A brand new Pewter Report Roundtable debuts each Tuesday on PewterReport.com. Every week, the Pewter Reporters sort out one other robust query. This week’s immediate: Which Saints participant ought to concern the Bucs probably the most?
Scott Reynolds: Carl Granderson Is Saints’ Finest Cross Rusher
Saints DE Carl Granderon and Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Picture by: USA Right this moment
There was a time when Cam Jordan was New Orleans’ most feared go rusher. The eight-time Professional Bowler was a strong drive who had 5 seasons with double-digit sacks. However he notched simply two sacks in 17 video games final yr, and at age 35 he’s not the participant he was. Carl Granderson, a sixth-year pass-rushing defensive finish, is the Saints’ main sacker alongside the defensive position with three sacks. He had a career-high 8.5 sacks final yr, which led the crew in 2023.
I appreciated Granderson popping out of Wyoming, and he’s adopted an identical path to that of former Saints designated go rusher Trey Hendrickson, who had 20 profession sacks in 4 years in New Orleans, together with 13.5 in 2020. Granderson is an energetic, high-motor, 6-foot-5, 261-pounder, however he’s not the ultra-quick athlete that Hendrickson is. He’s extra of an influence rusher, however at age 27, he’s received extra velocity than Jordan presently has.
And Granderson, who had seven tackles in opposition to the Chiefs on Monday Night time Soccer, has been extra productive than Chase Younger, a high-profile defensive finish who signed with New Orleans in free company. Younger, the second total choose in 2020 by Washington, has simply 1.5 sacks by the primary 5 video games of the yr. The Saints will use Granderson on both facet of the road of scrimmage, rotating with Younger and Jordan, and count on New Orleans to attempt to get him matched up on both proper sort out Luke Goedeke or reserve Justin Skule if Goedeke isn’t cleared to play this week. If Baker Mayfield will get pressured he doesn’t play effectively. The Bucs should preserve Granderson in examine.
Matt Matera: Rashid Shaheed Is A Legit Deep Menace
Third-year vast receiver Rashid Shaheed has actually developed right into a weapon for the Saints this season. The Bucs are going to have their fingers full with not permitting him to make the large play. Up to now on the yr Shaheed has caught landing passes from distances of 59 yards, 70 yards and 43 yards, which occurred in New Orleans’ newest recreation on Monday Night time Soccer.
Saints WR Rashid Shaheed, Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Picture by: USA Right this moment
At any second Shaheed can change the result of a drive, or higher but a recreation, with a single play. His velocity may be very threatening, which can be why he made the Professional Bowl final season as a returner. This yr he’s doing it extra as a receiver, giving an additional approach for the Saints to assault opponents. The Bucs, and particularly Todd Bowles, hate permitting the large play. They’d somewhat cowl every little thing deep and let a quarterback throw brief passes beneath a let defensive gamers rally to the soccer.
The issue for the Bucs is that they’ve performed a poor job tackling this season. It’s additionally not recognized but which safeties can be accessible when it pertains to retaining Shaheed in entrance of their unit. Jordan Whitehead exited final Thursday’s recreation with a groin damage and Antoine Winfield Jr. has been in out since Week 1. If every of them are lacking, and even simply Winfield is out once more, Bowles could over-commit to not permitting the deep ball with Christian Izien and doubtlessly Kaveon Merriweather again there with tasks.
This can open the door for New Orleans to slice and cube the Bucs’ zone-heavy protection the way in which Kirk Cousins did for over 500 yards final recreation. Tampa Bay can’t afford to do this once more. Shaheed may cause the Bucs protection a number of points.
Bailey Adams: Tyrann Mathieu Is Nonetheless Making Performs
Bucs TE Cade Otton and Saints S Tyrann Mathieu – Picture by: USA Right this moment
Even at age 32, Saints security Tyrann Mathieu continues to be a priority. He’s off to an excellent begin in 2024, first forcing and recovering a fumble in Week 1 earlier than choosing off passes in Weeks 2 and three. In different phrases, even in 12 months 12, the three-time Professional Bowler and three-time All-Professional continues to be residing as much as the Honey Badger moniker he earned at LSU.
Mathieu has graded out effectively thus far based on PFF’s grading system, with an 80.2 total grade and a 78.8 protection grade. The Saints protection has began the season effectively, however Mathieu is coming off his worst-graded recreation of the season Monday night time in Kansas Metropolis. He allowed only one catch out of his two targets, nevertheless it went for 50 yards.
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield must know the place Mathieu is always, as he’s all the time lurking and seeking to make a game-changing play. Tampa Bay’s offense has been at its finest when it’s maximizing its possessions and avoiding turnovers. If Mathieu makes a big-time play on Sunday, it may swing the sport within the fallacious route.
Josh Queipo: Alontae Taylor Has Quietly Turn out to be A Dude
Saints CB Alontae Taylor Picture By: USA Right this moment
Coming into this season I wasn’t positive if nickelback Alontae Taylor would even be a starter. His first two seasons had been a bit lackluster, and the Saints had simply invested a second-round choose in cornerback Kool-Assist McKinstry. With Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo each entrenched as starters on the skin, it made sense that Taylor could be the odd man out.
Not solely has that not been the case, however Taylor has quietly had himself an excellent begin to the season. Heading into the Saints’ Week 5 Monday Night time Soccer matchup in opposition to Kansas Metropolis, Taylor has allowed about 40 yards per recreation in protection and forcing three incompletions. Versus the Chiefs, the bodily cornerback had 5 tackles and compelled a fumble.
In a day and age the place the slot nook place has advanced past simply protection Taylor is proving he can do a little bit of every little thing. He leads the Saints in sacks with 3.5, as he has turn into a plus blitzer in a scheme that’s blitzing greater than up to now. He’s additionally proving he can contribute in run protection. Taylor will primarily be matched up in opposition to Bucs receiver Chris Godwin, who’s the engine that retains Tampa Bay’s offense going. The Bucs will should be aware of the enhancements in Taylor’s recreation and have a plan to each account for him in addition to assault him.
Adam Slivon: Bucs Want To Put together For An Alvin Kamara Takeover
Saints RB Alvin Kamara and Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Picture by: USA Right this moment
Sure, Alvin Kamara is now 29 years outdated, an age when most working backs start their descent into obscurity. Nevertheless, Kamara has turned again the clock in a significant approach this season. By 5 video games, he has 91 carries for 388 speeding yards and 5 speeding touchdowns and has added 23 receptions for 214 receiving yards and one other landing. His 114 whole touches lead the league, and Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has made Kamara a focus of the offensive gameplan.
Lots of his numbers this season have been the most effective since his Professional Bowl 2020 season, together with a median of a career-high 77.6 speeding yards per recreation. Coming off three straight losses, there could also be a renewed level to get Kamara the soccer, because it paid dividends in two large blowout wins to start the season, together with after they beat the Cowboys 44-19 because of the veteran do-it-all working again discovering the endzone 4 occasions.
There isn’t any doubt that New Orleans will attempt to get him concerned on Sunday afternoon, and whereas the Bucs have had his quantity all through his profession, they nonetheless want to search out methods to maintain him in examine. Final season, Tampa Bay prevented him from having a lot success, as he had simply 21 carries for 96 speeding yards and 15 receptions for 37 receiving yards throughout the 2 video games. Nevertheless, coming off a disastrous defensive efficiency in opposition to the Falcons, the Bucs’ protection seems extra inclined to giving up chunk performs whereas they battle personnel points.
Regardless of New Orleans’ loss to the Chiefs final night time, they’re nonetheless averaging 28 factors per recreation, the fourth-highest within the NFL. A lot of that has been due to Alvin Kamara, and an enormous concern and level of emphasis can be scheming up methods to forestall him from taking on Sunday’s recreation.
