PFF Grades And Statistical Deep Dive Into The Saints Win Over The Titans

Jamie UK • September 11, 2023

PFF Grades And Statistical Deep Dive Into The Saints Win Over The Titans


It's finally time to be open with you all, I absolutely love stats. It might seem a bit nerdy and I don't think for some second stats tell the how story, like with many things in life proper context is needed to give the full story. For me, one of the best places to get stats is PFF. Whether you like the grades or not (I'm not personally always a big fan) their charting of pressures, and CB/WR matchups are really informative and help breakdown a particular game in a very easy but detailed way.


So I dived PFF premium to see what mattered and what in my opinion didn't.



Top & Bottom 5 PFF Grades- Offense


Rashid Shaheed- 81.6

Chris Olave- 81.2

Ryan Ramczyk- 74.8

James Hurst- 68.7

Derek Carr- 68.7


No massive surprises here Shaheed and Olave were excellent the only surprise for them was that their grades were not higher. Shaheed’s negative plays came on special teams which does not affect his offensive grade. The big surprise here for me is Hurst, he looked to really struggle. It seems the first look on the broadcast that I just lumped him in with Penning's struggles, still his grade isn't good I just thought it would be worse.


Cesar Ruiz- 32.2

Jamaal Williams- 46.3

Keith Kirkwood- 47.8

Taysom Hill- 49.4

Foster Moreau- 51.5


Ruiz surprised me here I thought he and Ramczyk were lone bright spots on the line (his pressure numbers would back that up too) more on those in a moment. Williams’ grade also seems harsh considering he was hit behind the line a ton. His grade would imply that PFF feels there were missed opportunities, I certainly didn't see many open holes for Williams. The fact he fumbled (regardless of if he lost that fumble) wouldn't have helped his grade.



Top & Bottom 5 PFF Grades- Defense 

Demario Davis- 90.7

Isaac Yiadom- 88.9

Ugo Amadi- 88.3

Marshon Lattimore- 81.5

Pete Werner- 75.1


Davis was a madman all game, especially in the run game so I'm not shocked he graded out this high. Yiadom and Amadi benefitted from only playing a small amount of defensive snaps ( 3 each). Despite playing few snaps, they were both making plays on the ball, this usually helps to grade highly. Lattimore’s grade should be up there with Davis, PFF has Lattimore charted as missing 3 tackles, which gives him a low tackling grade and is likely the reason for his low run defense grade which looks to have dinged his overall score. For me, those things really don't matter when you play that well in coverage.


Alontae Taylor- 37.1

Nathan Shepherd- 42.2

Bryan Bresee- 47.8

Paulson Adebo- 53.3

Zack Baun- 53.9


Surprised by Bresee and Adebo Here both looked good and Adebo had the pick. Taylor’s grade doesn't surprise me. Not because I thought he was bad, but because I thought he was solid, especially in run support. He just did a lot of stuff that PFF grades don't like such as giving up 7 catches (on 9 targets) and they had him missing a tackle.


Pressure Report


Defense

Overall PFF charted the Saints defense as having 23 pressures (5 sacks, 5 hits and 13 pressures) PFF charts this a little differently to other sites as they don't give half sacks. The top 5 pressure players :


Carl Granderson- 5 total pressures ( 2 sacks, 2 hits and 1 hurry)

Tanoh Kpassagnon- 5 total pressures ( 2 hits and 3 hurries) 

Cam Jordan- 5 total pressures ( 1 sack and 4 hurries)

Bryan Bresee- 3 total pressures ( 1 sack, 1 hit and 1 hurry)

Demario Davis- 2 total pressures ( 2 hurries)


Encouraging to see Cam get off to a faster start than a year ago. Tanoh looked really good especially when they moved to 3 down linemen with him lined up at DT and Granderson absolutely abused Andre Dillard. I actually thought Granderson got more pressures than this, that's how dominant he looked yesterday.


Offense


Overall PFF charted the Saints starting offensive line as giving up 15 total pressures ( 4 sacks, 3 hits and 8 hurries). Honestly it looked worse than this live. Here’s how those pressures were split up:


Trevor Penning- 6 total pressures (2 sacks, 1 hit and 3 hurries)

Erik McCoy- 4 total pressures (1 sack, 1 hit and 2 hurries)

James Hurst- 2 total pressures ( 1 sack and 1 hurry)

Cesar Ruiz- 2 total pressures ( 2 hurries)

Ryan Ramczyk- 1 total pressure (1 hurry)


I certainly thought watching the game live that the offensive line issues were from the left side. I was partly wrong there as Hurst actually graded out pretty well and where I thought the pressure was coming from Hurst it appears it could have been actually coming from McCoy who had an uncharacteristically ropey showing. As for Penning he was poor we all know that honestly, I thought he might have given up more pressure than the 6 PFF gave him.



Best Of The Rest 


Some other stats that jumped out at me:


Marshon Lattimore’s coverage stats were insane: 

  • 90.2 coverage grade
  • Only 2 catches allowed for 24 yards on 6 targets (33% completion percentage) 
  • 3 PBUs and 1 interception
  • 6.9 passer rating allowed in his coverage 
  • The interception and 1 of the PBU’s were in coverage vs. Hopkins ( the two catches he allowed were also to Hopkins)


If Lattimore plays like this the rest of the way there won't be any top 5 CB rankings in the off-season leaving him off the list.


Derek Carr was only blitzed on 10.5% of plays but was under pressure on 44.7% of his passing plays. That is insane and shows how dominant the Titans front 4 was. 


Carr was helped when the Saints started to use more quick game, on passes 0-9 yards, he went 12 of 13 for 117 yards good for a 104.2 passer rating.


Zack Baun earned an elite 91.2 special teams grade, the Saints special teams unit overall earned a 90.6 grade which was tied for 1st in the NFL with the Cowboys. I would assume Baun's blocked punt helped his and the Saints score.


Make sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @SaintsReportUK, for much more Saints content and discussion throughout the 2023 season and beyond.


A quick share helps us a lot!

This Facebook widget is no longer supported.

Why Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton RoyalWhy Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton Royal

By Auston Taylor • July 8, 2026
 LSU has made it clear that five-star wide receiver Easton Royal remains one of its top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class. Although Royal is currently committed to Texas, LSU has continued to recruit him aggressively. Based on recent recruiting events and public reporting, one factor that could strengthen the Tigers' position is the presence of quarterback commit Peyton "Pop" Houston. While no outcome is guaranteed in recruiting, Houston's relationship with Royal has become one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding LSU's 2027 class. According to recruiting coverage from The Opening and reports from And The Valley Shook, Houston and Royal showcased noticeable chemistry while competing together on the national stage. Houston also drew attention by winning the event's longest throw competition with a reported 67-yard throw, further reinforcing why many evaluators consider him one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. In my view, Houston has the potential to become much more than another highly rated offensive commitment. Elite quarterbacks often become magnets for other top recruits, and early signs suggest Houston could have that kind of influence on LSU's 2027 recruiting class. Why Houston Matters in Royal's Recruitment Quarterback and wide receiver relationships have become one of the most influential factors in modern recruiting. Elite receivers aren't simply choosing a school—they're choosing an offense, a coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, the quarterback who will help maximize their abilities. If Royal ultimately views Houston as LSU's quarterback of the future, it gives the Tigers another compelling selling point. Rather than asking Royal to imagine what the offense could become, LSU can point to chemistry that has already been displayed during national recruiting events. That doesn't guarantee a commitment flip, but it does provide LSU with something tangible that few recruiting pitches can offer: an established connection between two elite prospects. LSU's History Shows Why This Matters LSU's greatest offensive seasons have consistently featured elite quarterbacks throwing to elite receivers. During the Tigers' historic 2019 National Championship season, Joe Burrow captured the Heisman Trophy while throwing to arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. That offense rewrote NCAA record books and remains the standard for modern college football offenses. A few years later, history repeated itself. Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy while benefiting from one of the nation's most explosive receiving duos in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels' remarkable development was certainly his own, but LSU's elite receiving talent allowed the offense to reach another level. The lesson is clear: great quarterbacks elevate receivers, but elite receivers also help quarterbacks reach championship-level production. That history gives LSU a compelling message for recruits considering Baton Rouge. Peyton "Pop" Houston's Development Houston's rise as one of Louisiana's premier quarterback prospects is backed by more than recruiting rankings. Evaluators consistently praise his arm strength, touch, ability to extend plays outside the pocket, and willingness to attack defenses vertically. His continued development at Evangel Christian Academy has made him one of the foundation pieces of LSU's 2027 recruiting class. The Bigger Picture If LSU eventually pairs Peyton Houston with Easton Royal, it would represent much more than another recruiting victory. It would signal that LSU landed a quarterback capable of attracting elite talent around him while adding a receiver willing to build alongside that vision. Programs that consistently compete for championships often see recruiting momentum build this way. Elite quarterbacks attract receivers. Elite receivers attract additional offensive talent. Once that cycle begins, recruiting classes can quickly become special. None of this guarantees that Easton Royal will flip his commitment. Texas remains in a strong position, and recruiting decisions can change for countless reasons. However, Houston's emergence gives LSU something every elite program hopes to have: a quarterback capable of becoming the centerpiece of an entire recruiting class. LSU has already witnessed what happens when championship-caliber quarterbacks are paired with elite receivers. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. If Peyton "Pop" Houston eventually helps bring Easton Royal to Baton Rouge, it could become one of the defining recruiting stories of LSU's 2027 class—and perhaps the first step toward building another explosive Tiger offense.

Tight End Room Outlook: Revamped and Ready To Roll

By Kaden Arkeder • July 4, 2026
The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.
Show More