Veteran cornerback Yiadom strives to make his mark with Saints

Isaac Yiadom is entering his sixth season in the NFL, currently vying for one of the cornerback slots for the New Orleans Saints.

The 6-foot-1, 188-pound veteran has made three previous stops in the league. His first was in Denver, where he was a 3rd round pick in 2018. During his 29 game tenure in the Mile High city, he tallied 63 stops and one interception. In his 16 games with the New York Giants, Yiadom netted 46 tackles. Finally in Green Bay, he contributed 10 tackles in 16 games.

During his career, the Boston College product has played in 70 NFL games with 20 starts, with nearly 1,100 snaps on special teams and over 1,500 coming in the secondary. The 27-year old understands that versatility improves his stock.

“All of my NFL career, I’ve always played special teams… in Denver, with the Giants. I played special teams as long as I’ve been playing,” Yiadom stated.

His rookie year took place during the regime of Vance Joseph when the native New Orleanian was the head coach at Denver. Saints first-year defensive coordinator Joe Woods served in the same capacity for Joseph during that time. There is clear familiarity between Yiadom and Woods.

“I feel like I’ve played in every defense by now. I was with Joe Woods. It’s the same technique we’re running here that we had in Denver. What they taught me there I’m using now,” said Yiadom.

The working relationship between the two men preceded Yiadom’s arrival in the NFL. At the 2018 Senior Bowl, his team was coached by Vance Joseph and that Broncos staff.

“Joe Woods was my coach for the Senior Bowl. I must have impressed them with what I did,” Yiadom was with a grin.

Yiadom entered the NFL with a reputation as a player who can handle himself well in press man covaerage, capable of jamming or smothering receivers. He gets good positioning on the target’s hips and dislodges the ball when it arrives. He’s also known as a striker.

“That’s always been a part of my game,” he said. “I’m not afraid to tackle. I’m good in the run game, it’s the way that I’ve always been. That’s why I’ve been good on special teams.”

Spending most of 2022 on the Saints practice squad, Yiadom dressed out for six contests. What happened last season, good or bad, lit a fire in him. That’s part of the ‘survival of the fittest’ mentality in the NFL. Everyone, regardless of position, is fighting for a spot.

“Every year is a prove it year. Someone is trying to take your job. There are only so many spots. I go to camp every year trying to take somebody’s job, showing that I belong on this team, not only on special teams.”

As the players fiercely compete, the camaraderie part of the game also shines through. Players will borrow techniques and overall approach from their teammates. Saints standout Marshon Lattimore, a four-time Pro Bowler with 14 interceptions and 78 passes broken up in his career to date, is always one to watch. When he’s at practice, all eyes are focused on jersey No. 23.

“I see what he does on the field every single day,” Yiadom detailed about Lattimore’s skills. “He’s not really vocal, but everyone’s watching him when he’s on the field. A one yard slant is the hardest route to cover. You can see how quickly he transitions to that route in order to break that play up. Not a lot of people can do that. We earn a lot just watching what Marshon does and replicating it.”

Another teammate who serves as a role model for Isaac is special team dynamo J.T. Gray, who arrived as an undrafted safety with the Saints in 2018 but made his mark as an invaluable All-Pro special teams ace. Yiadom is a sponge when in Gray’s company.

“He’s teaching me things after practice. His advice on how to beat a single (block) . We both use different techniques, but it’s the little things that make him so good. He thinks about what he’s going to do before he has to do it. He always has a plan. He’s been teaching me his plan.”

There are some changes to which Yiadom and all of his teammates are adjusting in their preparations for the upcoming season. The Saints have gone to a new innovation with the secondary for practices. The players like Yiadom are wearing blinders (which are like goggles) during drills which forces the individual to focus on what is directly in front of him, with little to no peripheral vision.

“It makes you focus more because you can’t see to the side,” he explained. “When you come off of a release with the receiver, where are your eyes? It makes you focus on the receiver’s hips and feet. If he breaks inside, you go inside. If you have an overall wider vision, it’s much easier to get juked in the open field. It makes things harder at practice, so it will be easier during games. We used them during OTA’s, so I’m getting used to them.”

The loyol Who Dat fanbase gives juice to the well-travelled Yiadom. The game day experience exceeds any previous he has had in the league.

“I love it here,” exclaimed Yiadom, his eyes lighting up. “The first time that I ran out of the (Superdome) tunnel, I told everyone from every team I’ve been on. Saints’ stadium is the loudest fans, the music is playing. we come through the tunnel, the lights in the Superdome are out. It really hypes you up. The fans here really appreciate the game of football. There is never a dull moment on Sundays when we’re in the Dome.”

Already sounding like an invested Saints player, Isaac Yiadom continues his quest to establish himself in Black and Gold for 2023.