Will The Breakers Bounce Back?

Ethen Meyers • June 7, 2023

        After a phenomenal 4-0 start the New Orleans Breakers have seem to hit a wall. The offense is still clicking as the QB under center McLeod Bethel-Thompson still leads the league in passing yards, and star running Wes Hills still leads the league in rushing yards. As we go into the week 8 matchup against the Michigan Panthers you can't help but look at those numbers and ask, what gives? Despite their offensive stats after week 4 those stats seem empty as the Breakers have fallen to being tied for last in their division dropping the last 3 games with two of those losses coming against opponents with a losing record. The Breakers must turn it around this week against the Panthers as the Showboats and the Stallions are both on 4 and 3 game win streaks in their division.


        The Panthers come into the matchup one game below .500 but still sitting at 2nd place in their division. The Panthers will likely come in hungry for the win as league sack leader Breeland Speaks will look to disrupt Bethel-Thompson. The Breakers need to come in hungrier but both teams have something to play for coming near the end of the 10 week season. A win for the Breakers would not move them from last place in the division unless the Memphis Showboats beat the New Jersey Generals. On the flip side, a win for the Panthers would put them in the 1 seed in the respective division. Only the top 2 teams in each division make it to the playoffs in just 3 weeks, so it is beginning to feel like now or never for luck, and controlling your own destiny for the Breakers. While controlling your own destiny this week would help, a loss for the Showboats would boost the Breakers up tied for 2nd place in the division with the Houston Gamblers.


        So what exactly went wrong? At the start of the season the Breakers surpassed 20 points in all 4 wins, but fell to just over 13 points in their last 3 losses. The offense is still hot, but they can't seem to turn stats into 6. The Breakers turnover differential may not be dead last in the league, but it is in the bottom 3 at -1. In their 4 wins, they turned the ball over less than once on average across the 4 games, but the losses present a number north of 2.5 for turnovers per game. The other notable stat is "Red Zone Attempts", the Breakers had 5+ in all 4 wins, and only 9 total in the 3 losses. The ball is moving, but not where we need it to be. Ball security and better decision making seems to be the key to success in professional sports in general, but the Breakers are learning the hard way just how important it is. Despite this increase in turnovers their biggest loss was only by 7 points.


        There is no better time for the Breakers to get it together as they a win could tie them for second. On top of that, the Breakers face off against the Showboats in week 9 and could extinguish their playoff hopes. Even better? A controlling destiny moment could cement their playoff chances in week 10, as we would face off against the Houston Gamblers to cap off the season. If the Breakers find one stroke of good luck with a Showboats loss tomorrow, all they need to do is win to get in. It feels like New Orleans sports has seen that trend this year; red hot start, to fizzling out and ruining your own destiny. Will the Breakers break the pattern? Tune in Sunday, Jun 4 @ 3:00PM CDT and see for yourself.


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Linebacker Room Outlook: Different Yet Familiar?

By Kaden Arkeder • July 28, 2026
Well the changing of the guard has begun on defense. With Demario Davis leaving in free agency a big leadership void was left in the locker room where someone else will have to take the torch. Whom remains to be seen but all eyes are on what Kaden Ellis brings in his return to the Saints. The Saints signed Ellis to bring back someone with familiarity with the organization and the talents he was better able to showcase after leaving the team. Kaden Ellis in his time with the Atlanta Falcons was able to show he can do whatever you need of him from the linebacker position. He can play off ball in space showing good awareness in coverage but can also play well on the ball when asked to rush the passer from a variety of situations. With Ellis in the fold I expect the defense to be more effective in keeping the offense guessing on what the linebackers will be doing on a down to down basis.  Next up is Pete Werner who has had a up and down career thus far with the Saints but overall has been a solid starter since he was drafted. Werner’s coming off a down year in terms of on field production in 2025 where he was routinely taken off the field in favor of getting the young linebackers on the roster snaps on defense to give them some opportunity and experience. If Werner wants to keep his starting role on defense he is going to have to show more impact on defense this season beginning in training camp. With Demario gone and Pete Werner the only returning starting at linebacker on defense the door of opportunity has fully opened for the young linebackers on the roster. who have been patiently waiting for their chance to make a name for themselves. Isiah Stalbird, Jaylan Ford, Danny Stutsman fit into this category as young guys earning their stripes through special teams and limited snaps on defense thus far. This will be one of the more fascinating, fun training camp battles to see if any can overtake Werner on the depth chart and carve out a more meaningful role on defense. After them is the roster hopefuls in Anfernee Jennings and Jackson Sirmon. These two will look to show they belong in the league and will do whatever it takes to prove it. Whether they make the 53 man roster with the Saints or not the goal is to help bring more competition to the room and see who can do enough to latch on somewhere in the NFL. Opportunity is the key word I would use for this group. From Kaden Ellis getting a chance to really star on defense to Pete Werner getting an opportunity to keep young guys from taking his snaps again to the young guys like Danny Stutsman overtaking Werner on the depth chart. The linebacker unit has plenty of opportunities ahead of them, let’s see what they can make with them.
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