NFC South: YAC
Saints, Buccaneers struggle with YAC
October, 4, 2012
10/04/12
10:02
AM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
When it comes to allowing yards after the catch, two NFC South defenses are the worst in the NFL.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, the New Orleans Saints have allowed a league-worst 636 yards after the catch (YAC). Their percentage of yards allowed after the catch also is a league-worst 55.8 percent.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are No. 31 with 610 yards after the catch. But their percentage of yards that come after the catch is only 43 percent, which puts them in the middle of the league.
The Carolina Panthers are only slightly better than the Saints and Buccaneers when it comes to allowing yards after the catch. They’ve allowed 538 (No. 27) and their percentage of yards that have come after the catch is 47.9.
The undefeated Atlanta Falcons are the only defense in the NFC South that’s faring well in this category. The Falcons have allowed 375 yards after the catch (No. 8) and 42.3 percent of their passing yards allowed have come after the catch.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, the New Orleans Saints have allowed a league-worst 636 yards after the catch (YAC). Their percentage of yards allowed after the catch also is a league-worst 55.8 percent.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are No. 31 with 610 yards after the catch. But their percentage of yards that come after the catch is only 43 percent, which puts them in the middle of the league.
The Carolina Panthers are only slightly better than the Saints and Buccaneers when it comes to allowing yards after the catch. They’ve allowed 538 (No. 27) and their percentage of yards that have come after the catch is 47.9.
The undefeated Atlanta Falcons are the only defense in the NFC South that’s faring well in this category. The Falcons have allowed 375 yards after the catch (No. 8) and 42.3 percent of their passing yards allowed have come after the catch.
New Orleans Saints struggling with YAC
September, 12, 2012
9/12/12
12:15
PM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
When it comes to yards after the catch (YAC), that’s an area where the New Orleans Saints have thrived throughout the Drew Brees era.
But they’re not off to a good start in that department this season. In the opener against Washington, only 25.4 percent of New Orleans’ passing yards came after the catch. That ranks No. 31 in the league. The Saints averaged only 3.6 yards after the catch per reception.
The other three NFC South teams fared much better in YAC. The Panthers averaged 4.3 yards after the catch. The Buccaneers averaged 4.8 per reception and the Falcons averaged 6.2 yards after the catch.
YAC is a statistic that can work both ways and it wasn’t at all friendly to the Saints on Sunday. Defensively, the Saints are No. 32 in the league after allowing the Redskins to gain 192 yards after the catch.
The Bucs are No. 16 with 99 yards allowed after the catch. The Panthers (76 yards) are No. 6 and the Falcons (75 yards) are No. 5.
But they’re not off to a good start in that department this season. In the opener against Washington, only 25.4 percent of New Orleans’ passing yards came after the catch. That ranks No. 31 in the league. The Saints averaged only 3.6 yards after the catch per reception.
The other three NFC South teams fared much better in YAC. The Panthers averaged 4.3 yards after the catch. The Buccaneers averaged 4.8 per reception and the Falcons averaged 6.2 yards after the catch.
YAC is a statistic that can work both ways and it wasn’t at all friendly to the Saints on Sunday. Defensively, the Saints are No. 32 in the league after allowing the Redskins to gain 192 yards after the catch.
The Bucs are No. 16 with 99 yards allowed after the catch. The Panthers (76 yards) are No. 6 and the Falcons (75 yards) are No. 5.
Even after the bye week, the New Orleans Saints are still among the league leaders in team yards after the catch.
Of New Orleans' 3,326 passing yards, 1,510 have come after the catch. That’s No. 2 in the league. The New England Patriots lead with 1,534 yards after the catch (YAC), according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Saints are averaging 5.1 yards after the catch.
For the moment, New Orleans running back Darren Sproles has lost his individual lead in yards after the catch. He currently is fourth with 466 yards, just 26 yards behind league leader Fred Jackson. New Orleans running back Pierre Thomas is tied for No. 15 with 306 yards after the catch. Tight end Jimmy Graham is No. 21 with 280 yards after the catch.
The combined threat of what Sproles, Thomas and Graham can do after the catch makes it almost silly for an opposing defense to use the Cover Two. Defenses can't afford to sit back on New Orleans' wide receivers because Sproles, Thomas and Graham can cause so many problems after catching short passes.
The only other NFC South players in the top 20 are Carolina running back Jonathan Stewart and receiver Steve Smith. Stewart is tied for seventh with 392 yards after the catch. Smith is No. 17 with 303 yards.
The Panthers have 1,231 yards after the catch. The Panthers also average a division-best 5.6 yards after the catch.
Atlanta has 1,144 yards after the catch and averages 5.2 yards. The Buccaneers have more yards after the catch (1,175), but Tampa Bay has a pretty meager after the catch average. The Bucs average 4.9 yards after the catch. Only four teams have lower averages.
Of New Orleans' 3,326 passing yards, 1,510 have come after the catch. That’s No. 2 in the league. The New England Patriots lead with 1,534 yards after the catch (YAC), according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Saints are averaging 5.1 yards after the catch.
For the moment, New Orleans running back Darren Sproles has lost his individual lead in yards after the catch. He currently is fourth with 466 yards, just 26 yards behind league leader Fred Jackson. New Orleans running back Pierre Thomas is tied for No. 15 with 306 yards after the catch. Tight end Jimmy Graham is No. 21 with 280 yards after the catch.
The combined threat of what Sproles, Thomas and Graham can do after the catch makes it almost silly for an opposing defense to use the Cover Two. Defenses can't afford to sit back on New Orleans' wide receivers because Sproles, Thomas and Graham can cause so many problems after catching short passes.
The only other NFC South players in the top 20 are Carolina running back Jonathan Stewart and receiver Steve Smith. Stewart is tied for seventh with 392 yards after the catch. Smith is No. 17 with 303 yards.
The Panthers have 1,231 yards after the catch. The Panthers also average a division-best 5.6 yards after the catch.
Atlanta has 1,144 yards after the catch and averages 5.2 yards. The Buccaneers have more yards after the catch (1,175), but Tampa Bay has a pretty meager after the catch average. The Bucs average 4.9 yards after the catch. Only four teams have lower averages.
New Orleans running back Darren Sproles has moved into the league lead in yards after the catch (YAC), according to ESPN Stats & Information. Sproles has gained 466 yards after the catch.
Sproles has 60 receptions and is averaging 7.8 yards after the catch per reception. It’s probably no coincidence that the closest NFC South player to Sproles in this category is fellow New Orleans running back Pierre Thomas, who is tied for No. 12 with 306 yards and is averaging 9.6 yards after the catch.
That’s part of the beauty of Sean Payton’s offense. Receivers are put in positions to make things happen after the catch. Tight end Jimmy Graham is tied for No. 17 with 280 yards after the catch.
The only other NFC South players in the top 20 in this category are Carolina running back Jonathan Stewart and receiver Steve Smith.
Stewart is No. 15 with 290 yards and Smith is No. 16 with 283 yards.
The Saints also lead the league – by far -- in team YAC with 3,326 yards. The only other team over 3,000 yards is the Patriots (3,032).
The Panthers have 2,605 yards after the catch. The Falcons have 2,309 and the Buccaneers have 2,188.
Sproles has 60 receptions and is averaging 7.8 yards after the catch per reception. It’s probably no coincidence that the closest NFC South player to Sproles in this category is fellow New Orleans running back Pierre Thomas, who is tied for No. 12 with 306 yards and is averaging 9.6 yards after the catch.
That’s part of the beauty of Sean Payton’s offense. Receivers are put in positions to make things happen after the catch. Tight end Jimmy Graham is tied for No. 17 with 280 yards after the catch.
The only other NFC South players in the top 20 in this category are Carolina running back Jonathan Stewart and receiver Steve Smith.
Stewart is No. 15 with 290 yards and Smith is No. 16 with 283 yards.
The Saints also lead the league – by far -- in team YAC with 3,326 yards. The only other team over 3,000 yards is the Patriots (3,032).
The Panthers have 2,605 yards after the catch. The Falcons have 2,309 and the Buccaneers have 2,188.
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NFC SOUTH SCOREBOARD
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Pat Yasinskas
Yasinskas joined ESPN.com in January 2008 after covering the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer for nine seasons. He began his journalism career with The Tampa Tribune in 1990.
