Saints counting on continued breakout from linebacker Pete Werner – and breakthroughs for Zack Baun, D’Marco Jackson

Linebacker Pete Werner fits somewhere between the Saints’ established stars and rising young breakout candidates like Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Alontae Taylor and Trevor Penning.

But it was a head-turning reminder of how vital Werner could be to New Orleans’ success this year when fellow linebacker Demario Davis talked recently about how far the third-year pro has come already.

“If you go back to last year before he started having a few hiccups, he was probably having as explosive a year as a linebacker can have,” Davis said of Werner – who had 71 tackles through his first eight games in 2022 before being waylaid by ankle surgery and returning on a limited basis late in the season. “He’s gifted physically, but I think he’s even more gifted instinctually and from a processing standpoint. So just because he’s such a fast processor this early in his career – which is kind of rare – it just makes it very easy to talk to him during plays.

“He’ll call out things he’s seeing on his side of the field, and I’m always talking about what I’m seeing, because I’m usually trying to process the whole formation. It’s a tremendous blessing or gift for me being able to play alongside a linebacker that’s that instinctual and that ahead of the game. You would never think he’s going into his third year of playing football.

“So either he comes from great coaching at ‘The Ohio State’ or he’s just one of the rare ones. Whatever the case, it’s a lot of fun playing beside him.”

The 6-foot-3, 242-pounder had the talent to be drafted 60th overall by New Orleans out of Ohio State in 2021. And Nick wrote last year about how much Werner contributes off the field – when he tried to assist teammates through relentless film study and advice even while on injured reserve.

Unfortunately, Werner’s production fizzled when he returned from IR in Week 15, then missed another game in Week 16 because of a hamstring issue that popped up during his return. He finished with just nine tackles in four games played over the final 10 weeks.

“It feels good, really good,” Werner said of being fully healthy this spring.

When asked what clicked for him so well last year and how he can keep building off it, Werner said, “I just think that my confidence is getting stronger and stronger going into Year 3.”

“And you’re playing next to guys, and that chemistry adds on as well,” said Werner – who repaid the compliment to Davis, saying it “means the world” to play alongside him.

“I wouldn’t be in the spot I am now without a player like that,” Werner said. “As much as I’ve learned as far as how I study the game, how I play the game. How I go about everything that the game involves is different because of him. You’re just so thankful going into an organization playing next to a guy like that.”

Linebackers coach Michael Hodges said the Saints probably gave Werner a little too much volume in his first game back from injury, when he played 55 snaps and suffered the hamstring injury. “So that’s on us, that’s not on him.”

But Werner refused to share any blame, saying, “We do a good job of treating the players in-season, and the focus is to be 100% when you get back. So I felt great, and I’m not gonna make any excuses on that.”

Werner also said he has spent this offseason trying to increase his durability as much as you can possibly control such a thing – working on “posture, strength and strength in those smaller muscles.”

Hodges said another area of focus heading into Year 3 has been Werner’s “third-down production” – both in coverage and pass-rushing games, since the Saints ask their two core linebackers to be every-down players.

Hodges said that doesn’t have to result in specific numbers, like the 6.5 sacks Davis had last year and the seven sacks that former Saints linebacker Kaden Elliss had last year while breaking out in a huge way during Werner’s absence. But Hodges said players do need to make their presence felt, even if they’re setting up teammates.

Werner still has zero sacks and zero interceptions through 27 career games – though he did force two fumbles last season.

And Hodges has zero doubt his arrow will keep pointing up.

“He’s as good of a pro as you can have,” Hodges said. “You’re not worried about if he’s on time, you’re not worried about if he’s studying, you’re not worried about if he’s watching tape, you’re not worried about, ‘Does he know his tape?’ And then on top of that, he’s bringing guys along – even with Demario in the room. And he’s not afraid to tell Demario his thoughts on X, Y and Z.

“So if he can put together a full 17, take us into the playoffs, that’d be really exciting to see what that would look like.”

You could make a strong argument that Elliss was the Saints’ single biggest loss this offseason when they let him sign with the rival Falcons in free agency.

You can make an even stronger argument that the linebacker position overall was their most neglected group when it came to adding new talent.

As a result, New Orleans is counting on guys like Werner, Zack Baun and D’Marco Jackson to level up in a big way.

Each situation is different. While Werner flashed superstar potential last year, Baun is a fourth-year pro who has never realized his potential a consistent basis yet. And Jackson is a second-year pro who missed his entire rookie season on injured reserve.

Early in camp, Baun has been working as both the first-string Sam and second-string Will (Elliss’ old jobs), while Jackson has gotten first crack as the backup Mike.

Saints notes and observations-Who did what-Mike Thomas watch-Smoke Monday moving up the depth chart??-Who played the slot? Who was CB2?-Marshon shines-Rough day for offense-Morehttps://t.co/XoJ09elzNm— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) June 13, 2023

“I think my overall understanding of the game from the off-ball position (has improved),” said Baun, who was an edge rusher in college. “You just see a lot more. I’ve gotten so much more comfortable doing that – as far as the run and the coverage. I think my coverage ability has gotten way better since being in the league.”

Baun is 6-3, 235 (he said he hasn’t been his listed weight of 225 since midway through college). He said he admittedly struggled to adjust when the Saints were working him at both Sam and Mike as a rookie. But he feels great now at both Sam and Will.

“I’ve gotten really comfortable playing in the box at stack backer. And honestly we don’t use the Sam that much. So if there’s injuries, I want to be that guy that can go in (at Will) and they can trust me,” said Baun – who said Elliss’ 2021 season is the “prime example.”

Hodges said “consistency” is the biggest factor with Baun, who has shown flashes in preseasons past and has earned a role as a special teams regular without putting the full package together quite yet.

“He’s smart. He works incredibly hard. Just gotta put it all on the field for us,” Hodges said. “It’s between the whistles that we’ve gotta get him to stack some plays for us. But he did a good job of it this offseason, so I’m excited where he’s going.”

As for Jackson, Hodges said a big key in his development was being “extremely locked in” during every meeting last year even when he couldn’t play.

“So by osmosis at the very least, he’s getting it,” Hodges said of the 6-1, 233-pounder, who was drafted in the fifth round out of Appalachian State. “So he’s building off what he learned during the season. And the guy’s incredibly hungry, man. God, he works hard. So I’m excited about where he’s going as well.”

Still, those early opportunities don’t guarantee Baun and Jackson anything beyond the first chance to make an impression in a position group that also includes veterans Andrew Dowell, Ty Summers, Ryan Connelly; second-year pro Nephi Sewell; and undrafted rookies Anfernee Orji and Nick Anderson.

“There’s 10 guys in the room, and there’s two guys that are established,” Hodges said. “So there’s eight guys in a race.”