Diving into the Saints receiver room

The Saints receiver room continues to be the weak point of the team. Their lack of experience and consistent production holds back an already lackluster offense. However, the receivers played at an NFL level during Sunday’s game vs the Titans. It wasn’t anything crazy but they were making plays and doing what you would expect from an NFL receiver.

Tre’Quan Smith and Deonte Harris were making some nice plays along with Marquez Callaway in the end, but was it the scheme or are they genuinely getting better? Here’s what I learned after some film and diving into some stats.

A big part as to why the receivers had a decent game was due to the Titans defensive scheme. They ran a lot of zones allowing the receivers to find a soft spot and open space.

When the Titans played man, which typically was on third down, it was more difficult for them to be available for Siemian.

Tre’Quan Smith and Deonte Harris did a good job of getting separation off the line with a good release along with the play call helping them out. Even Kevin White was able to get some separation but couldn’t bring the ball in. Marquez Callaway continued to struggle in man coverage just due to the fact that he has almost no experience, but he dominates vs zone coverage and does a good job of finding the open zone/soft spot in coverage.

To give you guys an idea of how they performed vs each coverage, here is some film.

WR’s vs Man

3rd down here, basically a four vertical play and Siemian throws the matchup he likes. No separation initiated, nobody really got “open” or created a throwing lane and not a chance anyone was catching that pass on this play.

Another third down here, no initial open guy although Stills at the bottom of the screen possibly had some space. Tre’Quan whose in the slot has a chance but the throw and route are just a few inches apart from a catch.

Once again it’s third down, but watch the bottom of the screen in Deonte Harris. With the Titans blitzing there’s only one safety, Deonte takes an outside release after a stutter and guns it back inside to turn the corners hips and creates a big play against man coverage.

Tre’Quan does a good job here faking the block and bursting the out route and getting Janoris Jenkins hips out of sync and scores.

Kevin White who is the nearest WR to the right tackle, gets a fast release and does a good job getting downfield. Splits the defenders and cuts away from the defender but couldn’t pull in the catch.

The Titans play off man coverage here, the Saints run hitch routes to get an easy 8 yards, Juwan Johnson though can’t com up with the catch.

Here we see Tre’Quan Smith get the only initial release and gets separation against his defender. Everyone else doesn’t really get space, Smith runs the crossing route and gets a nice 20 yard gain.

Nice playcall here by Sean Payton and play design. Single high safety allows Ingram to run the wheel route and get into open space. Taysom Hill as well on the post route creates some separation and beats his guy over the top.

In this case once again Tre’Quan Smith gets the only initial good release and separation and finds space over the middle. Harris kind of slips but works for his advantage and allows him to pick up the first down.

The play design here gets Callaway open. The run route from Taysom allows separation for Callaway and scores a late fourth quarter touchdown.

WR’s vs Zone

The Titans play a off zone coverage and allow the Saints to get an easy 8-10 yards. Easy yardage for the offense.

The zone coverage leaves the flats open and the crossing route picks up an easy 5-7 yards.

The shallow passes are once again open and the Saints get a some yards. Titans played back and let it happen in front of them.

The play design here gets Deonte the ball. The Titans run cover two and when Ingram goes to the flats the corner plays more shallow allowing Deonte to get into the soft spot in the coverage.

Miscommunication here, but Trautman and Siemian still have to connect. The ball is in his facility, and gets a hand in it. The zone coverage basically gives Trautman all the space possible for a first down, but it’s incomplete.

The two receiver routes downfield take away the secondary, leaving the linebackers to cover nothing. Hill does a check and release and gets wide open for a first down.

Titans run some cover two form and Tre’Quan gets wide open over the middle. Siemian decides to throw to Kevin White, who does have space but the pass is under thrown and then dropped.

Four vertical routes and Juwan gets behind the backers and in front of the safeties. Nice play by Siemian to keep Juwan in place rather than leading him.

Janoris jumps the out route by Deonte in a cover two look and Callaway gets open behind the defenders for the first down.

Overall, the scheme in zone coverage has been what’s getting the receivers open and into space to make plays. While in man coverage the Saints tend to struggle aside from Deonte and Smith, even then they don’t always become available.

In recent weeks we’ve seen Tre’Quan Smith start to stand out in the passing game and I would expect him to have an expanded role this week vs the Eagles, with more targets. He did a good job vs the Titans and Falcons to get separation with a good release.

According to NextGenStats tight end Adam Trautman led the league in average yards of separation with 6.9, the next guy is at 4.5 and that is Cooper Kupp. A little bit down on the list is Tre’Quan Smith who averaged two yards of separation. None of the other receivers were listed as they weren’t targeted 5 or more times.

Based off the film and how things have been trending this week I would expect an expanded role in Tre’Quan Smith. He’s looked solid and if continues to stay on the field and be a good solid option maybe he can take some pressure off the other receivers. Harris, if he isn’t suspended, probably stays in his role moving forward, a deep threat guy with some short screens or man beater routes.

On the other hand if things continue to trend downwards for guys like Kevin White and Adam Trautman the ending result may not be too good for them. I would think that if Kevin White has another bad game and doesn’t initially get going then he’s out. The Saints have guys to replace him on the practice squad in Easop Winston and Kawaan Baker. The Saints also worked out some receivers who can fill in on his special teams role. Same thing with Trautman, Payton kind of called him out in his post game press conference and basically said guys will be benched if the self inflicted mistakes continue, guys like Adam Trautman. Nick Vannett would likely fill in for him.

One more thing to note, wide receiver and special teams ace Ty Montgomery is currently injured. I wouldn’t be surprised is he is placed on injured reserve, and if he is we possibly see Baker or Winston this Sunday off the practice squad and in uniform.

Eagles Coverage

The Eagles secondary consists of Darius Slay as the right side corner, Avante Maddox and Anthony Harris at the Nickel position with Steven Nelson playing the left side corner.

The past few weeks the Eagles have played heavy man and cover two.

This man coverage held a receiver corps with Tim Patrick, Courtland Sutton, and Jerry Juedy to 11 receptions on 18 targets for 91 yards. They did a good job of not allowing Teddy Bridgewater to throw their direction and they will try to play the Saints in similar fashion this week.

With Callaway and Smith both at 6’2 and Avonte Maddox at 5’9, I would like to think Sean schemes up a mismatch play near the red zone or to set up a big play. Possibly some dig routes on third and medium to get some physicality over the middle.

For this game I would expect the Saints receivers to have a similar game as they did vs the Titans. Good enough to either keep it close or to win the game with some flashes of skill.

Written By Kadin Janisch

If you need to contact me email me at whodattnation@gmail.com and I’ll try to get back to you.

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