Getting on the Same Page Essential for Saints Offense

Quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Chris Olave share the importance of the pre-snap process and seeing the field the same way.

NEW ORLEANS — Pre-snap adjustments are often talked about across the NFL.  But post-snap adjustments and reads are just as vital to offensive execution and success.   That is particularly true for the New Orleans Saints and has been for some time.  While today's offense is looking exciting early in camp, it will be consistently compared to Saints offenses of the past.

The standard takes us back to the days of quarterback Drew Brees and franchise receiving touchdowns leader Marques Colston.  Sure, a lot was always made of Brees' pre-snap ability to be able to look over the defense at the line of scrimmage, make protections calls, blocking adjustments and even change the play entirely if he did not like the matchup the defense was presenting.

But plays often adjust from what is shown before the snap once the action is under way. Perhaps a safety that looked to be set to cover deep crashes down into the box. Maybe a linebacker who is threatening to blitz throughout the snap count bails out into coverage once the ball is snapped. Offenses have to be ready for these moments.

While the Saints of recent past have struggled with pre-snap reads and post-snap adjustments, things look to be trending back in the right direction early in the 2023 New Orleans training camp. After a big connection between present-day quarterback and receiver duo Derek Carr and Chris Olave on day one, we asked Carr his thoughts on he and Olave's ability to see the field the same way and the evolution of their connection thus far.

"At first it was like, 'Hey, I see it this way, you see it this way. Let's do it like this," Carr said. "That was OTAs. I kind of hit on that during OTAs and minicamp. Then we put some work in in Vegas together, a group of guys came out and we did that. And now it just feels like he's my wideout and I'm his quarterback, and we're just playing football now."

Jun 13, 2023; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) passes during minicamp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The connection the two had made was a great read by both players. After the snap, if a defensive back is playing shallow while a wideout is running a crossing route, that receiver may run with a little more depth to get over the top of that defender. Meanwhile if the corner or safety drops back a bit deeper, the pass-catcher may bend their route a little more tightly to get underneath that player. This play had that kind of feel. Carr and Olave had to make the right read separately, so that they could together arrive to the same placement of the ball.

Olave was crossing from the left side of the field over to the right. The cornerback did not play with much depth, so Olave took a deeper release across the field to get over the top of him. However, he had to be careful not to go too deep because it was a Cover 2 look meaning that there would be a safety over the top. Olave found the pocket between the two defenders, the same depth that Carr was looking to place the pass and the connection was a clean one at the left sideline.

This kind of communication relies on both players seeing the field the same way. Carr highlighted some of the specifics of what Olave did well and how it made his decision an easy one. "When he made that break," Carr praised. "The way he did it, the timing of it. I was ready for him. Those are good signs that it's heading in the right direction. It doesn't do anything for us today, but it does show that we have put the work in."

Jun 2, 2022; Metairie, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints Chris Olave (12) during organized team activities at the New Orleans Saints Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

We also asked Olave about how he feels things are progressing in this area between the two and the bulked-up receiver shared his thoughts. "(It's about) just seeing the field as he sees it," Olave said. "Pre-snap, post-snap,  I feel like I understand coverages and where the defense is going to be in man and zone.  Just having that feel and that timing in our heads... Just having a connection, a chemistry."

The former Ohio State Buckeye's ability to read coverages is not a new element to his game, but rather one that he has been crafting for years. The skill has clearly translated well to the next level. Olave is a wickedly smart player and it shows on the field. To Carr in particular, it has been impressive to watch. But there will always be strides for the two to continue to take ahead of the 2023 season opener in New Orleans.

"He's a sponge man," Carr said of Olave. "He just wants to do whatever I want him to do. And I'm trying to push him to...'You be free in some of that, too,' you know? 'Use what God gave you because I can't do what you do.' So to see him run that route at the right depth, and all that kind of stuff. Right timing. That just shows that we're headed in the right direction."