In some respects, last week’s game against the New England Patriots was the best of the season for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave.
He continued to be a focal point for the Saints passing attack, he finally hauled in an explosive play, he nearly cracked the 100-yard mark for the first time this season. There was some good to take away from it.
Unfortunately …
“The drops turned my game all the way down,” Olave said.
Olave had a pair of crucial drops against the Patriots — one that would have been a somewhat difficult catch near the pylon in the end zone on third down, and another more routine play late in the game on a second and 7 as the Saints were trying to put together a go-ahead drive in the closing minutes.
That last drop set up a third down that New Orleans did not convert. The Saints punted the ball away and never got it back in a 25-19 loss.
Thursday, Olave addressed his performance for the first time since the game ended, and while he was happy with some aspects of the way he played, he did not make any excuses for the big moments where he came up short.
“It was tough, man,” Olave said. “You take out a few plays, it was a great game, but those few plays were terrible. It’s a tough situation. A lot of opportunities that we’ve got to take advantage of, especially on my part. I’ve got to do a better job.”
Asked a follow up question about how he’d grade the drops — whether they were “could have” plays or “should have” plays — Olave didn’t let himself off the hook.
“They’re all ‘should’ve,’” Olave said. “That’s how I look at it. I hold myself to a higher standard. Any ball that is in my radius, I feel like I should catch. If it touches my fingers or touches my hands, I’ve got to catch the ball.”
That game, and the missed opportunities within it, have generated some conversation about Olave.
The Saints drafted Olave with the No. 11 pick of the 2022 NFL draft. He enjoyed two strong seasons to start his career, posting back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns. But multiple concussions limited him to just eight games last season, and he did not see the field after Week 9.
He admitted Thursday that it has taken him some time to feel like himself after the way last season ended, and that he is just now feeling like he’s finding his groove as a player again.
Through six weeks, only one other player — Los Angeles Rams wideout Puka Nacua (65) — has more targets than Olave (64). He is clearly an important part of what the Saints want to do offensively.
“It’s a heavy workload, but I’m ready for it at the end of the day,” Olave said. “That’s what I’ve wanted, that’s what I’ve prayed for, that’s what I’ve worked for since I’ve been here.”
The production hasn’t always matched the usage this season, though.
Olave has caught 39 passes this season, which ranks seventh in the NFL, but he’s turned them into just 342 yards (24th), averaging only 8.8 yards per catch. Prior to hauling in a 53-yard catch on the first play of the game against New England, his season long was 17 yards.
His season high in receiving through the first five weeks was 59 yards, set against the Giants in Week 5. He nearly doubled that against New England, with six grabs for 98 yards. Still, he was left with a sour taste after the game, knowing that his drops could have played a key role in changing the outcome of what became the fifth loss in six tries for New Orleans.
Those plays have added an extra layer of motivation for this upcoming week’s game against the Chicago Bears.
“For sure, especially waiting a whole week, you’ve got to wait seven days to play again,” Olave said. “Of course it’s motivation. I’m just trying to prove myself right at the end of the day. … I’ve just got to take advantage of it and make the play when the ball comes my way.”