Jimmy Graham’s play is key in Saints 4-1 start

He has become a fantasy-football hero and his play on the field is making him one of the hottest pass-catchers in the National Football League.  Saints second-year tight end Jimmy Graham is scorching defenders at a rapid rate, and he is showing no signs of slowing down.

“I just try and work hard each day, listen to the coaches and my teammates, and help the team any way I can,” said the humble Jimmy Graham. 

Graham is coming off his third straight 100-yard receiving game in the Saints’ 30-27 win over the Carolina Panthers.

Jimmy Graham has not only become one of the most improved tight ends in the NFL; he is also becoming one of the better players in the league also.  Saints quarterback Drew Brees was asked about how much his Tight End has improved from last season to this season.

“At this point last year, he was talented but raw, so green still,” Brees said.  “Even though it’s been only a year, he’s gained a lot in experience, not only from how we incorporated him into the offense last year, but how he had an offseason under his belt where he was really able to work a lot with David Thomas and the stuff we did on the side.”

Drew says Jimmy lives and breathes the game.

“Obviously once we got into training camp, you see him having this mentality of trying to be great and he loves football. He’s his biggest critic, which I love seeing young guys like that who are going to police themselves and do the right thing,” according to Drew.  “They don’t need a coach telling them something, even though as a young guy you’re going to have a coach telling you what to do.”

Jimmy has shown steady improvement in each of his five performances this season for the Black and Gold offense.  Against the Green Bay Packers, Graham had four receptions for 56 yards and a TD.  In the battle against the Bears, Jimmy had seven receptions for 79 yards.  Then, Jimmy really raised his game the next three weeks, hauling in more than 100 yards receiving per week  in each of the last three contests.

Graham torched the Texans for 100 yards on four grabs, and then he upped his play even more against Jacksonville, rolling for ten receptions for 132 yards and one TD.  In the Saints’ most recent win versus the Panthers, Jimmy hit the century mark again with eight catches for 129 yards.

So, let’s add up Jimmy’s numbers through the first five games of the season.  Graham has thirty-two receptions for a total of 496 yards and three touchdowns.  He’s averaging 15.5 yards per reception.

And if we break Jimmy’s numbers down by game, we find that Graham is averaging 6.4 catches per game for 99.2 yards.  From what I know of Jimmy, he is a very humble guy that is grateful for his opportunity to play in the National Football League.

Jimmy is on par to have more than 100 receptions for over 1,500-yards and 12 TD’s this season at this current pace.  He is contributing on the highest level, and the best part is:  He’s really only just getting started.   

Click here to order Jimmy Graham’s proCane Rookie Card.


(wwl.com)