The New Orleans Saints are changing quarterbacks looking for a spark to their offense, but it could take more than that to spur a group that's averaged just 16 points per game on its way to a 1-7 start.
Turnovers have been a major culprit over the past two weeks, but so have been the gotta have it downs, such as third down and red zone, throughout the course of the season. Speaking on WWL Radio, Drew Brees said doesn't see players that create "matchup problems."
"I think we have a couple explosive receivers," Brees told Bobby Hebert, "but do we have like, at that point, third and medium and you need a guy to go win a 1-on-1 matchup and go make a play, who is it?"
Hear the full interview with Drew Brees in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
The Saints are middle of the pack in terms of third down efficiency at 38.4%, but they are 30th in the NFL in terms of scoring touchdowns on red zone trips (42.9%). Brees called back to players like Michael Thomas and Marques Colston, who would always be the go-to targets in those situations.
"Have we been able to do that, probably not," Brees continued, "and look, I love those guys, you know, but have them take it as a challenge, right, like, who’s going to step up and be the matchup problem for the opposing defense.”
New Orleans' top two receivers on the season are Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, both speedy lighter frame receivers who represent elite downfield threats. The team did trade for 6-5 Devaughn Vele in the preseason and he has been a chainmover in limited reps with five catches, four of which have gone for first downs and the other a red zone TD. Vele saw his highest snap count of the season and most targets (5) in the loss to the Bucs, and figures to be a bigger part of the offense going forward, particularly if the Saints move pieces before the trade deadline in November.
The next chance for the Saints to change that narrative will come with rookie Tyler Shough at the helm against the L.A. Rams. That game will kick off at 3:05 p.m. inside SoFi Stadium. Catch all the action on WWL and Audacy.
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Any advice for Tyler Shough/memories from your first NFL action
"All I remember about that game was just, like, instincts kind of took over. I mean, my mind was racing, you know, because you’re just — obviously you’re nervous, you know, first time in an NFL game, and yet, I just, all I was telling myself was just turn it loose, turn it loose, play aggressive. Like, just be yourself, you know, relax and turn it loose, and I don’t know, I think that’s the hardest part with young QBs is you kind of play like you’re afraid to make a mistake, like, you’re gonna make mistakes, you know, but I find if you play a bit with this mentality of like, hey, man, just let it rip, you know, let it rip and kind of let the chips fall where they may and learn, learn every step of the way and get a little bit smarter each time, then you know, good things start to happen.”
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It's Rams week ... thoughts on the no-call game?
“It still pisses me off, Bobby, it always will, all right. And that’s just the way it is, you know, but it still doesn’t take away all the incredible things that we accomplished that year and that was one of the greatest teams I’ve ever had a chance to be a part of and so much of it was just the quality of guys that we have.”