21 (31%)
• Taysom Hill - 20 (30%)
  Hill was essentially a non-factor in this game, and it's really a shame. When you get down 24-3 by the half, it certainly changes up the game plan. It feels as simple as getting Hill involved and good things happen, but it didn't go that way against the Vikings.
• Lynn Bowden - 19 (28%)
• Jamaal Williams - 15 (22%)
• Michael Thomas - 2 (3%)
  Thomas got hurt on the first hit, apparently with it being turf related. Dennis Allen said he has a fairly significant injury that he's going to be dealing with, but it's not season-ending. It's certainly a bad break for Thomas, who has been available all season.
• Adam Prentice - 1 (1%)
  Prentice returned to play one offensive snap and appeared in 12 special teams snaps.

Defense

Nov 12, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) tackles Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Saints defense is broken at this point. When you have five straight games now where you don't look good in the first half and continuously struggle with a mobile quarterback, there's a common denominator there. Minnesota, Josh Dobbs, and T.J. Hockenson had their way with the Saints defense in the first half. A hurt tight end and a recently acquired quarterback broke New Orleans. Minnesota finished 6/15 on 3rd Down, going 2/3 in the red zone while totaling 388 yards (125 rushing, 263 passing). They held the ball 33:06-26:54. This time away has to see them rebound against Atlanta. Dennis Allen did say that the team was going to evaluate some potential player changes, so we'll see where that might actually happen.

• Demario Davis, Marcus Maye, Paulson Adebo, Tyrann Mathieu - 73 (100%)
  Davis registered the lone sack on the day for the defense and led the way with 9 total tackles (6 solo, 3 assisted). Maye had 6 solo tackles, while Adebo also registered 9 (5 solo, 4 assisted) and two pass breakups. You kind of got a feeling for how the game was going to go after the pick went off of him and fell into the hands of a Vikings receiver. Mathieu was second behind Davis and Adebo with 8 total tackles (7 solo, 1 assisted).
• Pete Werner - 72 (99%)
  Werner surely didn't have his greatest game. He ended up finishing with 6 total tackles (3 solo, 3 assisted), including a tackle for loss. 
• Carl Granderson - 64 (88%)
• Marshon Lattimore - 62 (85%)
  Lattimore left the game due to some friendly fire, and now he's week-to-week with a high ankle sprain. That's definitely a big blow for the Saints defense, and this could force him out for several weeks while also making him a candidate for injured reserve. It really is something how the Saints lost three of their big stars in this one game after being so healthy.
• Cam Jordan - 60 (82%)
  Jordan had a sack wiped out due to a penalty, which seems to happen more often these days. Other than that, he had 2 solo tackles.
• Alontae Taylor - 56 (77%)
  Taylor had two pass breakups to go along with 5 total tackles (4 solo, 1 assisted). He got hurt in the second half after a play but was able to return. The touchdown run by Josh Dobbs saw Taylor on the wrong end of things.
• Nathan Shepherd - 40 (55%)
• Bryan Bresee - 32 (44%)
• Khalen Saunders - 31 (42%)
  Saunders was one of four players to register a QB hit on the day. He also had a tackle for loss.
• Malcolm Roach - 28 (38%)
  Roach had a pass breakup to go along with 5 tackles (3 solo, 2 assisted). He got hurt while trying to dive and make a tackle, but was able to finish the game. He spoke in the locker room after the game and gave a very emotional response to the way the guys prepare and practice to not have the end result go their way. 
• Tanoh Kpassagnon - 24 (33%)
• Zack Baun - 15 (21%)
• Lonnie Johnson - 13 (18%)
  Johnson once again got the nod over rookie Jordan Howden.
• Isaac Yiadom - 9 (12%)
  Yiadom should go back to being a starter with Lattimore set to miss some time.
• Kyle Phillips - 5 (7%)

Special Teams (Top Reps)

A loss overshadows some of the good things that happened during the game, mainly Blake Grupe having a bounce back game of sorts hitting a 48-yard field goal early. I understand some have also complained heavily about the unorthodox style of Lou Hedley's punting, and sometimes it works but when it doesn't it surely looks bad. Essentially, if you get a 45-yard kick with no return vs. a 55-yard kick with a 10-yard return, the net is the same.

• J.T. Gray, D'Marco Jackson, Ty Summers, Zack Baun - 28
• Lonnie Johnson, Isaac Yiadom - 25
• Nephi Sewell - 22