The decision to move on from T.J. Paganetti is the one move the New Orleans Saints made coming out of the bye week. There’s a lot of doubt on what that move actually does, but Kellen Moore and Tyler Shough have to hope it has the desired effect. If it doesn't, Moore could be without a job and Shough's health and development could be in jeopardy.
The doubts come from questions about how much a run game coordinator really does on a weekly basis, especially since it’s not something the Saints had before Moore. Through people connected to Paganetti or the Eagles and Moore himself, it doesn’t sound like this was a huge shift. Former Saints offensive lineman James Hurst echoed a similar sentiment about Paganetti’s firing during a radio spot on After Further Review with Matt Moscona.
“I hope so, but I think your description of the fall guy is probably pretty apt. They have to make changes, right. They’re a losing team through and through . The reality is you fire the run game coordinator, but it’s likely that most of this season he hasn’t had the full reigns like normal because the run game has been horrendous all year long. I’m sure Kellen Moore, being the offensive play caller, being the head coach, he has had an extremely heavy hand, I would hope, in designing this run game and calling the run plays during the game. I hope we will see changes but I’m hesitant to say that we will.”
Kellen Moore (and Tyler Shough) have no choice but to hope it works for the Saints
Does this feel like a little fish move? Yes, but it has no choice but to be enough.
Even Moore will tell you it all starts with him. Firing Paganetti is supposed to help the workflow, which at its best sounds like the team needed less cooks in the kitchen. Whatever the reason, this move simply has to work.
The rushing attack is the biggest flaw offensively. It includes the offensive line struggles, which would be the other competitor. The run game remaining the same or improving will ultimately reflect upon Moore, and continuous poor offense could be the thing that ultimately pushes him out of New Orleans.
We all know Shough is here for the long term, but the way the Saints are asking him to play isn't sustainable, not even for this year. They're putting a ridiculous amount of weight on him by asking him to pass the football 39 times per game.
That's partially Moore's philosophy, because he has opted to avoid running the football even early in games. It's also because of the Saints' inability to run the ball consistently.
Shough has two broken bones in his left hand and injured his throwing hand before the bye. He may literally be unable to continue at this pace, and asking him to continue risks further injury.
Health aside, the Saints are a one-dimensional offense, and it makes them easier to gameplan for. The lack of a run game hurts Shough from a safety and production perspective.
Though a lot of expectations have been put upon Shough, he is still a young quarterback. As such, there needs to be a support system given to him, instead of asking him to play Superman. That'll unfortunately continue to be what the Saints ask him to do if they can't run the ball, and there's too many risks for comfort in that approach.
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