The return of linebacker Pete Werner should strengthen the defense of the Floundering Saints

The New Orleans Saints’ once formidable defense has fallen to a rotten level. Heading into Week 8, the Saints rank last in total defense, 26th in points allowed, 28th against the pass, 30th against the run, and last in average yards per rush.

Injuries have been a major reason for the team’s offensive struggles over the past month. That doesn’t explain the pathetic performance of New Orleans’ defense, which was relatively healthy.

Cornerback Paulson Adebo was lost for the season with a thigh injury last week. Two weeks earlier, safety Will Harris was also ruled out for the year. The Saints’ defensive line remains largely intact, but the linebackers are a bit battered.

Demario Davis is dealing with a hamstring problem, but has only missed one game. Willie Gay is also suffering from back and hand injuries, but he too has only missed a week. There is one linebacker missing, whose return could help the Saints defense immensely in today’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Werner suffered a hamstring injury during a Week 4 game against the Atlanta Falcons. It has kept him sidelined for the past three games. In those games, the Saints have given up an average of nearly 37 points and have been largely helpless against both the run and the pass.

Now in his fourth season, Werner isn’t moving the needle much as a pass defender. He doesn’t play a role as a pass rusher (half a sack and two QB hits in his career) and can be a problem in space in man coverage. However, Werner is a dashing defender in zones and shows great discipline in his responsibilities.

Where Werner is missed most is as a run defender. Demario Davis remains one of the NFL’s best all-around linebackers. Werner has been a perfect complement to him over the last three years, an underrated part of this defense.

In the previous two seasons, Werner had 173 tackles and 116 solo stops. Those numbers were second only to Davis during that period. This is an area where the Saints have struggled at a huge level in his absence.

New Orleans faces a Chargers team that ranks 25th in total offense, but relies on running the ball and balance to create big play opportunities for QB Justin Herbert. Los Angeles averages 117 yards per game on the ground, which ranks 17th in the league.

The Chargers will be without physical RB Gus Edwards. However, explosive back JK Dobbins is having a strong year with 478 yards rushing and all three of the team’s rushing scores while averaging five yards per carry. An accomplished receiver, Dobbins also has 15 catches and is extremely dangerous in open space.

New Orleans has allowed an average of 146.7 yards per game on the ground and an equally dismal 5.4 per carry. Without Werner, opponents are averaging an eye-popping 217 yards on the ground and an absolutely unforgivable 5.7 per carry.

Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker has 59 yards rushing and 96 total yards in 17 of his 18 career games. Against the Saints, Tucker had 136 on the ground and 192 yards from scrimmage. Kansas City’s Kareem Hunt had 139 rushing yards against New Orleans in just his second game of the year after a down season of inactivity and light usage last year. Denver’s Javonte Williams had 88 yards rushing against the Saints, the third-highest total of his career and the first rushing output of more than 80 yards in 16 games.

Tampa Bay’s 594 yards and 277 on the ground against New Orleans were both franchise records. Denver ranked 30th in rushing production last year and had a previous high of 136 on the ground this season. Their 225 yards rushing against New Orleans was their highest since 2013, the first 200 yards rushing in 24 games and the second 200 yards rushing performance in 90 games.

Will Pete Werner be able to solve these terrible numbers? Certainly not by himself, but his absence was clearly an underrated loss for the New Orleans defense. Werner and the entire defense will have to bounce back and match the Chargers’ physical strategy if the Saints want to break their five-game losing streak this afternoon.