The New Orleans Saints concluded their offseason program last week and will take a well-earned vacation before opening training camp next month in Irvine, California.
Our Saints beat crew huddled for a roundtable discussion, analyzing the highs and lows of the offseason and looking ahead to coach Dennis Allen’s third season at the helm.
Part 1 of our discussion runs today. Look for Part 2 on Saturday.
Who or what was the most pleasant surprise of the offseason workouts?
Luke Johnson: This new offense looks like it fits Derek Carr like a glove. Maybe this doesn’t necessarily count as a surprise — take a look at this offensive system’s other stops across the league, and it’s pretty clear that it does a nice job maximizing the quarterback — but Carr was sharp in every practice that was open for media viewing. Time will tell whether this is legitimate, especially once Carr faces a real pass rush, but he passed the first test with flying colors.
Matthew Paras: Klint Kubiak’s appearing willingness to use Taysom Hill in a variety of roles reflects the creativity of this new coaching staff. While it was fun to watch Hill as a legit fullback at times, the differences in how Hill was used compared to last year should bode well in general for an offense looking to get back on track.
Rod Walker: I am not sure whether “surprise” is the right word, because it’s really not a surprise. But it’s pretty evident that the guys on offense really believe in what Kubiak’s scheme can bring. Talking to players and just by watching body language in practice, it's clear everyone has bought in to what they are trying to do. It’s like a fresh start, and you can tell the players feel like this offense will benefit them both individually and collectively.
Jeff Duncan: I’ll qualify my answer by stating that it’s impossible to evaluate line play during offseason workouts, but from what we were able to witness from the offensive line, I liked what I saw. The athletic starting five of Taliese Fuaga, Nick Saldiveri, Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz and Trevor Penning has great potential. There are going to be growing pains with a new system and new starters at three positions, but there’s some quality clay for line coaches John Benton, Rick Dennison and Jahri Evans to mold.
What was your most pressing concern?
Johnson: The obvious one is the offensive line. While I like the idea of giving young players an opportunity, the fact remains the Saints are rolling with three unproven commodities in their starting five. But I’m also a little worried about this defense. There might be an unrealistic assumption that the unit is just going to keep being a top-10 group, but its numbers last year likely were inflated by the bad offenses the Saints faced. The defense also was dependent on forcing turnovers, a notoriously volatile statistic.
Paras: The Saints have done everything to rebuild Trevor Penning’s confidence this offseason, and the tackle seems to be in a good place mentally. And yet, I’m still skeptical that he can be the team’s answer at right tackle. There were still several moments in OTAs and at mandatory minicamp in which Penning seemed to get overpowered or fall to the ground. I’m not saying Penning can’t do it, but it’s worth watching in training camp.
Walker: My concern since last season ended has been the offensive line, and that won’t change until I see what this unit does in the season opener against the Panthers. No Andrus Peat, no James Hurst and probably no Ryan Ramczyk is a big reason to temper expectations. Maybe the new offensive scheme works to this young, revamped line’s advantage. But until I see it in a real game, I will remain concerned.
Duncan: This team’s overall depth is a major question mark. The starting units look solid, but there’s not much experience or proven talent behind the first group. For a team with so many key players in their 30s, that’s a red flag. Several players from the team’s past two drafts could play key roles this season.
Which under-the-radar player opened your eyes?
Johnson: I’ll say running back Jordan Mims. It’s hard to see a path to the roster for Mims at the moment, as there are three running backs in front of him whom the Saints have invested in, but the new scheme appears to suit his style. This is a player who racked up 2,500 yards from scrimmage and 29 touchdowns in his last two seasons at Fresno State, and he could be a camp standout when the pads come on.
Paras: Dallin Holker has been a nice find at tight end. Granted, there were predraft concerns whether the former Colorado State tight end could block well enough to make the NFL and we’ve yet to see him in pads, but Holker has made enough plays in the passing game to show why the Saints gave him the highest amount of guarantees ($235,000) among their crop of undrafted rookie free agents this year.
Walker: Matt steals my answer here, much like the Saints got a steal by getting Holker as an undrafted free agent. I’ve been on the Holker bandwagon from the start after watching his tape from college and seeing his ability to make big plays in games. We saw flashes of that in minicamp. With Juwan Johnson injured, the rookie from Colorado State has an even better chance of nabbing a roster spot. Go ahead and mark it down: He’ll be on the 53-man roster. My other answer here would’ve been Willie Gay. When the Saints first signed him, many just saw it as a good pickup for a role player. His size and athleticism indicate he’ll be much more than that.
Duncan: My official “camp beast” is Mason Tipton, the undrafted rookie from Yale. Tipton received a lot of reps with the second-team offense and showed terrific hands, speed and polished route-running skills. He reminds me a lot of Lance Moore, and not just because they both have central Ohio backgrounds. There’s a smoothness to his game, and he carries himself with confidence. The receiver is definitely one to watch in training camp.
What was your initial impression of the new offensive scheme?
Johnson: It feels completely different from what we’re used to around these parts. There are going to be a lot of players in motion before the snap and a lot of misdirection after the snap and probably a lot of play action. I think it has a lot of potential to be a fun and explosive unit, which would be most welcome after the last couple of years. But there’s still a lot that needs to be proven before I’m confident in saying the Saints will take major offensive strides this year.
Paras: We’ll see quite a difference in the formations that the Saints run. What is immediately noticeable is how many of New Orleans’ formations are now bunched or close together. Coaches and players also have talked about how running the same plays over and over in different looks can keep opponents off guard. That’s looked to be the case in what we’ve seen.
Walker: You know when you buy a new car and sit in it for the first time and see all of the features? Well, that’s sorta what this feels like. You see all the bells and whistles (presnap motions and play actions) that your previous car didn’t have. Oh, and there is the Taysom Hill button that Kubiak looks like he plans to press often. Kubiak knows who the playmakers are and plans to utilize them to the fullest.
Duncan: In a word: fun. There’s a lot going on with this scheme. Presnap motion. Bootlegs. Play action. Misdirection. You name it, and it’s in there. Most impressively, though, was how cleanly the operation seemed to run, especially with Carr under center. For such a new and complicated system, the unit was remarkably efficient. That’s a very good sign.
Get more from our Saints beat crew on the Saints Insider podcast, available twice a week on the Saints on NOLA.com YouTube channel.
