There have been a lot more negatives than positives during the 2022 Saints season that's now skidded to 5-9, but let's flip that a bit.
On the latest episode of Inside Black & Gold, Jeff Nowak and Steve Geller decided to dive into the positives. The question: Who are the Saints' MVPs on each side of the ball through the first 15 weeks of the season?
Listen to the full breakdown in the player below. Can't see the embed? Click here.
STEVE'S PICKS
OFFENSE: TE Taysom Hill
Why: His role in the offense might be confusing at times, but there's no question he's been an impact player, particularly in the wins. He's got 9 TDs on the season (2 passing, 2 receiving, 5 rushing). We can honestly give Taysom pretty much full credit for a victory over the Seahawks with his four TDs on the day. He has touchdowns in three of the Saints' five wins. The only question for Taysom is whether Pete Carmichael has been able to get him involved.
DEFENSE: LB Demario Davis
Why: This one doesn't take much to sell. Demario Davis leads the team in total tackles (89) and sacks (6.5). He's got an interception. He hasn't missed a game. He's an unquestioned leader in the locker room. This defense may have struggled, but who knows where they'd be without the man in the middle.
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JEFF'S PICKS
OFFENSE: OL Cesar Ruiz
Note: This podcast was recorded prior to Cesar Ruiz landing on IR. Poorly timed, but we'll stick with it. He's been excellent.
Why: It's always tough to establish relative value along the OL, but Cesar Ruiz has been the most consistent player and stepped up both in run and pass-blocking. He's also played two games at center. It's been a rough season on offense, and he's been by far the most consistent contributor.
DEFENSE: S Tyrann Mathieu
Why: This will be surprising to many, but only if you've landed in an echo chamber and reacted to a few lowlights without looking at the bigger picture. Tyrann Mathieu is No. 2 on the Saints in solo tackles (52), he's missed 9 for an 11.5% miss rate. There are 14 players on the Saints roster who have missed tackles at a higher rate. He's got two of the team's three interceptions and 7 passes defensed (No. 2 on the team). He's been credited with an 82.8 coverage grade by Pro Football Focus (the 2nd highest grade in his career). He hasn't missed a game and has played all over the field. He's been as consistent as any reasonable person could've hoped for, despite what Twitter says. The bigger issue, in my opinion, is that Mathieu arrived in New Orleans with people expecting peak Troy Polamalu, and instead got 30-year-old Tyrann Mathieu playing like 30-year-old Tyrann Mathieu. He's been a calming presence in a young secondary. The Saints are very glad to have him around.
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