nick underhill

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateOne of the effects from following a team like the New Orleans Saints closely is that their flaws are obvious and apparent.The blemishes stand out because you look at them every week. When looking at a team from a distance, those same flaws might blend in and...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateThe Saints keep playing physical football, which continues to favor wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith.The rookie logged 41 snaps during Sunday's win over the Minnesota Vikings, while Cam Meredith only played nine. One reason for this is because the team took a...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateMINNEAPOLIS — Forty-six minutes after Sunday’s game ended, only litter populated the long-vacated sections inside of U.S. Bank Stadium.Every section except one.Deep down behind the end zone, opposite of the section that harbored a winter full of nightmares...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateVonn Bell asks Tre’Quan Smith the same question every week.“Hey, you got a big play for me this week?”The Saints rookie wide receiver always promises the Saints safety one, but Smith is now delivering frequently and emphatically. In the last two games, the...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateThe Saints are always focused on the next game, the next opponent, the next play.But their moves tell you what they think, even if they won’t say it with their mouths. They aren’t just thinking about Monday night in Minnesota. They’re thinking about February...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateThe New Orleans Saints were supposed to have one of the best secondaries in the NFL.It hasn’t played out that way. All the promise from last season that was supposed to lead to forward progress has seen this group moonwalk instead. Patrick Robinson landing on...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateBALTIMORE — For quite a while the Saints looked like the kind of team that can bang with the rest of the teams in the AFC North.That’s saying something. Those are the kind of teams can go on the road and grind out games. Those are the kind of teams that can...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateThe New Orleans Saints face the tall task of handling the Baltimore Ravens' defense on Sunday following the bye week.Get a preview of today's game, including analysis of both teams, injury reports and expert predictions below. FOUR DOWNSGoing deepWas that...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateKeith Kirkwood is ready and waiting.The rookie wide receiver out of Temple impressed during training camp as an undrafted free agent, earning a spot on the team’s practice squad, and now he is working to cut his teeth behind the scenes and be ready whenever...

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) ORG XMIT: NYOTKBy Nick Underhill | The AdvocateTerron Armstead stretched with his teammates, went through individual drills and then lined up at his usual spot during the team portion of practice.It sounds mundane, and it is, but movements such as these would...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateMarshon Lattimore wasn’t treating practice the way he should have been treating practice.There were times he worked hard this summer, but he struggled to bring the game-like intensity needed on every snap to make the most of out of practices and become truly...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateThe Saints have lost their deep threat.New Orleans placed Ted Ginn Jr. on injured reserve on Thursday, which will keep him on the shelf for at least eight weeks, if not the rest of the season.The wide receiver has been battling a knee injury and was seen in...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateThere was one play against Washington that everyone would like to correct.The play occurred on a third down. It was a read-option with Taysom Hill under center, and the quarterback decided to keep the ball and run for the first down instead of handing it off...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateAn offense might not score an easier touchdown against the Saints this season.It's Week 3, and Atlanta pushed down to the 5-yard line. They lined up with Muhammad Sanu in the slot to the right. Wide receiver Justin Hardy flanked him to the outside. P.J...

Advocate staff photo by SCOTT THRELKELDBy Nick Underhill | The AdvocateDrew Brees threw a pass last week that was so out of character it created a sense of shock.The New Orleans Saints quarterback has been so incredibly efficient this season it would be hard to find multiple examples of...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateThe Saints are rolling.And so is the podcast.Kevin Washington is on vacation this week, so I'm joined by Ian Howard, and we hit a ton of topics, including:-- The defense’s improved play-- Why were the Saints more vertical vs Washington?-- How...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateImagine someone telling you two or three years ago the front seven was going to be the strength of the Noew Orleans Saints' defense soon, and that the front seven would help them win games instead of preventing them from winning games.It would sound nuts...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateThe Saints are going to be a team that rotates players on defense.After five weeks, it appears clear the team is comfortable using a rotation of players at linebacker and at safety. That could change, but it appears more likely it will continue on at this...

Micheal Thomas - Advocate staff photo by LESLIE GAMBONIBy Nick Underhill | The AdvocateMichael Thomas wanted to set a tone.National stage. All eyes on the Saints. He wanted to let everyone know he and his teammates were ready to do whatever it took to win the game, even if it meant...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateThe move has always been there for Sheldon Rankins.It was a product of necessity back when he first found it. As a bigger guy on the basketball court, other players would set their feet and draw charges against him when Rankins drove the lane. So, one day, he...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateSo, where do things stand after the first four games of the season.Listen to this week's podcast to hear about our worst opinions, the Saints MVP and reasons for hope and gloom moving forward. ...Link - The Advocate

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateIt is always interesting to see how opposing teams decide to approach star players.Last year, the Carolina Panthers decided they weren’t going to get beat by New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara, so they decided to make Drew Brees beat them. It...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateEAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — The Taysom Hill era has arrived.The Saints have been teasing an expanded package for the third-string quarterback since the preseason. There have been glimmers along the way, but the curtain came up during Sunday’s game against...

By Steve Peloquin | KPELThe New Orleans Saints added a player to their practice squad on Tuesday.View: https://twitter.com/nick_underhill/status/1044702762880192514Springs who was released from the practice squad of the Chiefs last Wednesday, signed with Kansas City as an undrafted free...

By Nick Underhill | The AdvocateThe Saints are set to host cornerback David Amerson on a visit, according to a source.The cornerback was part of a group of players who worked out in Green Bay on Tuesday before the Packers signed Bashaud Breeland, according to various report.New Orleans has...