How Saints Tight Ends are Raising the Bar

Playing well is one thing, but being prepared to excel is another. Here is how New Orleans Saints' legendary tight ends coach Clancy Barone is pushing for not just success, but greatness.

METAIRIE -- With a tight end room as diverse and unique as the one the New Orleans Saints have constructed, an equally diverse and unique coaching approach is already having an evident impact. New tight ends coach Clancy Barone is up for the challenge. Barone is the only coach in NFL history to have six different players selected to Pro Bowls with six different organizations. Four of those six have been tight ends: Alge Crumpler (2005, 2006), Antonio Gates (2007, 2008), Julius Thomas (2013, 2014) and Kyle Rudolph (2017). Even with that legendary track record, the Saints’ tight end room may end up providing the most excitement for Barone yet and his approach reflects that.

Aug 13, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (83) runs against Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid (20) during the first half at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Each NFL club structures its practice sessions differently, and those structures will vary between training camp and the regular season. The Saints will begin the portions of their training camp practices that are open to media with stretch, individual drills and then they often break out into periods of 7-on-7s or 1-on-1s before diving into full team drills. The team drill periods will often alternate with special teams periods so that each unit gets a break between their larger work efforts. There are variations of this depending on the day’s focus, but this is the basic structure we most often see. Nothing out of the ordinary from afar. But from within, the smaller details and nuances introduced by each coach make a world of different.

For most tight end groups, their individual drill period will consist of isolated periods of protection work, pass-catching work and run blocking work in whatever order follows that days focus. But for Barone and his players, things are handled very differently. They mix and match in an effort to simulate the experience of live game action. “Mix and match,” Barone said. “We’ll go from protection drills to routes. Maybe two routes in a row against different coverages, different looks. Then come back and hit the front side of a run play vs. the backside of a run play vs. a pressure. Come back to a deep route. Come back to a protection (rep). Then a protection against a safety blitz and then back to a run. And then run some audibles and things like that.“

Sound disorienting? Welcome to the life of an NFL tight end. A position, more than just about any other, that is asked to do everything on the field. So why go this route when it sounds so daunting? Because this disorientation is exactly what players like Juwan Johnson, Jimmy Graham, Foster Moreau and the rest of the room experience each and every game day. 

“That helps them when it comes to the speed of the game,” Barone said. “All of our individual drills and stuff like that, we’re Trying to go as fast as we possibly can. Trying to do as many variations and different looks because that’s what happens on game day. They have to be able to make great decisions quickly and do it right. So the more I can simulate that and have game day actually be slow motion for them, that just puts us one more step ahead.”

Jul 31, 2023; Metairie, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Lucas Krull (87) and tight end Foster Moreau (82) during training camp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The results of this strategy are already apparent. During their live game action so far throughout the preseason, tight ends have caught 7 passes for for 71 yards while earning majority positive marks in protection. So far through two weeks of exhibition action, no tight end has been credited with allowing a pressure, per Pro Football Focus. The Saints have also picked up 51 of their 154 rushing yards by getting the edge around tight ends on either side.

In practices, Saints quarterback Derek Carr consistently connects with his tight ends in every area of the field. In fact, the group has built chemistry with each passer on the roster and perhaps one of the reasons they have comes down to someone in their own room: Taysom Hill. 

“I’ll tell you what, I’ve never coached anyone like him,” Barone said of Hill. “He’s so unique. He’s powerful, very strong lower body. Super intelligent. Sees the game through a quarterback’s eyes, so he’s very analytical. He’s thinks and sees more globally than just what’s in front of him. Which I hope all of our guys do. But he certainly does… He can be our link between our room and the quarterback room.”

Hill is an enigma across the league, but he is full representative of the diversity of the team’s tight end room in particular. While a veteran player like Graham will not only impact the game on the field as a pass-catcher, he also has a major contribution in the position room. Barone and Graham were together for both of their Chicago Bears seasons from 2020-21. During those seasons, Graham reeled in 64 receptions, 11 of which being touchdown catches. The two have an established rapport and respect for one another, and now reunite in the Big Easy where Graham has an intimate knowledge of how to be successful in the system.

Moreau, one of the most exciting offseason additions this year, brings a versatility to the group. He has been deployed in-line, in the slot, out of the backfield and more all along the team’s offense. That multiplicity is a calling card for the Saints roster. On both sides of the ball, you can find players that can contribute from numerous spots on their respective units and special teams. Moreau checks those boxes while being a skilled route-runner and a pass-catcher with a ton of previous experience with Carr. Barone highlighted that Moreau was his number one free agent target this offseason. The Saints, even with all of the potential hurdles that showed up along the way, did not take long to get Barone his guy.

Aug 13, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) passes to tight end Juwan Johnson (83) against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Johnson is a converted wide receiver who is gearing up for a breakout year. The team transitioned him to the position last season to the tune of 42 catches, 508 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns catches. And that was before Barone’s track record and influence showed up. Johnson has already expressed his excitement to work with Barone, and the sentiment is mutual. But the thing that stands out most about Johnson to his position coach is his work ethic. 

“He’s going to be as great as he wants to be,” Barone said of the versatile tight end. “And I think he wants to be really great. He’s a very selfless player. A tremendous work ethic. He’s bigger than people think. He’s got tremendous subtleness. He’s got exceptional power. He’s a true student of the game. He wants to be coached.”

Similar sentiments have been echoed about each member of this group from a variety of coaches and fellow players. The belief in this room as a game-changing source and its play-making potential is palpable. Even for the players tasked with defending against them on a daily basis in practice.

“Man, they got so many weapons,” Saints linebacker Demario Davis said. “And it’s great that we’re getting those looks in practice. When you’re going against a vertical threat tight end like Juwan (Johnson) with so much speed. When you’re going against a bigger body like Jimmy Graham. When you’re going against guys who know how to get open and use their savviness, guys like Foster (Moreau). You’re getting a look at all kinds of tight ends that you’re going to see during the season. Most teams have one or two of those. To have all three of those, I believe is kind of rare for a tight end room. It’s a special group. Plus you’ve got a quarterback that knows how to get those guys the ball in their favorite spots.”

Structuring practice in such a way that it reflects a live game environment has clearly gone a long way for this group already. And will certainly only further benefit them, and therefore the Saints offense. But it seems their approach has also benefited the defense, which will now be better prepared to handle the smorgasbord of tight ends that await on this year’s schedule. From matching up with receiving threats like newly acquired New York Giants weapon Darren Waller, Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts and Jacksonville Jaguars pass-catcher Evan Engram to battling in the trenches with big-bodied blockers like Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright, the defense will face a variety of players at the position in 2023. But they, like Barone’s group, will be ready for game day.

Aug 21, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears tight ends coach Clancy Barone walks on the sideline during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field. The Buffalo Bills won 41-15. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

Barone’s philosophy centers around building relationships and establishing trust. While the trust can stem from results, the relationships must be built early. And there is no doubt that the relationships in this room are strong. Whether a veteran or younger tight ends like Lucas Krull and J.P. Holtz, every player has a voice and in encouraged to speak up at any time. 

The symbiotic relationship amongst the tight ends helps to generate and support the togetherness needed to be successful on the football field. So whether it is about simulating live game situation or fostering the relationships of the humans that shape the game, or even taking the time between team drill periods in practice to summarize the last series just like they would during game day, everything leads to one purpose. To win.

“Here’s the thing,” Barone said. “Good players want to be coached. Great players want to hear the truth. And I’ve got a room full of guys that want to hear the truth. When we’re watching tape, they want to hear ‘Okay, what exactly do you think about that? What exactly can I do better? How can I perfect my craft today?’ And when you have guys that want to hear the truth, they have a chance to be pretty special.