WR Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints

HT: 6-4, WT: 223, Born: 6-5-1983, College: Hofstra, Drafted: Round 7

2013 Projections

Average draft position

Current as of May 6th. [Full ADP list]

Overall: R Mathews (45), J Nelson (46), Marques Colston (47), H Nicks (48), R Wayne (49)
Position: W Welker (43-WR15), J Nelson (46-WR16), Marques Colston (47 - WR17), H Nicks (48-WR18), R Wayne (49-WR19)
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PPR Average draft position

Current as of May 6th. [Full PPR ADP list]

Overall: J Witten (45), J Nelson (46), Marques Colston (47), R Wayne (48), H Nicks (49)
Position: M Crabtree (37-WR15), J Nelson (46-WR16), Marques Colston (47 - WR17), R Wayne (48-WR18), H Nicks (49-WR19)
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Outlook

Marques Colston was an awesome value pick for the Saints as he was drafted in the seventh round in 2006 (Sean Payton's first draft) and immediately started. He is not fast, but is an effective route runner who uses his size well to seal off defenders. In six out of his seven seasons in the NFL, he has had over 1,000 yards receiving. The only year that he fell short of that lofty level, he had 47 catches for 760 yards and 5 TDs in only 11 games. Colston has had some problems with his knees over his career, but has only missed three games in the past four seasons. He has more targets and receptions from Drew Brees than any other Saint and the two have always had a connection. Brees called him 'Mr. Dependable, Mr. Steady, when I need a play, I can always count on him.' The two have partnered to produce 58 TD passes and should move higher on the all-time quarterback to wide receiver touchdowns list over the next few seasons. Colston's 58 TDs leads the Saints' franchise for TDs scored.

2013 Schedule

2012 Game Summaries

Week 1 - The de jure number one receiver for the Saints led the team in targets against Washington on Opening Day. While the veteran wideout snagged four passes for seventy-one yards, the incomplete receptions painted a better picture of Colston’s day. A tenacious Redskins secondary made Colston’s first home game of 2012 one to forget. Right before the half, Colston had a surefire touchdown pass on an in route knocked from his hands and downed by the Redskins for a touchback. On the Saints’ second offensive snap of the second half, Brees hit Colston deep outside the numbers in for what would have been a massive gain in field position, but Washington cornerback Cedric Griffin knocked the ball from Colston’s grasp. Colston had other deep passes broken up in coverage, and though he did draw one pass interference flag towards the end of the third quarter, it appeared that the Washington secondary’s game plan was to take him out as an option for Drew Brees on Sunday. Colston looked spry, but this was simply not his day to shine. Still, given his heavy involvement in the Saints’ passing game, one has to expect several breakout games for Colston in 2012. 


Week 2 - Marques Colston, normally a reliable weapon for Brees between the hash marks, was almost a non-factor against Carolina. He was kept under wraps by a Panthers defense that played a lot of zone coverage and took away the routes on which Colston would usually thrive. His first reception did not arrive until the third quarter, in fact. Colston’s day was salvaged by a 29-yard catch on which the cornerback in coverage fell down and a quick slant in the red zone where he was tackled at the 1-yard line. Brees seemed reluctant to throw the football down the field for most of the game, and the Saints’ run-heavy approach contributed to Colston’s sub-par day.

Week 3 - Colston was very involved early but unable to play a full complement of snaps due to his foot injury. After making two catches on the opening drive, Colston dropped a sure touchdown at the goal line. Coverage was tight but he had every opportunity to pull the ball in before the defender hit him. He did make a nice diving catch in the red zone under tight coverage in the third quarter, but he was clearly not 100%.

Week 4 - Marques Colston isn't crazy fast. He's not a freak physically. He was an afterthought in the NFL draft when he was drafted. However, he runs great routes, isn't afraid to go down the middle, and has great rapport with an elite QB. These factors added up to a 9 reception, 153 yard, 1 touchdown day for Colston and had his owners feeling giddy. Colston had roughly 14 targets by my unofficial count, and most of the routes were solid intermediate chainmoving routes. To highlight this, 7 of Colston's 9 catches went for 14 or more yards, with a long of 27. Colston's touchdown was discussed earlier, but there was a bit of veteran savvy there, especially given that the pushoff did end up resulting in a touchdown. By any means necessary, right?

Week 5 - As Cris Collinsworth said in the broadcast booth, Marques Colston is not blessed with enough speed to scare defensive backs, but he is a technician with understated physical abilities. Colston was Brees' safety blanket because he overshadowed whatever defender was trying to cover him on every play. Colston ran a variety of routes working both the underneath coverage, the middle of the field and attacking deep down the sideline. His longest reception of the day went for 40 yards ona crossing route off of play action. Colsotn ran a crossing route against zone coverage when he sat down in the middle of the field before catching the ball and carrying it down the sideline for massive YAC. Colston followed that up with an excellent one-handed touchdown reception. Brees dropped a perfect pass over the defensive back after stepping up in the pocket to Colston running a seam route. Colston made a one handed catch and kept his feet in bounds at the back of the endzone. Marcus Gilchrist was in excellent coverage but it was a combination of a perfect pass and outstanding catch that beat him. Colston then had two drops, but came back with an impressive back shoulder catch against double coverage. He dropped two more passes in two similar situations when defenders were looking to hit him on crossing routes. He again made up for those plays with a touchdown reception as he used his route running to get Eric Weddle out of position, before posting up in front of him, using his size to catch the football at the goalline. Colston's third touchdown came on a jump ball in single coverage against Antoine Cason. Brees threw the ball in the air and Colston high pointed it to give Cason no chance. Colston had some drops, but he dominated the Chargers secondary for 90 percent of this game.

Week 7 - Colston made plays against the Buccaneers secondary whenever the ball came his way. He appeared to not even be in top gear as defenders couldn't stick with his combination of size and agility. Colston's first reception came on a crossing route when he found the gap between the underneath and deep coverage before catching the ball at the sideline. Colston outmuscled a defender on the very next play to fight forward for the first down after running an underneath route. He didn't have to work hard for his touchdown as he benefited from an excellent play design. Colston ran an underneath route with two of his teammates clearing out his area of the field, before he used his pace to get to the corner of the endzone ahead of the pursuing defenders. Colston caught another deep crossing route from Brees despite being surrounded by Buccaneers defenders. It was a typical Colston day, no flash, just consistent production.

Week 8 - On a day when the Saints passing offense stuttered more than it seemingly ever has, Marques Colston was Brees' best receiver. That said, being the best today wasn't really an achievement. His first target was a well defended slant route against Champ Bailey. That was indicative of how the game would go all day when those two were lined up against each other, as Bailey took Colston out of the game in the second half. Colston did catch a number of passes against other defenders, but was largely ineffective like the offense as a whole.

Week 9 - Marques Colston continues to be Drew Brees’s favorite target. During his team’s third drive, Colston ran a drag route across the back of the end zone and secured a 1-yard touchdown grab. Colston gingerly tapped both feet in-bounds as he secured the catch. Brees had both Colston and Jimmy Graham open on the play, but opted to give the ball to Colston. During the next drive, Colston found a soft spot in zone coverage and secured a 12-yard gain. After halftime, Colston secured his last two grabs during his team’s sixth drive. On a 3rd-and-6 from the Philadelphia 36-yard line, Brees found Colston streaking down the sideline, beating Nnamdi Asomougha for a 21-yard gain.

Week 10 - Colston had a quiet day against the division rival Falcons, accumulating a mere three receptions on six targets for twenty-six yards. The Hofstra product did take a Brees throw to the house in the third quarter, a four-yard toss in which the lithe Colston stretched as far as he could to break the plane and put the Saints up by ten. Colston was the intended target on Brees’ first pass attempt – and only interception – of the game, a short pass that Falcons cornerback Asante Samuel read well and got in front of Colston for the pick.

Week 11 - Colston tied for the team lead in targets on Sunday with six, catching four for 69 yards. Not needing much in the passing game, Colston’s output was slightly limited, especially considering the matchup. It was clear the Saints could have done whatever they wanted, but a huge massive lead for the majority of the game limited Colston’s final numbers. When the game was (technically) still in the balance, however, Colston delivered. Colston’s first catch came on the first play of the Saints’ opening drive. Showing just how easy this was going to be for the talented combo, Brees hit a wide open Colston for 14 yards on an out. Just missing a deep connection with Brees on his next target, Colston attacked the middle of the Raider defense for his next (and longest) catch of the game, picking up 24 yards over the middle. The same drive, Colston came up huge for the offense on 3rd down. Again over the middle, Brees’ throw was a high. Knowing a hit was coming, Colston extended and exposed his midsection for the shot, but like he so often has in the past still managed to haul the 17-yard catch in despite the blow from Giordano. With a growing lead, Colston’s role diminished and he only would register one more catch, finding a pocket in the zone over the middle for 14 yards.

Week 12 - A rough game for Colston, as the wide receiver was upended on a high pass early on New Orleans’ second play of the 3rd quarter. Colston landed on his head, and missed a large portion of the second half. Though he returned, he was only able to contribute a short catch on a pass play designed to go downfield, but was well covered. The bulk of Colston’s production came in the 1st half, as the wide receiver was able to utilize his body size and strength to get position on his defender. On a short throw, Colston caught the ball and absorbed a shot from Donte Whitner, but was unfazed as he extended forward for additional yardage. In the red zone, Colston ran a route straight in to the end zone and Brees threw a high ball, located where Colston could use his large frame to leap and catch the pass. Keeping his feet in bounds as he landed, Colston scored the touchdown.

Week 13 - After his first target was intercepted in the endzone, Brees came back to Colston on third and 14 when he ran a deep out route from the slot for a first down. Coltson's second reception went for a first down on third and eight as he ran an out route for 10 yards. Each of Colston's first three receptions went for long first downs. This time Colston worked back to the football late in the play for a first down on first and 10. A blown coverage allowed Colston to catch another long first down conversion with a 21 yard conversion over the middle. Fifth reception, fifth first down. Colston caught a quick out for four yards on second and two. Colston's first reception that didn't go for a first down was a quick out from the slot that went for five yards.

Week 14 - Marques Colston started the game off with a bang as he hauled in a seam pass from the slot WR position but he subsequently fumbled the ball after he took a big hit. Colston used his frame to his advantage to snag the ball but the ball popped loose upon contact. Colston’s only other catch was an impressive diving catch over the middle to convert a 3rd and long, finding the soft spot in the zone ahead of the LB’s and moving the chains for his team. Colston got some catches late game as the Giants played prevent defense and gave up some underneath routes but Colston never threatened again on the field. The entire Saints redzone offense was poor on Sunday as they kicked too many field goals and took away potential touchdown opportunities for guys like Colston. Brees also had two INTs, including a redzone INT which did not help Colston produce either.

Week 15 - Colston only received three targets, but was caught all three including a 26-yard long on the Saints’ 3rd drive. Colston also help set up the Saints’ 2nd TD, making a 21-yard catch on 3rd down. Colston was not quite out of his break, but Brees put the perfect amount of loft on the throw allowing the WR to run under the throw. Brees did a nice job spreading the ball around and 24-point halftime lead meant Colston’s opportunities were limited.

Week 16 - While he didn't score a touchdown, Marques Colston had a huge day at the office with 13 total targets, operating with efficiency for chunk plays. Colston consistently beat 1 on 1 coverage throughout the day on a variety of patterns, from slants to outs to ins. Colston's big gainer was a 60 yard play in which he nearly scored. The ball was caught in the middle of the field, the defensive back bounced off Colston with shoddy tackling, and Colston took full advantage by getting the ball to the goal line. However, not everything was rosy for him. Colston had a blatant drop on what should have been a 3rd down conversion, and also had 2 fumbles that luckily went his way. The first fumble barely went out of bounds, while the second was near the redzone and luckily recovered by Jimmy Graham even closer to the goal line. Despite those blemishes, Colston turned in another solid day, showing the great rapport that he has with Drew Brees.

Week 17 - Marques Colston reached pay dirt twice in this game as he and Drew Brees connected on some typical Brees to Colston passes. The first came on a quick out route when Colston was lined up in the slot – almost unstoppable if the timing of the pass is dead on, and it was. His second came on a catch down the seam as Brees laid it in his mid section for a walk-in score. Colston’s only error was a drop on a catchable pass early in the game.