The New Orleans Saints are just about done with the first phase of their offseason. They highlighted some big strides as they prepare for what’s sure to be another exciting season ahead. The surprise announcement came even with the team still having their last day of mandatory minicamp ahead of them. Instead, they planned a team golf outing and focused on developing chemistry and team bonding first. As they approach training camp in late July, the Saints are navigating several dynamics, particularly in their quarterback competition and player development.
The future at the QB position continues to be a key concern moving forward for the Saints at this time. The NFL’s collective-bargaining agreement has put up some barriers. The battle for QB1 will likely extend well into the summer months. Among those competing for the job are Tyler Shough, Jake Haener, and Spencer Rattler. As Nussmeier, the new offensive coordinator, explained, that can be the beauty in taking a big-picture approach at this time. He said that as summer starts to roll on, the coaching staff will start to refine their focus.
We’re going to sit down with them and say, ‘Hey, here’s how we view your strengths. Here’s some things we’d really like you to work at to get better,’ Nussmeier remarked. The idea is to give each young QB certain focuses and targets for improvement before training camp even kicks off.
New Orleans Saints standout wide receiver Chris Olave missed nine games last season due to several concussions. Now, he’s hungry to get back to more drills and prove what he can do. He understands the importance of what’s happening now during the offseason. Most notably, he’s looking forward to the 11-on-11 drills, which he thinks will greatly improve camaraderie among the team. “Just getting the timing down, getting everything down from the first read to the fourth read,” he commented on the importance of practice.
Happy that the Saints cruised through their offseason without incurring any long-term damage. This is a great thing as they get ready to move into more intense training camps. Cornerback Alontae Taylor expressed the other side of the coin, explaining the necessity of full-contact practices. “I don’t think 7-on-7 is really football,” he stated, highlighting a common sentiment among players who value traditional game scenarios over practice formats that lack full defensive pressure.
Beyond quarterback evaluations, the Saints are taking an extended look at the positional adjustments of their players. This means moving Trevor Penning to guard, which frees rookie tackle Fuaga to make his own move from left to right tackle. These type of adjustments are key as the team hopes to strengthen its offensive line.
The Saints’ offseason activities have focused on making sure practices are clean, but very competitive. Spencer Rattler noted, “Try to have clean practices, good days, good days of competition with the defense.” That emphasis on the seriousness of the competition and pursuit of precision is sure to set the tone for more fruitful training sessions to come.
As Kellen Moore recently said, keeping that momentum going into the summer is crucial to forging the on-field chemistry that only comes with time spent together. “I think that’s our big emphasis … we just keep building all summer long,” he remarked. That all starts with this philosophy, which is reinforcing a culture of getting better even when guys aren’t on official team business.
Most players have their sights firmly set on training camp later this month, so they’re enjoying a well-earned respite. At the same time, first year players and injury returnees have been busting their tails on rehab. The next training camp will undoubtedly be the most important summer Saints basketball has seen in nearly three decades. From there, they’ll get their roster set and refine their plans for next season.
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