Chris Olave is the clear cut top wide receiver in the New Orleans Saints, but Devaughn Vele is the receiver Tyler Shough needs. This may be a bit of recency bias after Vele had nearly 100 yards. One thing is for sure, though, Kellen Moore needs to continue to take advantage of the Shough to Vele connection.
On Sunday, Vele had easily his best game of the season. His 8 receptions for 93 yards and 1 touchdown doubled his season total in yards and touchdowns. Vele was one catch away from doubling that category too. This was a breakout performance that hopefully leads to similar production moving forward.
There's been digs at Olave after his missed, potentially game winning touchdown. This isn't that. Neither his place in the hierarchy nor his talent is being questioned. Olave is the best receiver, and all young quarterbacks will benefit from having a clear top guy. His ability to stretch the field is also a benefit. It's more about what Vele does well and how it meshes with Shough's style of play.
Devaughn Vele's tools are perfectly made for what Tyler Shough must do in the Saints offense
There's a reason the Saints traded for him this offseason, but that reason never truly materialized until this past week. He has two things Shough needs in this offense: size and improvisation skills.
Shough delivered back to back in breaking routes. The defense was ready for the second throw and hit Vele as he was making the catch. There isn't a play this year that better encapsulates what fans wanted Vele to bring to the offense.
Vele went across the middle, took the hit and held on to the pass. That's what the Saints offense needa and what Tyler Shough needs. It's going to be tight windows often, and Vele is showing he can be trusted in those situations. Off size alone, you expect those types of plays to be made by Vele, opposed to any other receiver on the roster.
The Vele has always been good at improvising. NewOrleans.Football's Nick Underhill tracked that Vele caught nine passes for 137 yards in improvisational situations in his rookie season with the Broncos. Shough has to make a lot of plays out of structure. Having a receiver who has a natural understanding of how to move with the quarterback is already paying dividends.
Vele showed quick reaction to adjust to the placement of the ball on his touchdown. Vele was covered well, but Shough put the ball towards the back of the end zone. Vele spotted it, reacted quick and separated from the defensive back to be wide open by the time the ball was there.
That showed Vele's reaction speed, and on a different play Vele flashed that same mental quickness on a more traditional scramble drill. Vele was the first receiver to break off his route, and he did it before Shough even got out of the pocket. As soon as Shough stepped up, Vele adjusted and the result was a 14 yard pass that set the Saints up for their first score of the game.
These strengths Vele has shown lend to where the Saints are in their current offense. That's just another reason why Vele being featured more prominently is mandatory for the Saints.