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Saints offense should open up, have more formational flexibility once Josh Hill is available
By Nick Underhill -- Advocate
The New Orleans offense hasn’t been able to operate as designed through the first quarter of the season.
The Saints are a team that likes use to multiple tight ends on the field and run various route concepts with different personnel on the field. An injury to Michael Hoomanawanui during the offseason was a blow for the offense. And a subsequent ankle injury to tight end Josh Hill has forced New Orleans to operate primarily out of three-receiver sets.
Instead of having a pair of players who are threats in the receiving game, when the Saints have deployed more than one tight end, it’s typically been Coby Fleener and Chris Manhertz, who is still developing as a route runner and is yet to be targeted. And seeing those two on the field together has been rare.
Overall, the Saints have only used two or more tight ends on 41 snaps, which is one of the lowest marks in the league. New Orleans has used its three-receiver personnel on about 175 plays. That type of ratio is uncommon for this team. While the impact is obvious in the running game and limits the number of play-action opportunities, it also changes how the passing offense operates.
The good news is that Hill should be back on the field in the coming weeks.
“When you got two tight ends, and you get certain coverages with two tight ends that sometimes (you wouldn’t with three receivers),” wide receivers coach John Morton said. “We’ve probably been a little bit more 11 personnel more than what we’re used to. But getting Josh Hill back is going to pay dividends for us because we can do a lot more things.”
MORE -- Advocate
Saints offense should open up, have more formational flexibility once Josh Hill is available
By Nick Underhill -- Advocate
The New Orleans offense hasn’t been able to operate as designed through the first quarter of the season.
The Saints are a team that likes use to multiple tight ends on the field and run various route concepts with different personnel on the field. An injury to Michael Hoomanawanui during the offseason was a blow for the offense. And a subsequent ankle injury to tight end Josh Hill has forced New Orleans to operate primarily out of three-receiver sets.
Instead of having a pair of players who are threats in the receiving game, when the Saints have deployed more than one tight end, it’s typically been Coby Fleener and Chris Manhertz, who is still developing as a route runner and is yet to be targeted. And seeing those two on the field together has been rare.
Overall, the Saints have only used two or more tight ends on 41 snaps, which is one of the lowest marks in the league. New Orleans has used its three-receiver personnel on about 175 plays. That type of ratio is uncommon for this team. While the impact is obvious in the running game and limits the number of play-action opportunities, it also changes how the passing offense operates.
The good news is that Hill should be back on the field in the coming weeks.
“When you got two tight ends, and you get certain coverages with two tight ends that sometimes (you wouldn’t with three receivers),” wide receivers coach John Morton said. “We’ve probably been a little bit more 11 personnel more than what we’re used to. But getting Josh Hill back is going to pay dividends for us because we can do a lot more things.”
MORE -- Advocate
