7.20.22: Thomas, Cowboys, Payton, Lawrence, Colts, Tindall

Get Legit Football by Email

Thomas

The Saints are optimistic Michael Thomas will be cleared soon

Details:?Thomas is making his way back from a nasty ankle injury that was originally suffered in September 2020. According to Ian Rapoport, the Saints believe he could return during the?early stages?of training camp.

• Thomas recently posted a video that showed him running routes at full speed (or at least very close to it).
• Saints’ insider Nick Underhill has also been reporting that there is?optimism?within the organization regarding Thomas’ progress.

Production...

• 2018 - 2019:?Caught 274 of 332 targets (82.5% catch-rate) for 3,130 yards, and 18 touchdowns across 32 games
• 2020 - 2021:?Caught 40 of 55 targets (72.7% catch-rate) for 438 yards and 0 touchdowns across 7 games (missed the entire 2021 season)

WR Depth:?Once he returns, Thomas figures to lead a deep Saints’ receiver group that also includes Jarvis Landry, first-round rookie Chris Olave, Deonte Harty, Tre’Quan Smith, and Marquez Callaway.

Image: Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire

Cowboys

David Helman: The Cowboys’ lack of receiver depth could be a big problem

Details:?With Michael Gallup rehabbing an ACL tear (and very questionable for the start of the season), the Cowboys only have two experienced receivers on the roster — Ceedee Lamb and James Washington.

• Helman (Fox Sports) considers a lack of receiver depth to be one of the biggest?weaknesses?on the Cowboys’ roster.

Washington:?Washington, who signed with the Cowboys in March, missed most of OTAs with a foot injury. He also saw a significant dip in production with the Steelers last season — catching only 24 of 44 targets (54.5% catch-rate) for 285 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Inexperience:?Beyond Lamb and Washington, the Cowboys have third-round rookie Jalen Tolbert, fifth-year-pro Noah Brown (five career starts), and 2021 fifth-rounder Simi Fehoko (0 career starts).

Reinforcement:?Helman thinks the Cowboys could use an outside addition to “hold the line until Gallup is available again.” Available free agents include Julio Jones, T.Y. Hilton, Will Fuller, and Emmanuel Sanders.

More Cowboys News...

• Helman thinks the Cowboys should also look into signing an experienced left tackle to back up oft-injured Tyron Smith.
• According to Jon Machota, Dak Prescott is?truly?in the “best shape of his life.”

Image: Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire

Payton

Sean Payton confirms that he expects to coach again

Details:?Payton told Jarrett Bell (USA Today) that while he?expects?to be on the sidelines again, there is “no way to predict” which team he will end up coaching.

• Payton Added:?“Usually, there are about six openings every year. If there’s a right fit somewhere, that ultimately will depend on several factors.”

Factors:?Last week, Barry Jackson (Miami Herald) citing an unnamed source close to Payton, mentioned that the 58-year-old wants his?next team?to be located in a warm weather location, to have a competitive roster, and to give him full control over personnel.

Teams:?Jackson listed the Cowboys, Dolphins, and Chargers as potential destinations for Payton in 2023.

• The Cowboys reportedly came?very close?to hiring Payton in 2019, while the Dolphins attempted to acquire his rights from the Saints this past February.

FOX:?Payton will serve on the Fox NFL Sunday crew (as a periodic fill-in for Jimmy Johnson) during the 2022 season.

Image: Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire

Lawrence

Trevor Lawrence was the victim of 37 dropped passes in 2021

Details:?The insight comes from PFF’s Michael Renner, who adds that only one quarterback experienced more?dropped passes?last season.

Rookie Review:?Lawrence completed 59.6% of his passes for 3,641 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. He led the Jaguars to a 3-14 record.

Improved:?Renner believes an improved pass-catching group and coaching staff will drastically cut the drops and improve Lawerence’s overall stat line.

• In fact, Renner ranks Lawrence as the league’s top second-year breakout candidate.

Pass-Catchers:?The Jaguars added three solid pass-catchers over the offseason — Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, and Evan Engram. 2021 first-rounder Travis Etienne will also make his long-awaited debut — after missing his entire rookie year with a foot injury.

• Etienne, who starred with Lawrence at Clemson, is expected to take on an Alvin Kamara-like role.

Coaching Staff:?Jacksonville’s hiring of Doug Pederson, who played quarterback in the NFL for ten seasons, has received near-universal praise from league insiders, who believe he’s a perfect developmental match for Lawrence. Pederson’s choice for offensive coordinator — Press Taylor — is considered a quarterback-friendly future head coach.

Image: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire

Colts

The Colts are expecting “much more” from defensive ends Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo

Details:?Last year, the Colts spent a first-round pick on Paye and a second-round pick on Odeyingbo. According to Mike Chappell (Fox 59), the team is expecting a substantial?production?boost from both in 2022.

• Only six teams recorded fewer sacks (33) than the Colts last season.

Paye:?Paye flashed game-changing ability as a rookie — he tallied 4.0 sacks, 10 QB hits, and 2 forced fumbles across fifteen games.

• Paye led all rookie edge defenders with a 71.3 PFF passing grade.
• PFF’s Michael Renner recently?wrote?that it “seems like only a matter of time before Paye is in the Pro Bowl conversation.”

Odeyingbo:?Odeyingbo did not make an appearance until Week 8 (he was drafted with an existing Achilles injury). Once activated, he totaled six tackles, half a sack, and one forced fumble across ten games.

Rare:?Odeyingbo was?described?as an “eyes-open projection with rare physical traits” by draft expert Lance Zierlein last year. He totaled 8.0 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks across eight starts at Vanderbilt in 2020.

Image: Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire

Tindall

Dolphins rookie LB Channing Tindall could “become an integral part” of the Dolphins' defense

Details:?The insight comes from Daniel Oyefusi (Miami Herald), who?writes?that the Dolphins could use Tindall’s “speed to blitz and cover tight ends and running backs.”

• The Dolphins selected Tindall in the third round.

Profile:?Tindall (6-2, 230) was a key contributor for the Georgia Bulldogs last season. He totaled 67 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks.

Speed:?Tindall’s speed is his most intriguing trait, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds — which is considered a solid time for an offensive skill player.

LB Depth:?Tindall will push for playing time behind Jerome Baker (60.9 PFF grade) and Elandon Roberts (54.1 PFF grade).

Image: Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire

Stat of the Day

@NFL_Stats

More News

• Browns?are not interested in Ndamukong Suh
• Falcons?DT Eddie Goldman retired
• Jameis Winston?progressing toward full health