A new Pewter Report Roundtable debuts every Tuesday on PewterReport.com. Every week, Pewter reporters tackle a different tough question. This week’s prompt: Which Saints player should the Bucs be most concerned about?
Scott Reynolds: “Karl Granderson is Saints’ best pass rusher”
Saints DE Carl Granderon and Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo courtesy of USA Today
There was a time when Cam Jordan was the most feared pass rusher in New Orleans. The eight-time Pro Bowler was a strong player with double-digit sacks in five seasons. But he recorded just two sacks in 17 games last year, and at 35 years old, he’s not the player he once was. carl granderson The sixth-year pass-rushing defensive end has been the Saints’ top footballer with three sacks along the defensive line. He recorded a career-high 8.5 sacks last year and will lead the team in 2023.
I like Granderson, a Wyoming native who has followed a similar path to former Saints designated pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. He had 20 career sacks (including 13.5 in 2020) in his four years in New Orleans. Granderson is active and athletic. Although he is 6-foot-5 and weighs 261 pounds, he is not the super-fast athlete Hendrickson is. He’s more of a power rusher, but the 27-year-old has more speed than Jordan currently has.
And Granderson, who had seven tackles against the Chiefs on Monday Night Football, has more production than high-profile defensive end Chase Young, who signed with New Orleans in free agency. Young, who was drafted No. 2 overall by Washington in 2020, has just 1.5 sacks through the first five games of the year. The Saints plan to use Granderson in rotation with Young and Jordan on both sides of the line of scrimmage, and if Goedeke is not cleared, New Orleans will use Granderson with either right tackle Luke Goedeke or reserve Justin Scurll. will try to match up. week. When Baker Mayfield is under pressure, he doesn’t play well. The Bucks need to keep Granderson in check.
Matt Matera: Rashid Shahid is a legitimate deep threat
Third-year wide receiver Rashid Shahid has truly developed into a weapon for the Saints this season. The Bucks will have their hands full keeping him from making big plays. So far this year, Shahid has caught touchdown passes from distances of 59, 70 and 43 yards, which also happened in New Orleans’ most recent game on Monday Night Football.
Saints WR Rashid Shahid, Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Shahid can always change a drive, or even the outcome of a game, with one play. His speed is very threatening, which is also why he made the Pro Bowl last season as a returner. This year, he has stepped up his role as a receiver, giving the Saints even more ways to attack opponents. The Bucs, especially Todd Bowles, don’t like to concede big plays. They would rather cover everything deep, let the quarterback throw short passes downfield, and let the defensive players rally to the football.
The problem for the Bucs is that their tackles haven’t been doing a good job this season. It also remains unclear what safeguards will be available if Shahid is kept in front of his troops. Jordan Whitehead left last Thursday’s game with a groin injury, and Antoine Winfield Jr. has been sidelined since Week 1. If each of them is out, or Winfield is the only one out again, Bowles could be overcommitted to not allowing deep balls. Christian Isien and potentially Kaveon Merriweather will be back there with responsibility.
This opens the door for New Orleans to tear through the Bucs’ zone-heavy defense, much like Kirk Cousins did for over 500 yards last game. Tampa Bay can’t afford to repeat itself. Shahid could cause some problems for the Bucks defense.
Bailey Adams: “Tyrann Mathieu is still playing”
Bucks TE Cade Otton and Saints S Tyrann Mathieu – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Even at age 32, Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu remains a concern. He got off to a great start in 2024, starting with forcing and recovering a fumble in Week 1 and picking off passes in Weeks 2 and 3. In other words, even in his 12th year, the three-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro still carries the Honey Badger nickname he earned at LSU.
According to PFF’s scoring system, Matthew has achieved good results so far with an overall grade of 80.2 and a coverage grade of 78.8. The Saints’ defense has started the season well, but Mathieu will have his worst game of the season on Monday night in Kansas City. He only allowed a catch on one of his two targets, but it went for 50 yards.
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield needs to know where Matthew is at all times because he’s always lurking and trying to make game-changing plays. Tampa Bay’s offense is at its best when it’s making the most of its possessions and avoiding turnovers. If Mathieu makes a big play Sunday, it could swing the game in the wrong direction.
Josh Quaipo: Alonte Taylor quietly became a man
Saints CB Alonte Taylor Photo Credit: USA Today
Entering this season, we weren’t even sure if nickelback Alonte Taylor would be a starter. His first two seasons were a little lackluster, and the Saints just traded a second-round pick for cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. With Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adeboh both established as outside starters, it made sense that Taylor would be the outlier.
Not only has that not been the case, but Taylor has quietly had a very good start to the season. Entering the Saints’ Week 5 Monday Night Football game against Kansas City, Taylor allowed about 40 yards per game in coverage and forced three incompletions. Against the Chiefs, the physical cornerback had five tackles and forced a fumble.
In an era where the slot corner position is evolving beyond just coverage, Taylor is proving he can do it all. He leads the Saints in sacks with 3.5 as he has become a plus blitzer in a more blitz-like scheme than before. He is proving that he can also contribute in run defense. Taylor will primarily be competing against Bucs receiver Chris Godwin, the driving force behind Tampa Bay’s offense. The Bucks will need to be mindful of Taylor’s improvement in his game and come up with a plan to not only attack him, but to hold him accountable.
Adam Slivon: Bucks need to prepare for acquisition of Alvin Kamara
Saints RB Alvin Kamara and Bucks FS Antwan Winfield Jr. – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Yes, Alvin Kamara is currently 29 years old, the age at which most running backs begin their descent into obscurity. But Kamara turned back the clock in a big way this season. Through five games, he had 388 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on 91 carries, as well as 214 receiving yards and one touchdown on 23 receptions. His total touches lead the league with 114, and Saints offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak has made Kamara a central part of his offensive game plan.
Many of his numbers this season are his best since the 2020 Pro Bowl season, including a career-high 77.6 rushing yards per game. Now coming off a three-game losing streak, there could be another point where Kamara gets the football. They paid dividends with two big wins early in the season, including a 44-19 win over the Cowboys thanks to the veteran’s all-out pitching. Four running backs found the end zone.
No doubt New Orleans will try to get him involved Sunday afternoon. The Bucks had his jersey number throughout his career.they still need to find a way to suppress him. Last season, he didn’t have much success with Tampa Bay, totaling just 21 carries, 96 yards rushing, 15 receptions, and 37 yards receiving in two games. However, after a disastrous defensive performance against the Falcons, the Bucks’ defense appears more likely to abandon chunk plays in battle. personnel issues.
Even though New Orleans lost to the Chiefs last night, they still average 28 points per game, fourth-highest in the NFL. Much of that is due to Alvin Kamara, and the big concern and emphasis will be on planning how to prevent him from taking over Sunday’s game.
