Tyler Shough is displaying all the right traits off the field as the potential future leader of the franchise.
Rookie minicamp is at the end of the week, but Shough gathered some teammates early at Tulane. Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau and Bub Means were all present alongside Shough. Moreau was seen in a brace as he recovers from knee surgery.
Shough's collection of passes displayed arm strength, as they were primarily out routes and deep balls. Shough and Johnson played with each other at Oregon, and most of the clips were passes from Shough to his tight end. They are quickly knocking off the cobwebs.
It's good to see Shough already gathering his teammates and trying to establish early chemistry. He'll get a chance to do that with the complete supporting cast throughout the offseason. You like to see the rookie taking the initiative early though.
Prior to this, Shough posted a message on Instagram to Saints fans that he’d die on the field for them and used Boosie as background for the message. Shough came to New Orleans and immediately went to Dragos. Granted, eating at a local restaurant may be only noteworthy because of Derek Carr's statements when he first joined the Saints, but the point remains.
These things are small, but they show Shough's awareness and understanding of the target audience. When it comes to the Saints, there isn't a separation of city and team. It's one of the tightest unions in the NFL, and understanding that is important as a leader.
Ultimately, Shough’s production on the field will speak the loudest. He can make all the declarations to the fans, go to every local gem to eat and gather the team for a scrimmage. If he doesn’t perform when the season begins, none of it will matter.
However, we aren’t at that point yet and should appreciate the present for what it is, good leadership. It’s a trait all quarterbacks need. It’s all Shough can show until the team steps on the field. Then we’ll see if Shough has the other traits to succeed.