It would be unfair to say Marcus Davenport was a disappointment last year. But because the New Orleans Saints gave up so much, including this year’s first round pick, to trade up for him last year, expectations were sky-high. An injury cost him a few games, and he wasn’t extremely productive when on the field even though he did show some flashes.
If the Saints are going to make it back to the NFC Championship Game this season, they’re going to need a big step forward from the UTSA product. Davenport understands that the team is counting on him, and at a recent charity event he made it clear he knows he needs to improve.
“Honestly, I see I didn’t do enough,” Davenport said Wednesday, per Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com. “I see a lot of little mistakes, a lot of hesitation, missed opportunities. So, I’ve got to watch it over and over and over again and correct that, and I’ve got to watch more film on other people, too.”
Davenport had 4.5 sacks last season, but he had just a half sack in the final six weeks of the regular season and none in the playoffs.
Fellow pass-rusher Cameron Jordan is confident Davenport is going to have a big year, and said his toe injury was effecting him down the stretch last year.
“His toe is attached back to him, right? That’s probably taking care of almost all of it,” Jordan said. “He is a freakish talent in terms of how athletically gifted he is, and it’s just about that rapid that we saw during his rookie year. As long as he continues on that steady path of continuing to develop his mindset of how he’s going to attack offensive linemen, there’s no telling what he’s going to do this season.”
Alex Okafor, a starting defensive end last year, left in free agency, opening up a path to a huge role for last year’s 14th overall pick. Davenport seems intent on seizing the moment.
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