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know that we are doing something to get their attention like that. I know it’s rare to have rookies contributing to the team in all three phases, (but) we’re doing it. We have to keep it up, keep it going.” While Lattimore avoids the debate, the actions speak louder than his words. He has been one of several gems in the class, a projected top-five pick who slipped into New Orleans’ hands at No. 11. Lattimore has a team-leading five interceptions (one returned for a touchdown and one, on his stomach with the ball pinned against his backside against Atlanta, which will live in Saints lore) and 18 passes defensed, with a forced fumble, a fumble recovered and 52 tackles. He has given the Saints a fearless, No. 1 cover corner, willing to match talent and wits with the opponents’ top receiver and able to hold his own in every game. Four times, Lattimore was named Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week and he’s a strong candidate to be named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Atlanta’s Julio Jones, one of the league’s best receivers, expressed admiration for Lattimore’s play because the rookie “travels” to cover the opponents’ best receiver; Lattimore had two interceptions against the Falcons this season. His mirror in accolade and deed has been Kamara, whose presence and potential essentially made necessary the trade of Adrian Peterson. Kamara was just that good, and he hasn’t disappointed a single day. He has run for 728 yards and eight touchdowns on 120 carries, caught 81 passes for 826 yards and five touchdowns, and chipped in 11 kickoff returns for 347 yards, including a franchise-long, 106-yard touchdown in the regular season finale at Tampa Bay. With 14 total touchdowns, he topped the previous Saints’ rookie record of 13, set by George Rogers in 1981. And with five Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week honors, he is a leading candidate to be named NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year.
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Kamara and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers are the only rookies in NFL history with five rushing touchdowns, five receiving touchdowns and a kickoff return touchdown in their first season. He and fellow running back Mark Ingram are the first running back teammates in league history to amass 1,500-plus yards from scrimmage in the same season, and he and Ingram are the first running back teammates to be Pro Bowlers since 1975. “He’s someone that’s driven and he’s also resilient,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “He’s traveled a long road to get here with Alabama, the junior college and then Tennessee. Remember I said this in the beginning, he’s very intelligent, he’s exceptional with regards to learning. That doesn’t just benefit a player on the football field. It benefits him with adversity. It benefits him in so many other areas.” While Lattimore and Kamara have provided the highlights, Ramczyk arguably has provided as much value, or more, than either. He has started every game this season, two at left tackle in relief of an injured Terron Armstead and 14 at right tackle in place of Strief. In one game, against Miami in London on Oct.1, he played both positions in the same game, starting at left tackle and then moving to right tackle in the second half after Strief was injured. Ramczyk, acquired with the draft pick the Saints received from New England in the Brandin Cooks trade, was projected to be a backup this season before eventually transitioning in as a starter. Instead, he has been a mainstay on the line and Payton regularly has referenced his maturity, saying that he acts more like a three- or four-year veteran than a newcomer. Too, there’s Williams, who finished second to Lattimore with four interceptions (two in the end zone, to directly prevent points from being scored), and had seven passes defensed and 73 tackles. The playmaking centerfielder missed one game and not much else, on or off the
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field. Williams had all of his interceptions against division rivals – one against Atlanta, one against Carolina and two versus Tampa Bay. “He’s a guy that we targeted in the first round, right around the latter part of the round,” Payton said. “We felt we needed some playmaking ability on the back end, we also felt like we needed somebody that had real good football intelligence. I think that with him and Vonn (Bell) back there, we have a good combination of both.” Said Williams: “I feel like we’re doing a good job. We’re all coming in here and doing what we have to do to make plays. It’s all a big part of the coaches and the players around us that are helping us develop into those roles.” “When I came in here, I thought it was going to be a whole bunch of individuals, just because of that perception from the outside looking in, it’s like, ‘Oh, it’s all about you.’ But when I got here, everybody is pretty much a team, trying to be a family. They all come together, everybody talks to everybody, there’s no one individual that won’t talk to me on this team.” Teammates are talking to Williams, and outsiders are talking about him and his class. The only way their production could be overlooked is willful neglect. “I’m just impressed with the class, the way they came in,” Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan said. “Ryan Ramczyk was thrown in and learned to play both sides. You talk about Kamara and what he’s meant to the offense. “Trey, when he got hurt, he was clearly rotating into the defensive line. Al-Quadin clearly has potential. The Ohio State guy (Lattimore) and Marcus – our secondary improvements, that’s clearly something I’m proud of. I like the way they’ve responded from camp to in-season.” The contributions from camp to in-season helped the Saints advance to the postseason. It’s bonus work for a class that has been capable of handling the curriculum.