STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
NFL Team Report - New Orleans Saints</h2><br>PLAYER NOTES<p></p> --WR Brandon Marshall was released without ever being active for a game during his month-long stay with the Saints. New Orleans signed Dez Bryant on Nov. 7, but he never played after tearing his Achilles in his second practice. Marshall was signed Nov. 12 to replace Bryant. The release of Marshall is an indication that Ted Ginn Jr., who has been on injured reserve since Oct. 18 because of a knee injury, is getting close to returning. TE Erik Swoope was signed to fill the opening created by Marshall's release, but the NFL Network reported that Swoope, who was listed on the Thursday participation report as not having practiced because of a knee injury, was released. The Saints did not announce the release, but head coach Sean Payton said, "He's going through a physical process." Payton did say it was possible Marshall might be re-signed.<p></p> --T Terron Armstead, who has missed the last five games because of a pectoral injury, practiced on a limited basis Thursday as he did last week.<p></p> --T Ryan Ramczyk (shoulder) was limited Thursday.<p></p> --G Andrus Peat (ankle/shoulder) was limited Thursday.<p></p> --S Kurt Coleman (elbow) was limited Thursday.<p></p> PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: RB Mark Ingram II will be a key to the Saints' attempt to have offensive balance against a Panthers defense that allows the seventh-fewest rushing yards per game. Ingram missed the first four games of the season while suspended for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing drugs and he has just two 100-yard games this season. He and Alvin Kamara split the workload roughly equally, but Ingram generally is counted on more often to get the tough yards against a physical defense such as Carolina. The rushing yards might be hard to come by, but the Saints will have to be patient with the running game if they're going to keep the Panthers off balance and Ingram will be key to their ability to do that. Ingram needs one rushing touchdown to break a tie with Deuce McAllister for first place in rushing touchdowns in Saints history.<p></p> GAME PLAN: Out-rush the Panthers. The flip side of getting Ingram (and Kamara) going on the ground is to slow down Christian McCaffrey, Cam Newton and the Panthers running game. Both teams, and their passing games, are at their best when they're able to run with some consistent success. The Panthers are second in rushing offense and the Saints are tied for ninth. The Saints are first in run defense and the Panthers are seventh. If either team has a significant edge in the running game they will have an excellent chance of winning. Whoever runs better will make things easier on their quarterback. The Saints' Drew Brees has just four interceptions, but he has had one in each of the last three games and the last two have come while the team was having trouble running the ball. Newton has 12 interceptions. If Brees has a more effective running game to work with than Newton does, then New Orleans should be in good shape.<p></p>MATCHUPS TO WATCH:<p></p> --Saints LBs vs. Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey does for the Panthers what Kamara and Ingram do for the Saints in terms of being effective in both the running game and the passing game. McCaffrey can run inside and outside, catch the ball down the field and be a dangerous safety valve, meaning all the Saints linebackers - and others - will have to have a hand in containing him.<p></p> --Saints OL vs. Panthers LB Luke Kuechly. Kuechly perennially is one of the most active defensive players in the NFL and this season is no exception. His ability to make tackles all over the field, including in the backfield, can disrupt any offense, including the Saints. Two weeks ago, Dallas rookie linebacker Leighton Vander Esch was a major factor in slowing down the Saints offense in Kuechly-like fashion. New Orleans will have to do a better job of accounting for Kuechly than it did Vander Esch.
</div>
<div class="flex gap-2">
<div class="font-bold text-gray-600">The Sports Xchange</div>
</div>
<div id="comments" class="pt-6"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="py-6 space-y-6">
<div class="space-y-4">
<h2 class="md:col-span-2 lg:col-span-3 font-bold text-xl text-gray-800">Recent Stories</h2>
<a href="/feature/testing-buffalo-bill-page" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Testing Buffalo Bill Page</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
Joe Horrigan knows the Buffalo Bills
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/feature/06e3032cec6e442ab60a7fd8ae1b3701" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Steelers positional analysis: Kenny Pickett stands alone in QB room</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
2/17/2024If the Steelers were concerned about the uncertain future at quarterback when Ben Roethlisberger retired, the outlook at the position might not be any more ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/feature/07f24b7086b24e9e83c29e8bf9cd913b" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">49ers coach Kyle Shanahan doesn’t deserve criticism since Super Bowl</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
Globe StaffUpdated February 17, 2024, 9:38 a.m.Kyle Shanahan has been on the defensive all week following the 49ers’ 25-22 overtime loss to the Chiefs in the Super ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/feature/2ae9263e12c74de88c5fb4aa552a1f3e" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">New Raiders GM expected to be aggressive in search for top QB</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
February 17, 2024 - 4:19 PMIf Tom Telesco’s past offers clues about his future, expect the Raiders’ new general manager to be aggressive in bringing in a top-level ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/features?skip=22" class="group flex items-center justify-center gap-2 bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg shadow px-3.5 py-2.5 text-gray-800 hover:text-gray-700 font-medium">
<span>Read More Stories</span>
<span class="transition-transform group-hover:translate-x-1 motion-reduce:transform-none"><i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-right"></i></span>
</a>
</div>
<div class="space-y-4">
<h2 class="md:col-span-2 lg:col-span-3 font-bold text-xl text-gray-800">Latest Player Notes</h2>
<a href="/note/65f70668f166e2567ab51b31" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
Mar 15, 2024
Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/note/65f70667f166e2567ab51b24" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
Mar 15, 2024
Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/note/65f70667f166e2567ab51b11" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
By Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/note/65f70664f166e2567ab51ad3" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/note/65f70661f166e2567ab51a86" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/note/65f70661f166e2567ab51a7d" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Ball security, leadership key as Aztecs look to identify starting quarterback</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
San Diego State seemingly auditions a new starting quarterback on an annual basis.In the past 12 years, the Aztecs have opened ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/note/65f7065ff166e2567ab51a5a" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Results and more: A look at what happened at Penn State football’s Pro Day inside Holuba Hall</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
Most of those at Penn State’s Pro Day Friday were relatively quiet throughout the afternoon’s workouts, but there was one ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/note/65f7065ef166e2567ab51a4a" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Defense dominates first two weeks of Oregon State spring practice as Beavers ready for 2-week breather</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
CORVALLIS – Oregon State hit the break of spring practices Saturday, not exactly the midpoint but a good place to assess ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/note/65f7065ef166e2567ab51a31" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Dillon Gabriel to have similar input, autonomy as Bo Nix had in Oregon’s offense</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
Published Mar. 16, 2024, 6:26 p.m.By James CrepeaEUGENE — Dillon Gabriel will have much of the same autonomy as Bo Nix did ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/note/65f7065df166e2567ab51a1d" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Two transfers, one underclassman who impressed in Missouri football's spring game</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
With that, spring camp’s a wrap.Missouri football held its Black & Gold spring game Saturday in front of a healthy crowd ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/notes?skip=20" class="group flex items-center justify-center gap-2 bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg shadow px-3.5 py-2.5 text-gray-800 hover:text-gray-700 font-medium">
<span>See More Player Notes</span>
<span class="transition-transform group-hover:translate-x-1 motion-reduce:transform-none"><i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-right"></i></span>
</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</main>
<!-- =========={ FOOTER }========== -->
<footer class="bg-gray-900" aria-labelledby="footer-heading">
<h2 id="footer-heading" class="sr-only">Footer</h2>
<div class="mx-auto max-w-7xl px-6 pb-8 pt-16 sm:pt-24 lg:px-8 lg:pt-32">
<div class="xl:grid xl:grid-cols-3 xl:gap-8">
<div class="space-y-8">
<a href="/" class="flex items-center justify-between md:justify-start gap-3">
<img src="/static/images/Pro_Football_Hall_of_Fame_logo.svg.png?v=c6d7cf3613f0e96a1fab7aab706baba8318bf3d016f59cbaef2b968d81cb8a3078e61f99dee19ca3a6a4bf476d34981c18a5b19f15ac2da0ae29d677be70ebad" alt="NFL Hall of Fame" class="w-2/12" />
<img src="/static/images/hall-logo.svg?v=7142371ad3e955e1749283170eb357dfed785130bc4b7018879d586e9bac3d40a3b7041b25e105981fd507b5f139a52b87438262733cadfa76f763ec18812523" alt="Hall of Football" class="w-6/12" />
<img src="/static/images/tsx_logo.png?v=eb566de558e45b6331e9b1ddba019c212d34ad6dddeab86829489d36e4974961a8dd4926d489b9ac8eaeeacdafce8a6f4974b5a97dd7df4694d4642b94c437ea" alt="The Sports Xchange" class="w-2/12" />
</a>
<p class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300">Hall of Football is owned and operated by The Sports Xchange (TSX), which has provided news, analysis, and research for fans and professionals since 1987.</p>
<div class="flex space-x-6">
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/sports-xchange/" target="_blank" class="text-gray-500 hover:text-gray-400 text-2xl">
<span class="sr-only">LinkedIn</span>
<i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin"></i>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="mt-16 grid grid-cols-2 gap-8 xl:col-span-2 xl:mt-0">
<div class="md:grid md:grid-cols-2 md:gap-8">
<div>
<h3 class="text-sm font-semibold leading-6 text-white flex items-center gap-2"><i class="fa-solid fa-football fa-fw"></i>Preps</h3>
<ul role="list" class="mt-6 space-y-4">
<li>
<a href="/preps" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Latest News & Notes</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/prep/ratings?ranking_id=" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Ratings</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="mt-10 md:mt-0">
<h3 class="text-sm font-semibold leading-6 text-white flex items-center gap-2"><i class="fa-solid fa-graduation-cap fa-fw"></i>NFL Draft Scout</h3>
<ul role="list" class="mt-6 space-y-4">
<li>
<a href="/features" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Latest News & Notes</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/cfb/teams" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Teams</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/player/ratings?ranking_id=" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Ratings</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="md:grid md:grid-cols-2 md:gap-8">
<div>
<h3 class="text-sm font-semibold leading-6 text-white flex items-center gap-2"><i class="fa-solid fa-shield fa-fw"></i>Pro Football</h3>
<ul role="list" class="mt-6 space-y-4">
<li>
<a href="/nfl_features" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Latest News & Notes</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/nfl/teams" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Teams</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="mt-10 md:mt-0">
<h3 class="text-sm font-semibold leading-6 text-white flex items-center gap-2"><i class="fa-solid fa-trophy fa-fw"></i>Hall of Fame</h3>
<ul role="list" class="mt-6 space-y-4">
<li>
<a href="/hofs" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Recent Hall of Fame Stories</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="mt-16 border-t border-white/10 pt-8 sm:mt-20 lg:mt-24">
<p class="text-xs leading-5 text-gray-400">©<script>document.write(new Date().getFullYear())</script> The Sports Xchange. All rights reserved.</p>
</div>
</div>
</footer>
<script src="/static/js/jquery-3.6.4.min.js?v=6913f9128895022b08339049963616cb09bbc61bd759a45c3bf7cb6662854f0c3ef16d975758468c34cd607176c011d9c62f5fcb8196cba93d0b4b265760747e"></script>
<script src="/static/js/plotly.min.js?v=a8cca95f0be13f9712eebf9dfc13afb3aa92d319a96a0ee5540833aad7ace213d48ea1a1650310a035a02064ca97e09738bc4aad659ad66e840d408c6290fcee"></script>
<script src="/static/js/flowbite.min.js?v=09453b0f96202c849a154e82a425e65c6e9d6430fb468601a1c1f0ba4c9ded2624172d29ee03f7cd71922ceb49d5b10b2672ba698060e2dee19e5d1df0393660"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="/static/js/comments.js?v=75fa06f9940025e48e822761e5ffd57823c34ebd04636803f6d08b70a146d0360b304adbdbb2cc1e1686620862c3d94512a714acb1ea55855cb9db5c5d8c4115"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
// get any comments for this feature
$(document).ready(function() {
load_comments(
'note',
'strategy-and-personnel',
''
)
})
</script>
</body>
</html>