We’ve heard of too many cooks in the kitchen, but sometimes there’s not enough. That’s exactly what the New Orleans Saints wide receiver room has failed victim too for nearly a decade. If Kellen Moore wants Tyler Shough to breakout like many believe, it can’t just be Chris Olave and DeVaughn Vele.Â
NFL Spin Zone's Lou Scatagalia is one those who believe Shough is primed for a breakout year. Scatagalia identified Shough and fellow rookie, Cam Ward, as breakout candidates.
If Scatagalia is going to be correct, Moore has to break to trend of relying on one or two receivers. It’s an issue that long predates Moore, but it’s on him to stop it now. It's plagued the Saints for too long and could hinder Tyler Shough in the long term.
Saints need at least one more receiver for Tyler Shough to breakout
Michael Thomas, Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead all nearly went for 1000 yards receiving in 2016. The Saints shipped Cooks away that offseason, per his desire, Thomas became the clear top receiver and the Saints began to fully rely on just Thomas. You feel able to do that when you have the best receiver in the league, but it did limit the passing attack at times.
You’d have to go back to Olave’s rookie season to find the last time the Saints have had more than two dependable receivers on the roster. It was Thomas, Jarvis Landry and Olave. Part of that emphasis was probably because Thomas missing the entire 2021 season due to injury exposed just how weak the room was. That triumvirate quickly went down, however, as Thomas only played three games and Landry dealt with injury issues of his own.Â
The good thing that came from those injuries was the emergence of Rashid Shaheed. The 2022 campaign was an aberration, and the Saints went back to operating as a two man show. Moore showed an understanding of stacking the room last offseason.
Olave, Shaheed, Cooks and Vele were all on the initial roster, but then the offense failed to include Cooks at all and Vele for most of the season. For Moore, it goes from adding receivers to using them. Investing in a receiver early in the NFL Draft should ensure they're a featured part of the offense moving forward.
Adding another receiver helps Shough in two massive ways. On one hand, it safeguards the room against injuries. The end of last year showed that could be an issue. He handled it, but it shouldn't be the norm.
Secondly, and most importantly, the more weapons the defense has to focus on, the more likely someone can get open. Defenses can key in on Chris Olave and stall out an offense. They can focus on Devaughn Vele and make it difficult to move the ball.
You have three options you can rely on, and all of a sudden Shough is able to spread the wealth. Teams will naturally key in on someone, but unpredictability of having multiple weapons keeps them on their toes and open up more lanes for Shough.