New Orleans Saints 2015 Year in Review: Marques Colston
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marques Colston may still have a little left in the tank, but he is not the player he once was, and his 2015 campaign proved that.
In an unfortunate but natural turn of events, wide receiver Marques Colston got old and is no longer the mass-production contributor he once was for the New Orleans Saints.
Nicknamed the “Quiet Storm”, Colston has been flying under the radar for a decade now. Since the Saints selected the buried treasure out of Hofstra Univsersity in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft, he has become the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
He turned in six seasons of over 1,000 yards receiving, and 9,759 total on his career to go along with 72 touchdowns. Marques Colston has been, on paper, one of the most consistent wide receivers in the NFL since joining the club in 2006. ‘Mr. Reliable’ and Drew Brees have been of the best quarterback-wide receiver duos of all time. Yet, no Pro Bowl appearances are on Colston’s resume. That shows you how flawed the fan-vote system is.
Unfortunately, and unless Marques Colston mysteriously stumbles upon the fountain of youth, there will likely be no more shots at earning a trip to Hawaii. What’s even more unfortunate is that he may have already played his last game with the Saints.
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In the approaching offseason, New Orleans will likely be evaluating each and every player, particularly the underachievers, the aging and the injured, and parting ways with the ones who are of little or no value to the team anymore to improve the brewing salary cap situation. Colston may be one of those players. He has taken a ton of hits over his career and will be 33-years-old by the time next season rolls around.
2015 was not a horrible year for Marques Colston. He just wasn’t nearly as productive as he has been in the past. He finished the season with 45 catches, 520 yards and four touchdowns, which are all career lows.
With the emergence of Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead in the passing game as well as Benjamin Watson‘s epic career revival, at times this season, Colston was nearly erased from the blueprint. He has declined in just about every aspect of his game.
His speed, his hands (struggled with drops at the start of the season), his range of motion, and his ability to separate himself from defenders have all diminished. It’s one of those sad but true situations. While he may still have a little gas left in the tank, his glory days are over, and 2015 proved that.
Highlighted by a PFWA All-Rookie Team selection, an Ed Block Courage Award, and of course, a Super Bowl title, Marques Colston has still had an incredible career as an NFL wide receiver and one of the greatest players to ever put on a Saints uniform. The Who Dat Nation will forever be home to the Quiet Storm.