Tyrann Mathieu didn’t just take a shot at the New Orleans Saints - he went straight at the team’s pulse.
The former Saint has already criticized the offensive line, but he pushed things further by questioning the group’s effort and Kellen Moore’s command of the locker room. “I don't think them boys really going out there and playing as hard as they can for Kellen Moore,” Mathieu said.
That’s the kind of line that cuts deep because it goes beyond scheme or execution. It puts the spotlight on buy-in, and if Mathieu is right, that’s a far bigger problem than any single bad Sunday. With the Saints’ schedule ahead, the damage could be hard to undo.
From the outside, the criticism fits the picture the Saints have been painting. Moore comes across as a mild-mannered coach, and while staying composed is one thing, the team hasn’t shown much of the fire that usually comes from a head coach who can light a fuse. Since Moore took over, that edge hasn’t really shown up in the way the Saints play, either.
The roster has changed too, and not in a way that helps. Demario Davis and Alontae Taylor were two of the team’s biggest emotional engines, and both left during the offseason. Kaden Elliss and Jonas Sanker have stepped into those spots, but even if the play is there, the same energy isn’t.
That’s part of what stands out now: the Saints can look flat even when the game is still within reach. The issue isn’t just the scoreboard.
It’s the feel of the team. Who’s the one dragging everybody into the fight when things start going sideways?
It’s simple to look energized when the plays are coming. It’s a lot harder when momentum disappears or the game turns against you. Right now, the Saints look short on personality and leadership, and they could use somebody who brings both.
Davis and Taylor gave the defense that kind of spark, but it carried beyond one side of the ball. The offense never really had players like that to begin with, and now the whole team seems to be missing that jolt.
That’s why Mathieu’s criticism lands the way it does. If the head coach doesn’t bring fire, intensity or energy, and the roster doesn’t naturally supply it either, the result can look exactly like this: a 2-5 team with no fire, intensity or energy.
The Saints don’t seem to have it on the coaching staff, from Moore down through the coordinators, and they don’t appear to have enough of it on the roster to make up for it. When that’s the mix, the team starts to reflect the people leading it.
In Other News...
Gayle Benson Sends Saints A Clear Message About This Season
Gayle Benson made it clear this week that the Saints are not being judged solely by their 2-5 start, at least not in the moment. The New Orleans owner said she has confidence in the players effort and signaled that the organization will take a broader look at the roster and staff once the season is over, a familiar stance for a team trying to steady itself while the losses pile up.
There has already been one notable change on the coaching side, with the Saints parting ways with run-game coordinator T.J. Paganetti after the rushing offense struggled badly. Benson also touched on the leagues growing international footprint, including the possibility of New Orleans being part of an NFL International Series game in Italy as the league expands its Global Markets Program there, adding another layer to a season that still has plenty of questions attached to it. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Face A Bigger Question Than The Offense In New Orleans
The Browns head to New Orleans on Sunday with both teams trying to steady themselves after recent losses, and the matchup carries a little more weight than a simple rebound spot. The Saints come out of their bye week as slight home favorites, which says plenty about how odd this season has been for both sides and how much the market still trusts New Orleans to sort things out at home.
Much of the attention will naturally fall on the Saints offense, where Chris Olave remains the most important name to watch even as his production has cooled from the strong start he gave them. Cleveland has its own issues to clean up, but the bigger question in this game may be whether New Orleans can use the extra week to re-establish itself before the pressure around the season starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Reach A Roster Crossroads With Deadline Pressure Building
With the Saints still sorting through a difficult stretch, the next few days have become about more than just the game plan. New Orleans is evaluating injured players Jordyn Tyson, Travis Etienne Jr. and Kelvin Banks Jr. for possible returns to practice, a sign the staff is at least hoping to get some bodies back in the mix as it tries to steady the roster.
At the same time, the front office is keeping an eye on the bigger picture. Kendre Miller and Justin Reid are among the names being monitored as possible trade candidates if the Saints decide to sell, which adds another layer of uncertainty to a roster already facing important decisions. Nothing has been finalized, but the pressure is building as New Orleans weighs whether to push forward with what it has or start reshaping the group around it. [Read more 🡒]