Chase Young already improving Saints’ pass rush

By Ross Jackson

After getting their top pass rusher back in the lineup, the New Orleans Saints have already begun to see improvements in their ability to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. 

Going into Week 6 against the New England Patriots, the Saints were ranked No. 30 in the league, generating pressure on just 28% of defensive passing snaps. This week, as the Saints prepare to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans has seen its pressure percentage jump more than four percent to 32.2%, No. 24 in the league. 

The difference? Defensive end Chase Young. 

Young returned to the lineup against the Patriots and while he has just a half-sack through his two games, his ability to pressure the quarterback has been evident. 

Young leads the Saints in pressure percentage, per Next Gen Stats, with 24.2%. The next defensive lineman after him is defensive end Chris Rumph III with 12.7%. Young has nearly doubled the next linemen’s count already. The team’s sack leader, edge rusher Carl Granderson (4.5 sacks), has a pressure percentage of just 10.7%. 

Young, despite being back for just two games from his calf injury, already nearly has the team lead in quick pressures created as well. Next Gen Stats defines quick pressures as pressure on the quarterback within three seconds after the snap. 

The top quick pressure for the Saints so far this season is defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, who has seven such pressures over seven games played. Young already has five through his two games since returning. 

It seems that Young is fitting into defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s new system well and is already doing his part to bolster the team’s ability to impact opposing passers. 

His next step will be finishing at the quarterback, a continued growth area from last season. But the promise is without a doubt there for Young and thus the Saints’ pass rush.