Saints New-Look Passing Attack Unveiled Vs. Titans

With the excitement of offseason additions and preseason behind them, a new-look Saints passing game needs immediate results against Titans to open the season.

New Orleans Saints QB Derek Carr was immediately identified this offseason by coach Dennis Allen and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael as the person that they wanted to run their offense. Along with Carr, the team also brought in free agents like RB Jamaal Williams, TEs Foster Moreau and Jimmy Graham, and draft picks A.T. Perry and Kendre Miller to bolster the attack. 

Carr also has returning production from WRs Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, Taysom Hill, and TE Juwan Johnson. Couple that with the return of WR Michael Thomas and the Saints have a much different and better look than the unit we've seen the last three years. Even with the three-game suspension to Alvin Kamara, this offense has the potential of a top-10 unit.

We'll get to see if that potential can start to be realized when New Orleans hosts the Tennessee Titans in the regular season opener on Sunday. The Saints ranked just 16th in passing production in 2022 after ranking dead last in that category the year before and 19th in 2020. Those teams suffered from a lack of weapons and quarterback issues following the retirement of Drew Brees after the 2020 season. 

This New Orleans squad is expected to be much more explosive, even against a rugged Tennessee defense. 

Saints Passing Attack vs. Titans Pass Defense 

New Orleans Passing Game 

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY

Carr comes to New Orleans with a 64.6% career completion percentage an average of 3,913 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions per year over nine seasons. He's excellent on deep passes but also has pinpoint accuracy on intermediate throws. He shows good vision when going through his progressions and breaks down defenses well on pre-snap reads.

Unlike Jameis Winston or even Drew Brees in his final seasons, Carr will have a deep arsenal of weapons. Second-year WR Chris Olave is expected to lead the way. Olave had an outstanding rookie year, leading the team with 72 catches for 1,042 yards. He's a speedy deep threat, but also works the intermediate zones with good route precision despite his size.

Rashid Shaheed was the team’s biggest surprise as a rookie in 2022. Despite not seeing extensive offensive action until Week 11, he caught 28 passes for 488 yards and led the team in receiving over the last five games. Like Olave, Shaheed has game-breaking speed but is also an underrated route runner.

Eighth-year WR Michael Thomas has missed most of the last three seasons with foot and ankle injuries. When healthy, his physicality, sure hands, and incredible route precision adds a different element to this offense. 

Nov 27, 2022; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) beats San Francisco 49ers safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. (31). Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

After a breakout year in 2022, Juwan Johnson looks ready for an even bigger role. The Carr-Johnson connection looked potentially special in training camp. Moreau and Graham were added to perhaps give New Orleans the deepest and most versatile tight end position in the league. 

In particular, Graham could be a mismatch in the red zone and in certain alignments because of his size and route running skills. He won't see a lot of snaps, but how the Saints use their tight ends is an X-Factor for this game and should create additional opportunities for the wideouts. 

Dec 11, 2011; Tennessee Titans corner back Cortland Finnegan (31) fails to break up a pass to New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80). Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY

Taysom Hill is also listed as one of those tight ends. However, we should expect most of Hill’s contributions to continue to come out of the backfield. This is especially true with the absence of Kamara and Kendre Miller, who likely misses this game with a hamstring injury. 

Most of the shorthanded backfield reps will now fall to Jamaal Williams. A capable receiver on check-downs, Williams isn't nearly the threat that Kamara provides as a receiver. Therefore, expect Carr to use his wideouts and tight ends more on short passes or even screens in addition to down the field. 

For that to be successful, the Saints will have to provide consistent protection for their quarterback. New Orleans signal callers were sacked 38 times last year. This starting five can still be a top-tier unit with LT Trevor Penning, LG James Hurst, C Erik McCoy, RG Cesar Ruiz, and RT Ryan Ramczyk. 

Penning will be making just his second NFL start and we may see some growing pains in pass protection. It's also imperative that the starters stay healthy. Their backups were absolutely putrid during training camp and preseason. 

Tennessee Pass Defense 

Nov 14, 2021; Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (98) sacks New Orleans Saints quarterback Trevor Siemian (15). Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY

The Titans ranked dead last at defending the pass in 2022. Opposing quarterbacks completed nearly 65% of their throws for an average of 275 yards per outing against Tennessee coverage. 

The majority of that secondary returns, with the lone exception of former Buccaneers CB Sean Murphy-Bunting replacing Caleb Farley (IR). Former LSU CB Kristian Fulton is Tennessee's top coverage option. Fulton broke up five passes and intercepted another while allowing 52.4% completion percentage when targeted. Second-year CB Roger McCreary was highly inconsistent, giving up a 67.6% completion rate, but broke up 8 throws and intercepted one.

The Titans had 14 interceptions last season, led by four from Pro Bowl S Kevin Byard. A rangy defensive back, Byard is joined by Amani Hooker, an experienced defender who lacks range. Third-year Elijah Molden returns from injury for the nickle packages. Undersized but aggressive, Molden can play either slot corner or deep safety. 

Tennessee got a major athletic upgrade at linebacker with the offseason signing of Azeez Al-Shaair. Fellow LBs Jack Gibbens and Monty Rice are intelligent players, but lack range in coverage. 

Nov 14, 2021; Tennessee Titans linebacker Harold Landry (58) tackles New Orleans Saints quarterback Trevor Siemian (15). Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY

The Titans typically employ a 3-4 front and had 39 sacks last year. They get a major boost with the return of edge rusher Harold Landry from season-ending surgery in 2022. Landry had 12 sacks and 43 pressures during an All-Pro campaign in 2021. He's complemented by former LSU OLB Arden Key, who's on his fourth team in six years but has a combined 11 sacks the last two seasons. 

Tennessee has two outstanding and very physical ends in Jeffery Simmons and Denico Autry. The two combined for 15.5 sacks and 43 pressures despite missing eight games. Each have the power and versatility to move inside to join underrated DT Teair Tart.

What to Expect 

Dec 22, 2019; New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas (13) makes a catch against the Tennessee Titans. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Even without Kamara and probably Miller, we shouldn't expect the Saints to come in with a pass-heavy game plan. Despite Carr and improved pass catchers, New Orleans will want to establish balance. 

Saints receivers look to have the advantage over Tennessee coverage. The return of Thomas should create downfield opportunities for Olave and Shaheed. All three wideouts will be used at every level of the Titans defense. 

New Orleans tight ends will also have a big role in the game plan. Moreau is a more traditional in-line tight end but an underrated receiver. Johnson and Graham are tremendous in the red zone and have the athleticism to line out wide as extra receivers and make plays deep.

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (83) runs after a catch against the Kansas City Chiefs. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Tennessee pass rushers will provide a serious challenge to Saints pass protection. The most important matchup of the game might be on the left side of the New Orleans line. Inexperienced Trevor Penning will face big tests against the powerful Simmons and lightning fast Landry.

Don't be surprised if the Saints keep an extra tight end on that side to chip and release into a late pattern to give Carr a check-down option. New Orleans could also run screens and quick shots to their backs, wideouts, and tight ends to that side in an effort to slow the rush. 

In five career meetings against Tennessee, Carr has averaged 281 yards per game with 10 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Of course, those came during his nine-year career as a Raider. He'll have many more weapons and a much better supporting cast with the Saints. 

Derek Carr was brought in to run a quick rhythm and timing-based attack for New Orleans. Brief glimpses during training camp and preseason yielded exciting results. Now that the dress rehearsals are over, Carr and the Saints are expected to produce a far more productive offense than we've seen from this team the last three seasons.