Tyler Shough’s recent slide has put a spotlight on the same issue that followed him in college: what happens when pressure gets home.
The New Orleans Saints quarterback has been sharp when he’s given clean pockets. In those situations, he has thrown for 1,012 yards, nine touchdowns, and just two interceptions while completing nearly 73% of his passes.
But when the heat has been on, the production drops hard. Under pressure, Shough has completed 49% of his throws for 431 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions.
That split has shown up in the Saints’ recent losses to the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants, and now he gets another tough assignment against the Steelers.
Pittsburgh does not blitz at a high rate, ranking 19th in the NFL at 26.4% according to Sharp Football Analysis, but the front still brings real problems. The Steelers have 16 sacks, which puts them in the top 10, and they can roll out impact rushers in waves.
Former Defensive Player of the Year TJ Watt leads the way with 4.5 sacks. Alex Highsmith has three, Nick Herbig has two, and Derrick Harmon has 1.5. It’s a deep group, and there’s always someone in position to make a play.
That puts pressure on the Saints’ offensive line to hold up, especially at tackle. Asim Richards has been a liability and needs to bounce back. Even so, the line’s best outcome may simply be keeping the Steelers from taking over completely.
That means the burden lands on Shough. The concern is the same one that surfaced before: he has looked sped up, and that’s led to bad decisions. He has to slow the game down, protect the football, and choose the safe answer when it’s there - even if that means throwing it away.
Kellen Moore can help by building in quick throws. Screens, checkdowns, and short hitches can give Shough a release valve, and those options should be there even against a strong Pittsburgh secondary.
This one could come down to a single snap, a single mistake, a single hesitation. The Saints can live with a tough defensive battle. What they can’t afford is a pressured Shough error deciding the game.
In Other News...
Saints Running Game Just Drew An Ugly Giants Response
The Saints Week 6 win in New York did more than add another mark in the standings. It also sparked a blunt postgame assessment from Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, who made clear he was unhappy with the way his defense handled the run. Wilson singled out effort as the biggest issue, saying players who do not get to the ball are letting the unit down, and he indicated the response to that kind of performance will not be gentle.
For New Orleans, the takeaway is simple enough: the ground game exposed a soft spot that has been a problem for the Giants all season. Their run defense has lingered near the bottom of the league in several categories, and Wilson is now trying to force a reset before the next stretch of games. Whether that message translates into cleaner tackling and better pursuit is the next question, but it is clear the Saints left behind a frustrated opponent as well as a win. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Paris Game Is Becoming Something Much Bigger For Louisiana
Jeff Landrys trip to Paris for the Saints game on Oct. 25 is turning into more than a football stop. The Louisiana governor is joining the New Orleans-based team overseas as part of a push to draw French business to the state, and he is doing it with the Louisiana Department of Economic Development in tow. The agenda includes meetings and seminars aimed at showcasing Louisianas economic openings, with particular attention on the power grid and healthcare sectors.
The state also is leaning on familiar branding to make its pitch, bringing back the Louisiana NOW pavilion that had been used during the New Orleans Super Bowl. It gives Louisiana a ready-made stage to connect with French business leaders during a week when plenty of eyes will already be on the Saints. For Landry, the game itself is only part of the opportunity, with the larger goal centered on turning an international sports trip into an economic one. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Kept Their Season Alive But The Pressure Just Got Worse
The Saints did what they had to do against the Giants, digging out of an early hole and finishing strong with a four-touchdown fourth quarter in a 34-27 win that kept their season from slipping further. The defense looked sharper, too, and Tyler Shough managed to steer the offense through the kind of game New Orleans has been struggling to survive lately, which at least buys the team a little breathing room.
Still, the relief is temporary with a rare trip to Paris next on the schedule against the Steelers. The Saints will have to carry this better energy across the Atlantic, and the real concern is whether Shough and the offense can build on a game that asked plenty of the quarterback even before the spotlight shifted to what comes next. [Read more 🡒]