The Saints’ offense has taken plenty of heat this season, and for good reason. New Orleans came into the year with real buzz around a leap from worst to first in the division and a playoff push, but that dream has run headfirst into an offense that has been one of the NFL’s most disappointing units.
The problems have been easy to spot. The running game hasn’t held up, which has let defenses lean into the pass.
The offensive line has put Tyler Shough under pressure at a historic rate and has struggled to create room for ball carriers. And the playcalling, in all situations, hasn’t done much to steady things.
But there’s another issue that hasn’t gotten enough attention: the Saints’ WR3 spot.
When Jordyn Tyson was ruled out to start the season, it seemed manageable because New Orleans had already invested heavily at the position. Kevin Austin Jr. was expected to fill that role, but the Saints moved on from him before the season, a sign they viewed their two rookies - Bryce Lance and Barion Brown - as better answers.
Brown got significant snaps early in Game 1, but Lance quickly became the choice and New Orleans has stuck with him since. He’s had some moments, especially as a blocker, but the Saints still don’t have a reliable third receiver. That isn’t a knock on Lance so much as a recognition of what he is: a developmental receiver who still fits that label.
Tyson’s eventual return would obviously help, but that alone doesn’t solve the bigger question of whether New Orleans can count on his health. And the Austin Jr. situation only adds to the confusion, since he was back on the roster before the Saints moved on from him again before the Vikings game.
The Saints have obvious offensive issues everywhere you look, but the WR3 situation may be slipping under the radar.
In Other News...
Tyler Shough Faces A Huge Saints Test With Season Pressure Rising
Tyler Shoughs first rough outing as the Saints quarterback room centerpiece came at an awkward time, with the offense sputtering through Minnesota and little margin left for error. He finished 16 of 25 for 96 yards and two interceptions in a game where New Orleans never found much rhythm, and the coaching staff has spent the days since looking for ways to make life easier on the rookie as the pressure around the season keeps climbing.
Week 6 now brings a different kind of test against the Giants, who are also adjusting at quarterback after Jaxson Dart was lost for the season. Kellen Moores staff is expected to lean into more balance on offense, a shift that could help Shough settle in and give the Saints a better chance to protect themselves from another long afternoon. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Offense Faces A Road Test That Could Expose Everything
The Saints are heading into a matchup that looks like a real measuring stick for an offense still searching for steady footing. New Orleans has shown it can move the chains on third down and finish drives in the red zone, but the larger picture has been more uneven, with inconsistency and turnovers continuing to shadow the attack.
New York presents a tricky kind of test because the Giants have been difficult to throw on and stingy enough on defense to make every possession matter. The one opening New Orleans may be able to lean on is the ground game, and how well it takes advantage of that edge could go a long way toward deciding whether the Saints leave with answers or more questions. [Read more 🡒]
Saints May Need A Rookie To Rescue Their Run Game
The Saints have spent much of this season trying to find some traction on the ground, and the numbers have made the problem hard to ignore. The run game has been stuck at 3.5 yards per carry, even though defenses have often played lighter boxes, and injuries to Travis Etienne Jr. along with inconsistency from the rest of the backfield have only added to the strain.
CJ Donaldson has started to look like the kind of rookie who can at least steady things in spots. His work in short-yardage situations and in pass protection has given the staff a reason to trust him more, and with the offensive line still searching for answers, he figures to get a longer look as New Orleans tries to keep the ground game from stalling out again. [Read more 🡒]