One positive from the New Orleans Saints' week three loss against the Las Vegas Raiders was the performance of the tight ends. Both Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant impressed and proved they can be impactful in this offense. Taking this performance and building on it moving forward is the key to unlocking and making Kellen Moore’s offense more efficient.
Johnson led the tight ends with eight receptions for 53 yards and two touchdowns. Right behind him was Fant with four catches for 33 yards and two scores. They were excellent in the red zone, as their touchdowns indicate, and capitalized when given a mismatch.
The Saints’ offense was humming in the first three quarters when the tight ends were heavily involved. However, they struggled in the fourth quarter, headlined by Johnson’s fumble to end the game. Their consistency will be a defining quality for the offense and a major factor in the team’s success.
The tight ends can make Tyler Shough’s job easy.
Juwan Johnson, Noah Fant, and Oscar Delp won’t be the primary weapon for Tyler Shough, but they play a vital role and are a valuable safety net for him. I’ve already mentioned their red zone prowess, but having a tight end who can provide constant mismatches, whether it’s against a linebacker or safety, elevates an offense. This gives Shough someone to target while under duress, turning 50/50 balls into 80/20.
Beyond this, Johnson is arguably the Saints' most dynamic threat after the catch. The former wide receiver combines power with surprising elusiveness for his size, making him a hassle to tackle in the open field. Ideally, someone else on the roster develops into this role (Barrion Brown), but the Saints are reliant upon Johnson for now.
Another underrated aspect the tight ends bring is the ability to disguise an offense. Normally, 12 or 13 personnel (the first number is the number of running backs and the second one is the number of tight ends) is an indication of a run play. However, having multiple options who are formidable run blockers and dynamic pass catchers can change this and stress a defense.
This is what Kellen Moore wants to do with his offense. It would help their struggling run game as well as give Shough reliable weapons to target.
So, don’t be surprised to see the Saints frequently utilizing their tight ends as the season progresses, especially after their breakout performances against the Raiders. They would be invaluable pieces to the offense and help it become an efficient yet explosive group.
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