Erik McCoy isn’t dodging the durability questions.
After playing just seven games in each of the last two seasons, the Saints center knows this year could be the last real chance to show he can stay on the field before New Orleans has to make a bigger decision. When asked about the concern, McCoy didn’t dress it up.
"Shit happens."
He expanded on that thought by saying, "Yes, there are certain things you can do to prepare, but at the end of the day, it's football, shit happens, and it's just the luck of the draw."
That’s how McCoy views last year’s injury, which came on a routine play and ended his season with a bicep injury. For him, the approach now is straightforward: "I'm going to keep doing what I can to mitigate those risks and hopefully I'll be lucky."
The stakes around his health are bigger than just one player. New Orleans added David Edwards in free agency, and that move opens the door for the Saints offensive line to become a real strength. That’s not something the franchise has been able to say in years.
The team has spent the time since Terron Armstead left and Ryan Ramczyk retired trying to settle the tackle spots on both sides. It looks like they’ve found the answer there, and Edwards gives them a major piece on the interior. If everybody is healthy, Cesar Ruiz stands as the weakest link - and that’s not a bad place to be.
But the key phrase is obvious: if everyone is healthy.
That’s where McCoy’s history matters. The Saints may not be able to afford another extended absence from him. Luke Fortner held things together last season, but he left in free agency, and the interior could get messy fast if McCoy goes down again.
At center, McCoy does more than snap the ball. He makes a lot of the protection calls, and that vocal responsibility raises the importance of the position even more. If he’s out, the replacement has to do more than just play his own assignment - he has to sort out everyone else’s too.
And if Ruiz is the weak spot, McCoy can help cover for him. He’s good enough to handle that and still take care of his own job. A backup center probably wouldn’t be asked to do the same.
That’s where the ripple effect starts. Lose one of the line’s best players, and it can show up somewhere else, including at right guard.
The best linemen erase mistakes. Take that away, and the whole unit feels it.
Even if you zoom in only on center, the damage can be severe. Penetration through the middle can wreck both the passing game and the run game.
The Saints have invested in the skill positions, but none of that matters much without protection up front. That’s part of why Edwards was brought in, too.
If McCoy can stay on the field for a full season, New Orleans could end up with a line good enough to support all those new additions and help maximize Shough’s development.
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