The New Orleans Saints were in a back-and-forth battle with the Cleveland Browns for most of their matchup, however, they began to pull away with a touchdown pass from Derek Carr to Juwan Johnson that put them ahead 28-14. Johnson was able to get just open enough near the right edge of the endzone, and Carr placed it where he could catch it and still get his feet down in bounds before he fell out.
This was Johnson’s second touchdown of the year in somewhat of a down season so far, but hopefully with another touchdown to his name and some production to get the Saints further ahead in this game, he can come around and make some more plays down the stretch.
Juwan Johnson exited late in Week 8’s Chargers game to be evaluated for a concussion. Dennis Allen announced he is good to go against the Panthers:
Dennis Allen announced starting tight end Juwan Johnson is good to go ahead of the New Orleans Saints divisional matchup versus the Carolina Panthers.
Johnson caught a pass late in the New Orleans Saints’ contest against the Los Angeles Chargers, immediately left the game and didn’t return. It looked like Johnson took a slight hit to the head or his head went straight to the ground as he made the catch.
You may not have noticed because it was late in the game. This was on the final possession right before the two-minute warning. Johnson was then ruled out for the remainder of the game while being evaluated for a concussion.
Allen announcing Johnson is good to go on Monday means Johnson didn’t suffer a concussion and doesn’t have to go through the steps of concussion protocol.
Johnson has been more involved in the offense lately after a slow start. With the limited amount of wide receivers at the Saints’ disposal, Johnson should continue to be featured.
The Saints finally found their tight ends against the Buccaneers. They need to continue targeting them versus the Broncos and beyond:
The New Orleans Saints got tight ends more involved against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and that should become a trend, especially against the Denver Broncos after injuries laid waste to the receiving corps.
Foster Moreau and Juwan Johnson were non-factors in the offense through five weeks. Their production leaped when the Saints took on the Buccaneers. Moreau and Johnson combined for 59 yards through the first 5 weeks. Moreau had 54 by himself against the Buccaneers.
Part of that change had to do with Spencer Rattler being at the helm and the type of plays Klint Kubiak was calling for Rattler. Another reason was health concerns.
Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are injured, so tight ends may be more involved this week out of necessity. It shouldn’t stop there, however. Health aside, targeting the tight ends started on the first play of the game last week. Rattler rolled out and hit Juwan Johnson for his longest reception of the season. At that time, Olave and Shaheed were on the field.
Rattler continued to target tight ends along the middle of the field. This feels like a section of the field the Saints don’t hit enough. The tight ends can be unlocked. We’ve been looking for it all season, and last week showed it was a possibility.
Spencer Rattler was effective throwing outside of the pocket, until the Buccaneers adjusted. Klint Kubiak must make his own changes this week:
New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler showed potential in his NFL debut, especially in the first half. Things began to go downhill in the second half after Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles adjusted his pressure packages to send more exotic blitzes after the first-year pro. But the connection between Rattler’s success and struggles is his ability to work outside of the pocket.
Rattler completed 7 of 12 attempts for 111 yards when he was throwing from outside the pocket, per Next Gen Stats.
Against the Denver Broncos, Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has to come up with a better plan to get Rattler on the move and outside of the pocket more consistently. Vance Joseph is a good defensive coordinator and he’ll likely use some of the principles Bowles and the Buccaneers used to keep Rattler in the pocket.
In the first half, Rattler looked in control of the offense. He rolled out on the first play of the game and delivered a 27-yard pass to Juwan Johnson. The formula of rolling out and allowing Rattler to read multiple levels of the field was effective until Tampa Bay adjusted.
They began flaring their defensive ends out to stop Rattler’s ability to get outside. It’s no coincidence the offense stalled because that was New Orleans’ best offensive strategy.
The injuries on the offensive line make it difficult to run and consistently keep a clean pocket. Moving the pocket was clearly effective. Kubiak has to find a way to adjust and keep that as a positive aspect in the offense.
That’s a nice way to start your NFL career. Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler took the field for the New Orleans Saints and made an immediate impact, throwing a dart to tight end Juwan Johnson downfield. Johnson made some moves after the catch and gained 27 yards on the play.
It’s good to see Rattler throwing to his big tight end early and often. Johnson went into Week 6’s game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers having totaled just 9 receptions for 70 yards; that’s an average of 7.8 yards per catch and only 14 yards per game. That’s a far cry from his breakout 2022 season or his strong finish in 2023. Offseason foot surgery had slowed him down but it’s not like Derek Carr was looking his way often, either.
The Saints are desperate for Rattler to make a spark. Carr is on the mend with an oblique muscle injury and the team is preparing for their rookie to start three or four games until he’s back. It would mean the world if Rattler can make some big plays and keep them in games, but if nothing else his success could keep fans engaged amid a tough-to-watch losing streak.
Dennis Allen is calling for someone outside of Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Taysom Hill to step up in the Saints offense:
The New Orleans Saints lack depth at offensive playmaker. Taysom Hill is a do it all player, who’s impact on the team is even more apparent in his absence. Alvin Kamara is the only impactful running back on the roster.
When you look at the passing attack specifically, Derek Carr primarily throws the ball to Kamara, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. After that there’s a steep dropoff.
Carr previously commented on the lack of targets for players after the Big 3. He pointed towards game-planning as a reason for funneling so many passes to his top options. Dennis Allen is now calling for players behind them to step up.
Saints News Network’s John Hendrix shared Allen’s comment: “We got to find some other guys that can make plays for us other than Alvin, Olave, Taysom.”
Allen went on to give credit to Shaheed, too, adding: “I thought Rashid did some good things from an offensive perspective.” The muffed punt was clearly still on Allen’s mind, but Shaheed is a consistent part of the offensive game plan.
WWL’s Jeff Nowak found a stat that perfectly describes the reliance on those players. Outside of the four mentioned above, everyone else is responsible for 24 yards over the last three weeks. Not 24 yards per game, 24 yards total. Juwan Johnson hasn’t made enough plays at tight end, while guys like A.T. Perry and Bub Means can’t even dress out at wide receiver.
Allen is correct. The Saints need more weapons. It’d be best if it came from the tight ends or another running back. Those positions could help target the middle of the field or provide another running threat. But with someone like Davante Adams expressing interest in a trade to New Orleans, you have to wonder if that’s a real option, too.
The Saints might need one more year from Jimmy Graham after all. The tight ends on their roster aren’t getting the job done:
Maybe the New Orleans Saints were too quick to give Jimmy Graham a polite “thanks, but no thanks” when he expressed interest in running it back this summer. The team lacks a big-bodied target in the red zone, and that flaw has stood out in their recent losses. He’s well past handling a starring role on offense, but Graham can help a team in a bit part.
Graham was bafflingly efficient last year, especially in the red zone. He was thrown to 7 times and caught 6 passes for 39 yards, either converting a first down or scoring a touchdown every time. All four of his touchdowns were scored inside the opposing 20-yard line.
The Saints could have used that kind of efficiency against the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday. Derek Carr attempted six throws inside Atlanta’s 20-yard line. Here’s how they turned out:
1st and 10 from the 20: Pass complete to Rashid Shaheed for 5 yards
2nd and 2 from the 17: Pass incomplete intended for Alvin Kamara
3rd and 2 from the 17: Pass complete to Chris Olave for 16 yards
3rd and 5 from the 15: Pass complete to Mason Tipton for 6 yards
4th and 7 from the 7: Pass incomplete intended for Rashid Shaheed
2nd and 5 from the 5: Pass incomplete intended for Rashid Shaheed
So that’s three completions and two first downs on six tries in scoring position. That’s clearly not good enough. Five of those passes were thrown to wide receivers; neither Juwan Johnson nor Foster Moreau are getting open and making plays in the passing game, which is really concerning when the Saints only have two viable wideouts working in a run-first offense. Moreau caught a touchdown pass in Week 1 but since then he and Johnson have combined for just three catches and 16 yards through three games.
What’s the answer? Getting Graham out of his kayak and back into town? Giving the rookie Dallin Holker some reps? Lining up Johnson out wide, where he played in college? Using Taysom Hill more often as a receiver than a runner? Any of those solutions would be more affordable and more realistic than a big-time trade for someone like Baltimore Ravens decoy Mark Andrews, but it’s still a problem the Saints need to solve. Let’s see what answer they come up with.
Dennis Allen says the Saints offense needs more firepower. Underperforming veterans need to step up, but so do the draft picks watching games in sweatpants:
The New Orleans Saints have a good set of options at the skills positions, but good is the enemy of great. And Saints head coach Dennis Allen is looking for someone to step up now that injuries have hit the top of the depth chart.
Chris Olave played through a hamstring injury against the Atlanta Falcons. Taysom Hill scored both of the team’s first two touchdowns before exiting with a ribs issue. That meant an even heavier workload than normal for Alvin Kamara, and a wider range of responsibilities for Rashid Shaheed. And Allen needs to see other guys pulling their weight.
“We got to find some other guys that can make plays for us other than Alvin, Olave, Taysom,” Allen said Monday, looking back at Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons. “I thought Rashid did some good things from an offensive perspective.”
Shaheed obviously made a big mistake on special teams by muffing an early punt which Atlanta recovered for a touchdown, but he did catch 8 of his 11 targets for 83 yards. That trailed Olave’s 8 receptions (on 10 targets) and 87 yards for the team lead. Kamara had 77 rushing yards and 42 receiving yards. Some more options would be nice.
One obvious pick to step up? Juwan Johnson. He’s been a non-factor at best in Klint Kubiak’s offense, which was the case for him during most of last season, too. If he can’t get open and catch passes they need to find someone who can.
It’s disappointing when you look at their recent draft history and see guys like Miller, A.T. Perry, and Bub Means watching so many games in sweatpants. Allen is right that players need to step up outside their top talents. At the same time, the players he and his staff have drafted are not meeting expectations. They aren’t going to sign any free agents who can outplay guys already in the building, and it’s not looking like they’ll be in position to make a bold trade before the deadline in November. But if Allen’s comments are anything to go by, something is about to change.
The Saints passing attack has been all Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Other players must step up if Olave’s hamstring injury sidelines him:
The New Orleans Saints passing attack has been led by a blend of Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Foster Moreau is your next leading receiver, but with just 5 receptions for 45 yards.
Derek Carr expressed how the lack of targets for players is partially due to the flow of the game and the Saints not passing as often. Still, with the Big 3 commanding so much of the passing volume, you wonder how much one player missing would hamper the offense.
That hypothetical could be a reality on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, as Olave was limited with a hamstring injury on Friday.
Juwan Johnson is the first name that comes to mind as a player who must step up in Olave’s absence. You wanted more out of him in Olave’s presence, but Johnson has to step up if the receiver misses the game.
Johnson is supposed to be your leading tight end, but he’s been shut out of the stat sheet for the last two weeks. He’s not the only one. You’ll look for more out of Moreau and maybe Cedrick Wilson Jr. as well, but the veteran wideout has been limited with an ankle injury. This could be the moment for rookies Mason Tipton and Bub Means to step up at wide receiver, but look for Equanimeous St. Brown to get called up from thee practice squad.
The New Orleans Saints added even more firepower to their offense in this 2025 mock draft. Michigan tight end Colston Loveland could be a major upgrade:
The New Orleans Saints have gotten off to a hot start in 2024, but we added even more firepower to their offense in this 2025 mock draft.
We used the PFF mock draft simulator and the 2025 draft order determined according to Tankathon (which had the Saints picking at No. 28 overall). And given the options available when the computer put us on the clock, we decided that Michigan tight end Colston Loveland could be a major upgrade.
A tight end could be in the cards for next year’s draft. The Saints would have seriously considered taking former Georgia tight end Brock Bowers had he made it to their pick this year, but they have to be pleased with what Taliese Fuaga has done for them instead.
Let’s take stock of the position. Foster Moreau is a good player but he has some limitations as a receiver. Juwan Johnson has been in and out of the doghouse with the coaching staff and he missed the offseason with a foot injury, which led to a reduced role in Klint Kubiak’s offense. He’s also going to be a free agent in 2025. Dallin Holker is an unproven rookie, and Taysom Hill splits too much time elsewhere to really be considered a tight end.
Which brings us to Loveland. He’s one of the youngest players eligible for the Class of 2025 (he’ll turn 21 a few weeks before the draft) but he’s already played a lot of snaps at a blueblood program. Loveland has run almost as many routes (527) as blocks he’s thrown (546) for the Wolverines, but he’s regarded as a high-upside receiver first and foremost. It’s important for the Saints’ tight ends to block well but so long as he’s willing to improve, they can work with him. It’s worth mentioning that Loveland is currently dealing with a minor injury but it isn’t believed to be a long-term concern.
And there aren’t many guys his size who move as smoothly as he does. Loveland is listed at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds but he’s already caught 80 passes for 1,071 yards in a run-first offense. He’s got nimble feet (averaging a solid 5.4 yards after the catch per reception) and good play strength on contested catches (having won 9 of his 17 targets, per Pro Football Focus charting). He’s the consensus TE1 in this upcoming draft class for good reasons.
So the Saints could have a need at tight end, and he could be available. Derek Carr is playing well enough to keep them from looking at early-round quarterbacks next year. The offensive line is always possibility, especially at left guard, and there’s also a chance they could draft a running back given Alvin Kamara’s contract situation; Boise State stud Ashton Jeanty was someone on our radar in this mock draft but he didn’t make it to the end of Round 1.
We also can’t rule out defensive end (if Chase Young doesn’t re-sign) or cornerback (should Paulson Adebo or Marshon Lattimore leave the team). Safety is a possibility, too, considering Tyrann Mathieu’s age. There’s a lot to like about the Saints’ 2-0 start. That doesn’t mean they can’t improve. They’ll have work to do in the offseason like everyone else and it’s worth taking time to explore draft scenarios like this to get an idea of how they could get better in the spring.
