Canal Street Chronicles
An offseason addition for New Orleans isn’t getting the respect he deserves due to high expectations.
The New Orleans Saints fell to the Los Angeles Chargers 26-8 on Sunday afternoon in The City of Angels. The injury reinforcements weren’t enough, as the team extended their losing streak to six consecutive games following an impressive 2-0 start.
The fan base doesn’t deserve this product, and I’m not sure how much longer we can keep “looking past the results.” Changes need to be made—specifically, a change at head coach.
Now, let’s take a look at an overreaction following the Saints’ Week 8 loss to the Chargers:
The former No. 2 overall NFL Draft pick has faced extremely high expectations throughout his football career. At 6’5”—264 pounds, the defensive end is a force to be reckoned with on the gridiron, though injuries had held him back entering year five as a pro.
When the Saints signed Young to a one-year, $13 million deal ($5.1 million guaranteed) in free agency this offseason, the hope was that the 25-year-old could rejuvenate the team’s struggling pass rush. So far, he has done exactly that. Yet, it seems Young isn’t receiving the respect he deserves due to limited sack production, especially after undergoing neck surgery in mid-March. The recovery timeline was expected to keep him out through training camp and cast doubt on his Week 1 availability. Despite the odds, Young was present for Day 1 of training camp in July and has played every game for New Orleans to this point.
Through Week 8, prior to Monday Night Football’s matchup between the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers, both Chase Young and Carl Granderson are tied for 12th in the league in total pressures among edge rushers, each with 30 pressures and a combined 7 sacks (3 for Young, 4 for Granderson).
Young has also recorded 15 total tackles, 12 stops, 4.5 stuffs, and 1 pass defended through the first eight weeks of the season.
While he does need to finish off plays and bring down the quarterback more consistently, the team’s pass rush has significantly improved from last season. Bringing Young back at the end of the season on a team-friendly, cost-efficient deal seems like the best option for New Orleans. However, with future Pro Football HOF DE Cam Jordan aging and the Saints’ lacking depth on the edge, it’s important to look toward the upcoming draft for some assistance in the trenches as well.
Personally, I still see a promising talent in Young who has benefited this football team no matter the capacity. That’s why I believe it’s an overreaction to claim that signing Young was a poor decision and that New Orleans should move on from him after the season.
The Saints will travel to Charlotte for Week 9 of the 2024 regular season to face the Carolina Panthers in Sunday’s division bout between the bottom two teams in the NFC...
