The New Orleans Saints currently sit at 2-5 and with some serious questions on offense, none moreso than why they can't consistently run the ball.
The spotlight was shone on that exact issue in last week's loss to the Steelers in Paris, when the Saints managed just 18 yards on 17 carries. The result was another instance of second-year QB Tyler Shough being forced to put the offense on his shoulders, an issue that Audacy NFL Insider Mark Schlereth sees as a critical fix for Kellen Moore's offense to get in the right direction.
"That’s always going to be a problem, and especially when you’ve got a young quarterback," Schlereth told WWL's Steve Geller and Deuce McAllister, "and I know we’ve talked about Shough and how good he has been, but you’ve got to be able to take that guy off a high dive. You’ve got to be able to take something off of his plate."
Hear the full interview with Audacy NFL Insider Mark Schlereth in the player above.
Shough finished the game 30 of 38 passing for 278 yards and a touchdown, but there were some difficult moments, including a red zone interception on the opening drive of the third quarter. Shough also continues to get hit at one of the highest rates in the NFL and seemed quick to take checkdowns in this game, though Moore has indicated they were using the quick passing game as a stand-in for an ineffective run game at points.
The Saints are currently playing without RB Travis Etienne, a key free agent acquisition who was brought in to help transform the run game. He'll be eligible to return from injured reserve when the Saints face the Browns in Week 9, though it's unknown if that will match his recovery timeline. Regardless, the Saints have to find answers, ideally something that looks similar to the performance in Week 8 when they rushed for 175 yards in a win over the Giants.
Schlereth says the Saints need to identify their bread-and-butter plays. What works against all schemes. Find that out and build counters off of those plays. That's how a team establishes its identity, something the Saints have been unable to do to this stage of the season
"You know how much ... better that is for a quarterback, to be able to take those breathers and not have to read the defense. … Let’s go and let’s just smashmouth these fools," Schlereth continued, "and those are the things that really help a young offensive team actually succeed and it’s something that the Saints just aren’t doing very well."
The Saints are currently on a bye, but will next be in action against the Browns at the Caesars Superdome on Nov. 8. Catch all the action on WWL and Audacy.
