USAT: Saints Wire audio clip

USAT: Saints Wire

Feb 3, 2022

- - - New Orleans Saints fans were slow to buy in on their team’s first pick in the 2021 NFL draft, and New Orleans’ second choice didn’t inspire much more confidence. But rookie linebacker Pete Werner quickly proved his worth after a productive career with the Ohio State Buckeyes. If the Saints weren’t running so deep at the position, he would have had more opportunities to show it. - Playing behind Demario Davis and Kwon Alexander in New Orleans’ nickel defense (their most-common personnel package), Werner had to wait for one of those two starters to step off the field to get his opportunity. He only got to play 60% or more of the team’s defensive snaps in four games, totaling 590 snaps played on the season — and 195 of those came on special teams. - That’s how Werner found a way to help the team most as a rookie, and it’s where he saw double-digit snaps in every game from Weeks 9 to 18, except for Week 16’s COVID-ravaged loss to the Miami Dolphins in which Werner saw 100% of the defensive snaps for the first time. With Davis and Alexander locking down the top two spots at linebacker, the rookie turned his attention to the kicking game, and did well. By season’s end he took at least 14 snaps with five of the six different special teams units (everywhere but field goal/extra point protection). - But how did Werner perform on defense when he did get to play? He was rock-solid in run defense, earning the highest Pro Football Focus grade in that category (91.0) among all linebackers. He was credited with a run stop rate of 9.5%, which ranked fourth-best among first-year linebackers who saw 100 or more snaps. Great lateral agility and a knack for quickly diagnosing and reacting to running plays helped him consistently get into position. - What about passing downs? That’s where Werner needs more work. He was targeted 29 times, allowing 21 receptions for 159 passing yards. Those numbers rank low relative to the rest of the rookie linebacker class, but it goes to show why the Saints didn’t play him ahead of Alexander or Davis. Both players have been more adept in coverage, running tight with opponents while forcing incomplete passes and getting their hands on the ball. - Werner has the athleticism and instincts to improve there, but he won’t get it without playing more often. When asked to rush the passer instead of drop back in pass defense (something he only did 25 times, to be fair), Werner turned in a great pass-rush productivity score of 11.9, racking up 5 pressures. Maybe that’s a path for him moving forwards. - And there’s a good chance he starts next to Davis in 2022. Alexander is a free agent looking for his next big contract, and while he and the Saints may want to stick together New Orleans likely won’t be in position to pay him the $8 million or more annually he deserves. Especially not with an ascending player behind him on the depth chart ready to step up. Werner’s quality play in spot duty should lead to a larger role. I’ll grade his rookie year with a B-plus, only dinging him for not making more plays in coverage. - - List - - Ranking the top Saints team needs in 2022 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Saints Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Saints Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

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