49ers vs. Saints: Full Roster Report Card Grades for New Orleans
The now 8-2 New Orleans Saints survived a 23-20 scare at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers (6-4). After numerous penalties and mental mistakes, the Saints were able to get the game-winning field goal in the waning moments.
San Francisco was bottled up for the duration of the game managing only 208 total yards of offense.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees went for 305 yards, as the ground game gobbled up 92 yards of its own. This win shows the Saints can be as physically dominant as some of the most physical teams in the league.
The Saints must clean up the self-inflicted wounds, but they have the look of a Super Bowl favorite. Up next are the 2-8 Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football.
No rest for the weary...except against Atlanta.
I kid Falcons fans—sort of.
But for now, let's enjoy this telling performance. Let's see who stood out in victory. Here are the complete roster grades for Week 11.
Players are graded on the standard scale. Higher grades are given for splash plays (TDs, INTs, sacks, etc.) and proper technique. Conversely, lower grades are given for turnovers and improper technique.
Quaterback
1 of 10
Drew Brees: B+
Drew Brees would've gotten an A if it weren't for a careless interception. It wasn't by any means an egregious mistake, it just came at an inopportune time (as if there is ever an opportune time).
Going 30-of-43 for 305 yards (two touchdowns) is like a Sunday stroll for Mr. Brees. Hitting 11 different receivers is the stuff of legends. Involving everyone in the action makes people feel excited to come to work, as you feel you have a chance to make an impact.
Must be nice to roll out the bed and be one of the very best in your respective field. What a player!
Running Backs
2 of 10
Pierre Thomas: A
Pierre Thomas is just so darn underrated. Lost in Mark Ingram's breakout performance against the Dallas Cowboys (14 carries for 145 yards) was the fact that Thomas gained 87 yards of his own. Thomas followed that up with another 49 yards (11 attempts) on the ground and 35 yards (five catches) through the air against San Francisco.
Darren Sproles caught four passes for 19 yards and also contributed 16 yards on three carries. His early injury looked as though it would end his day, but Sproles is as tough as they come. He didn't have his normal outing, but his presence was certainly felt.
Mark Ingram: B
Mark Ingram followed up his Dallas performance with a solid 25 yards on six carries. His 15-yard run had most convinced he was going to dominate the 49ers. But, in typical Saints fashion, Ingram was never really allowed to develop a rhythm. He will be a factor going forward.
Overall Grade: B
Wide Receivers
3 of 10
Marques Colston: A
Marques Colston is coming on at just the right time. He's like money, whenever you receive some, it's on time! His five-catch, 80-yard performance was very reminiscent of most of his career. The rumors of his demise may have been a bit premature.
Kenny Stills: D
Put that anointing oil back in the drawer. Stills had a quiet game (one catch for 11 yards) a week after torching the Cowboys for 75 yards. This is to be expected as rookies rarely string together big games. Stills is the future of the team.
Robert Meachem: A
Robert Meachem's back! Two catches for 78 yards is the explosiveness one would expect from Meachem. Speed kills and Robert still has plenty of it.
Lance Moore: C
Lance Moore had a tough day. His muffed punt allowed the 49ers access to ideal field position. A dropped pass was due to a concentration lapse, something that Moore has been prone to this season. But Moore had some key catches in the intermediate game. He will be better.
Overall Grade: B
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Tight Ends
4 of 10
Jimmy Graham: B-
Graham is a beast, but he has to stop alligator-arming passes deep downfield. You know the NFL is physical when a guy as tough as Graham periodically has moments that would be considered cowardice. Graham finished with six catches for 41 yards.
Josh Hill: C+
Hill got the party started with his three-yard touchdown catch. Then he subsequently disappeared...anyone with information on his whereabouts please contact Bleacher Report.
Overall Grade: B
Offensive Line
5 of 10
Pass Protection: A
Brees was sacked twice but only one counted. The offensive line finally almost cost the Saints a game when 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks sacked Brees, causing a fumble that was recovered by San Francisco late in the game.
Fortunately, for New Orleans, Brooks was called for a personal foul on the hit. The Saints retained possession, and Garrett Hartley later kicked a game-tying field goal.
For most of the game Brees operated from a clean pocket as the line is improving on a weekly basis. Think about it, 49ers' pass-rush extraordinaire Aldon Smith barely even charted.
Run Blocking: A
The line was absolutely mauling people at certain points. We all suspected that the Saints could get physical, but after these past two weeks we no longer have to speculate. Generating 91 yards against the 49ers is more special than you think.
Schematically speaking, the Saints could've called a few more run plays, but overall the balance was virtually perfect.
Overall Grade: A
Defensive Line
6 of 10
Cameron Jordan: A+
Cam Jordan is evolving into the player we all hoped he would be. He has the ability to take over a game and seems to add new moves to his arsenal weekly. Jordan finished with two tackles, one sack, three QB hits and two pass deflections.
Akiem Hicks: A+
Akiem Hicks is the truth! It's rare for interior linemen to pile up tackles and Hicks does so—on a bi-monthly basis—with ease. When Hicks eventually strings together dominating performances, he and Jordan will be the new Batman and Robin. Hicks finished with seven tackles, one sack and one QB hit.
Junior Galette: B+
That's right, it's time to move Galette to a down-lineman position to reflect how much time the defense spends in an even-front alignment. "Baby Dwight Freeney" was his normal disruptive self (two tackles, one sack and one QB hit). Can anyone bend corners like this guy?
His dexterity is amazing for a man his size.
Overall Grade: A
Linebackers
7 of 10
Curtis Lofton: B+
Lofton needed to make his presence felt in this game and he most certainly did. His ability to diagnose and react is uncanny. With the Saints defense running more exotic looks, the degree of difficulty is heightened for Lofton—which isn't anything he can't handle.
Lofton finished with six tackles (one for a loss).
David Hawthorne: A
Great to see Hawthorne back to form from his toe injury. It's as if Hawthorne and Lofton are battling to see who can get to the runner the fastest. There's a definitive difference in the defense's production and proficiency when Hawthorne is on the field.
Hawthorne had eight tackles (one for a loss).
Ramon Humber: B
Ramon Humber showed he was a viable option, getting most of the playing time for an injured Hawthorne the previous game. With the 4-3-based scheme being the alignment of choice, Humber was afforded the opportunity to play most of the game.
Humber finished with five tackles.
Overall Grade: A
Corners
8 of 10
Keenan Lewis: B
Lewis was a mixed bag against San Francisco. His pass deflection, coming in zone coverage, was amazing. He was originally trailing tight end Vernon Davis—who was running a deep corner route—but peeled back to deflect a pass to receiver Anquan Boldin in the intermediate part of the field.
These are the type of plays that jump off the film. Lewis was also charged with shadowing one of the craftier receivers (Boldin) in the league, and for the most part erased him from the stats sheet. But on one particular series, Boldin had him spinning like a ceiling fan.
Boldin converted three first downs and let Lewis know about each one of them. To his credit, Lewis returned the verbal warfare, showing that it's a new day for the Saints secondary.
Lewis was also the beneficiary of receiver Jon Baldwin's stonemason-like hands as he was beaten for a TD that was ruled incomplete—when Baldwin didn't complete the process of the catch as he went to the ground. This was a tough play as Lewis was in off-man coverage to the "field" part of the formation.
The blame should be placed on the coaches for that one. Lewis is the truth in his press technique and is very adept in zone or off coverage. He's a solid player with a fiery disposition...but so is this writer.
So the grading process won't change for defensive backs as they are graded on a certain curve. So if you don't have a check for me, don't go around checking for me. I'll talk to you when I walk to you.
Lewis finished with three tackles and that aforementioned pass deflection.
Jabari Greer: INC
Jabari Greer suffered a gruesome looking injury against the 49ers. Here's to a rapid return for the veteran.
Corey White: A+ and an F-
White is the most talented corner on the team. His size, speed and instincts will put him in the Pro Bowl eventually, but his propensity for boneheaded mistakes needs to be eradicated before he can truly achieve such lofty expectations placed on him before the season (on ESPN radio in Mississippi by yours truly).
His potential pick-six would've been game-changing, but the turnover he produced off of it was mind-blowing! But that's what you're going to get from White at this stage of his career. He's as raw as they come, but as talented as you could hope for. It's like a gift and a curse.
White will eventually get it together and form a dynamic duo with Lewis. He finished with two tackles, one interception and one pass deflection.
Overall Grade: A
Safeties
9 of 10
Malcolm Jenkins: B-
Glad to see Jenkins return from his knee injury, he may need to knock the rust off, though. Getting Jenkins back is the equivalent of receiving three different players due to his versatility. Jenkins had two tackles and a pass deflection.
Although it must be noted that Jenkins gave up a TD to 49ers tight end Vernon Davis on what looked like a busted coverage.
One thing's for sure, Jenkins is no longer considered a bust.
Kenny Vaccaro: INC
Kenny Vaccaro didn't play due to a concussion suffered in the previous game.
Roman Harper: B-
Veteran Roman Harper finally returned from a knee injury of his own. He too needs to knock off the rust and expect him to do just that. The secondary was once considered the Achilles' heel of the team, it should now be referred to as the strength of the squad.
Overall Grade: B-
Special Teams
10 of 10
Kicker Garrett Hartley was the star of the show. When your kicks tie and win the game, you deserve an A+. This was special considering the Saints brought in some kicking competition for Hartley, as he's struggled for most of the season with consistency,
Kick returner Travaris Cadet just makes plays. I'm starting to wonder if he could be an even greater asset if used on offense. He has the same ability of former Atlanta Falcons' running back Jerious Norwood—who also had speed to burn.
Cadet's 82-yard kick return was one of the most exciting plays of the game. Coach Sean Payton needs to reward this guy for his hard work.
Overall Grade: A+
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