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Inside the Numbers Part VI

In the weeks leading up to the start of the New Orleans Saints’ 2009 training camp, NewOrleansSaints.com will take an inside look at some interesting facts and figures of various high-profile players on the Saints’ roster. This is part six in the series.

WIDE RECEIVER DEVERY HENDERSON

Height: 5-11

Weight: 200

NFL Experience in 2009: 6th Season

Years with Saints: 6th Season

College: Louisiana State University

SAINTSATIONAL NOTES:

• A second-round draft choice by the Saints in 2004, Henderson is a dangerous component of the Saints’ offensive arsenal with his blazing speed and ability to stretch opposing defenses. He displayed his deep threat abilities yet again in 2008 with 32 receptions for 793 yards and three scores. Henderson’s average of 24.8 yards per catch was ranked first in the NFL. He led the Saints with 14 plays from the line of scrimmage of 20 yards or more.

HIGHEST RECEIVING AVERAGE BY NFL PLAYERS IN 2008

(Minimum 30 receptions)

• Since being drafted in 2004, Henderson has averaged 21.6 yards a reception, the highest average of any Saints player with at least 100 career receptions. Of his 84 receptions since 2006, 26 have been completions of 25 yards or longer, including an 84-yard touchdown vs. Tampa Bay (9/7/2008) and an 81-yarder vs. San Francisco (9/28/2008), which also ranks tops on the team during this period. Since 2006, Henderson has recorded five 100-yard games, ten touchdowns and also rushed for a touchdown.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS ALL-TIME RECEIVING AVERAGE LEADERS

(Minimum 100 receptions)

• Henderson has played in 60 career regular season games, making 32 starts, and owns 106 career receptions for 2,290 yards and 14 touchdowns receiving and nine carries for 76 yards (8.4 average) with one touchdown.
  

2008 DEVERY HENDERSON HIGHLIGHTS

• Week One, NO vs. TB (9/7): Henderson’s third quarter 84-yard touchdown reception from QB Drew Brees was the longest reception of his five-year career.
  
• Week Five, NO vs. MIN (10/6): Henderson had a season-high four receptions for 104 yards with one touchdown. Brees and Henderson connected to opening the scoring in the first quarter when they connected on a 17-yard touchdown pass and later teamed up for a 52-yard completion. Also had one carry for 7 yards.
  
• Week Six, NO vs. OAK (10/12): Had two receptions for 68 yards (34.0 avg.) with a long of 51 yards in the Saints’ win.
  
• Week Seven, NO at CAR (10/19): Made three receptions for 80 yards, including a 54-yard completion from Brees.
  
• Week Ten, NO at ATL (11/9): Had two receptions for 33 yards and had his longest rush of the season, a 30-yard carry, which marked the longest rush of his five-year career.
  
• Week 14, NO vs. ATL (12/7): Recorded three receptions for 72 yards (24.0 avg.) in the team’s win over the Falcons at the Superdome.
  
• Week 16, NO at DET (12/21): Henderson had two receptions for 96 yards, including a 64-yarder, against the Lions at Ford Field.
  

Inside the Numbers Part V

• Since joining the Saints as a seventh round draft choice in 2006, Colston has ascended to the status as one of the NFL’s top receiving targets. He is ranked among the receiving leaders in all major categories in his first three seasons and has had one of the fastest starts to a career for a player in most receiving categories during this period of time despite missing seven games due to injury. The club’s receiving leader in most categories during his first two seasons (2006 & 2007), Colston has recorded 215 catches for 3,000 yards and 24 touchdowns over the course of his stellar young career. He is currently already ranked ninth in club record books in receptions, seventh in receiving yardage and sixth in receiving touchdowns.
• Despite missing five games with a thumb injury in 2008, Colston finished ranked fourth on the team in receptions, third in receiving yardage and second in touchdown grabs with 47 catches for 760 yards and five touchdowns.
• With 11 100-yard receiving games, only two Saints have surpassed the century mark as many times or more than Colston (Joe Horn-27 and Eric Martin-18). Colston has also recorded at least one touchdown reception in 18 of his 41 career contests-including five multiple touchdown games.
• Of his 215 career receptions, 150 have gone for a first down (69.8%). Over that span, Colston has 60 receptions for 957 yards and nine touchdowns on third downs.
• With 12 in 2008, 14 in 2007 and 15 in 2006, Colston has registered 41 receptions of 20 yards of more over the last the last three seasons, including touchdowns of 86, 70, 47, 35, 26, 25 and 21 yards.
• Colston has the most receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns over the course of his first three campaigns by any player ever drafted by the Saints.

• 5: Multiple-touchdown games in his career. Colston grabbed a career-high three touchdowns at San Francisco (10/28/2007).
• 11: Colston has had over 100 yards receiving 11 times in his brief career, including three games with over 150 yards. Only two other players in club history have reached the 100-yard milestone as often.
• 11: Though he has appeared in only 41 regular season games, Colston has hauled in eight ore more pass in 11 contests.
• 25: Receptions of 25 yards of more over the last three seasons. This marks the second-highest total for a Saints during this period and is tied for the 14th most by an NFL player during this timeline.
• 69.8: Percent of his 215 receptions that have moved the chains, as 150 of his grabs have gone for a first down since the start of the 2006 season.
• 86: Colston recorded an 86-yard touchdown catch at Carolina (10/1/2006), the longest regular season touchdown grab in team history for a rookie and the fourth-longest overall in club annals. The play was recorded in just his fourth regular season game as a professional.
• 159: Yards on 10 catches vs. Jacksonville (11/4/2007), which marked his season high. Colston had four 100-yard games in 2007 and over 90 yards in three other contests.
• 215: Receptions in his first three seasons, the highest total by a Saint in his first three campaigns, as well as tied for eighth among NFL players in the first three years of their playing careers.
• 455: Yards in a three-game stretch in 2006 (10/29-11/12), the most receiving yards over such a span in club history. He recorded over 100-yards in all three games, a streak he would also equal in 2007.
• 869: Receiving yards in the first nine games of his career, more than any other player in NFL history in their opening nine contests.

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Inside the Numbers Part IV