Saints Young LB Under Fire; Called New Orleans' 'Worst Starter'
The New Orleans Saints don't have a lot to be happy about this season. They've experienced some pretty embarrassing losses already, but head coach Kellen Moore recently secured his first career win over the New York Giants in Week 5.
Heading into a Week 6 matchup with the New England Patriots, Moore and the team are looking to build up some momentum. A home game with the Patriots is a winnable matchup for Spencer Rattler and the Saints, but they'll need the defense to play its best game yet
The defense hasn't been good this season and there are a few weak links along the starting lineup. Missing Chase Young in all five games so far hasn't helped, but there are other weak links in the lineup.
Sportsnaut's Matt Johnson recently listed linebacker Pete Werner as the Saints' worst starter. New Orleans needs to replace Werner before it's too late.
Saints need to replace Pete Werner with Danny Stutsman
"There are plenty of issues that need to be addressed on the New Orleans Saints defense, with linebacker Pete Werner shaping up to join the growing list of misses by general manager Mickey Loomis," Johnson wrote. "A second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Werner has one of the highest missed tackle rates (13.5 percent) among qualified linebackers, and he’s one of the league’s worst in coverage (12.2 yards per reception and a 100.4 QB rating allowed on 11 receptions)."
When the Saints drafted Werner in the second round a few years ago, they thought they were getting a solid linebacker who rarely made mistakes, like the player he was at Ohio State. But Werner has been far from it. He misses a lot of tackles, which was supposed to be his strong suit, while also being a liability in coverage.
At this point in the year, the Saints need to consider giving rookie linebacker Danny Stutsman more of an opportunity. Stutsman has been solid in training camp, the preseason, and his limited time on the field this year. He's a hard-nosed linebacker with the ability to make a tackle. He might not be the best cover guy in the league, but there's a chance he's better than Werner. It's time for New Orleans to make the change.
Mark Madden: Penguins mix old, new in sharing-the-torch season opener
Some strange things happened Tuesday night when the Penguins opened their season at Madison Square Garden with a 3-0 win against the New York Rangers.
For example, Erik Karlsson played a responsible, mistake-free game. (Except for one gratuitous turnover.) That’s been a rarity during his Penguins tenure, now entering its third campaign.
That performance will likely be the exception to the rule. But something happens to veterans when a lot of kids invade the dressing room.
Kids can bring out a teacher instinct in veterans. A right-way vibe.
New coach Dan Muse knows that. He put out a signpost when he didn’t merely start his first line and top defense pair.
He mixed and matched. It was part old firm, part new guys.
It was Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang along with Harrison Brunicke, 19, and Ben Kindel, 18.
That said something: We’re not passing the torch, we’re sharing it.
Starting Arturs Silovs in goal instead of Tristan Jarry said something, too. Muse seems to be trying to wipe away what’s stale as quickly as he can.
It didn’t hurt that Silovs pitched a shutout, though the Penguins’ defensive effort made certain he was rarely under siege on the way to 25 saves.
Will Silovs start again Thursday in the home opener vs. the New York Islanders? That, too, would make a statement.
It’s good that the Penguins won, even though the priority remains getting a top-five pick in next year’s draft, not squeaking into a one-and-done playoff appearance.
You don’t want the season’s buzz to disappear right away.
You don’t want poor home attendance right off the bat. (I’m curious about the size of Thursday’s crowd at PPG Paints Arena.)
You don’t want the team’s newfound youthful energy to be suppressed. If the Penguins are even near .500 through October and November, that energy should sustain itself all season.
Karlsson’s performance at New York was interesting.
Malkin getting two assists playing between two 6-foot-5 wingers was a different look. Maybe that’s the way to go as age slows Malkin, 39. Malkin twisting forward with the puck through an offensive-zone faceoff to set up Justin Brazeau’s winning goal was beautiful.
Kindel played an amazingly solid game.
Brunicke wasn’t great initially but played a strong second and third period.
The Penguins minimized mistakes. Badger Bob Johnson used to preach the value of fundamentals, and those were on display at New York.
These Penguins have lots of subplots and sidebars.
Let’s not leave Crosby out of the discussion.
Crosby had zero points. But over 200 feet, he was the best player on the ice. He was a buzzsaw down low and in the dirty areas. He was visibly and extremely happy after. Crosby just wants to win.
Those opportunities won’t be as frequent as he likes. It’s good to see the captain savor the flavor.
