New Orleans Saints: DE Marcus Davenport prepared for a breakout season
Saints’ Marcus Davenport is primed for a breakout season as he’ll enter his third season in the NFL healthy and opposite one of the league’s premier pass rushers.
With Marcus Davenport and Cam Jordan on their defensive line, the Saints will have a dominant defensive line. There won’t be a single reason this team should finish outside of the top three in sacks.
However, much of their success this season will rest on Davenport’s shoulders. Trading up to take him in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Saints were expecting more from the collegiate standout. It’s been a tough ride for the 23-year-old.
Multiple injuries have forced him to missed games in both his first two seasons. After a season-ending foot injury, Davenport’s absence certainly played a part in the Saints’ Wild Card loss to Minnesota.
Entering the 2020 season, assuming we have one, healthy, Davenport may finally have that breakout season every Saints’ fan has been hoping to see. Let’s just say the team and the coaching staff still has faith in the young stud.
According to NOLA.com’s Luke Johnson, Saints defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen praised Davenport and his work ethic in doing his best to recovering from multiple injuries that have hampered the start of his career.
“Talking to him, I think his confidence is better this offseason. He’s working hard and I know he had a couple of injuries, but he’s put the work in,” Nielsen noted.
Saying that Davenport has been a disappointment just isn’t correct. He has shown bursts of dominance. His numbers haven’t been great — recording just 10.5 sacks, 53 tackles and 4 forced fumbles in 26 games and 13 starts.
Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 265 pounds, Davenport is a physical monster. He has been able to use his rare combination of strength and speed to his advantage throughout his career but has yet to take his game to the next level.
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Davenport will get another chance in 2020, but his time will be running short. He’ll need to capitalize on the opportunity soon. Let’s hope 2020 is his time to shine because, if he breaks out, it could make the Saints the easy favorites to reign over the NFC.