Top Saints to watch at training camp: No. 2, Andrus Peat

Offensive linemen don’t typically get the respect they deserve, but they’re constantly asked to do so much. Andrus Peat is one of the many Saints looking to make the second-year leap.

Jun 14, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Andrus Peat (75) practices during the first day of minicamp sessions at the New Orleans Saints Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

As last year’s 13th overall pick for the black and gold, Andrus Peat‘s journey didn’t get off to the start anyone expected. For starters, why would the Saints draft a tackle when they appeared to be set? Surely there were greater needs the team could fill, right? Then there was the reports of Peat being overweight and in poor conditioning, which wasn’t exactly encouraging.

However, Peat progressed as the season continued, putting together some good games. He even overcame what was widely feared as a season-ending injury against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6. In 2015, Peat appeared in nearly 37 percent of the Saints offensive snaps through a combination of left guard, left tackle, and right tackle in 12 games played.

From a film study of his year in review, John Sigler put Peat in the spotlight using Game Rewind, and illustrated one particular play that showed the growth of the Stanford product.

Peat block example 001 smaller /

The growth is what we’re looking for the most out of the team’s projected starting right guard, and he’ll be put to the test in training camp presumably facing off against Tyeler Davison, John Jenkins, Sheldon Rankins, and Nick Fairley. One thing you can somewhat take for face value at training camp aside the mass splash reports and hot takes is how a front line performs when the pads are on. That’s about as real as it gets when the ‘beef’ collides.

Fellow Who Dat Dish contributing writer Zach Leto summed it up perfectly when he said that Peat needs to grow up quickly this season, or else Drew Brees could be in a lot of trouble. However, we’d like to believe that the team gets a solidified solution with Peat, and it will be something we won’t have to worry about in 2016.