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Saints’ Run Game Reset Puts Kellen Moore and Offensive Line on the Clock
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- Saints’ Run Game Reset Puts Kellen Moore and Offensive Line on the Clock
The New Orleans Saints changed their coaching staff and now comes the part Who Dat Nation actually cares about. Now comes the changing of what happens when the ball is snapped. After moving on from run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti, New Orleans has given itself a fresh talking point coming out of the bye. But my biggest question heading into the Cleveland matchup is simple: Will the Saints finally give their offense a running game it can trust?
A Change With Plenty Left to Prove
Coach Kellen Moore announced the change Monday, Nov. 2, with New Orleans sitting at 2-5. According to the team's official report, the Saints rank 28th in rushing at 86 yards per game. Offensive line coach Brendan Nugent will lead the weekly run game structure, while running backs coach Joel Thomas will continue contributing to situational planning.
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Those are the confirmed changes. Whether they produce better football remains an open question.
My view? Simplifying how coaches prepare and communicate can help. Players benefit when assignments are clear and the weekly plan fits what they can execute. But shifting responsibilities only matters if that clarity reaches the field.
Fans should expect something more tangible than a different explanation after another stalled possession.
The Players Understand Their Part
One encouraging response came from center Erik McCoy, who accepted responsibility for communication and getting the blocking unit aligned. He also acknowledged that a coach's dismissal reflects on the players' execution.
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That is the right place for this conversation to go.
A run play requires several people to solve the same problem together. The offensive line, tight ends and backs must recognize their assignments and react as the defense moves. One missed adjustment can unravel a play before the runner gets a meaningful chance.
I want to see that accountability show up in fewer wasted snaps. Give the offense manageable situations. Make the defense respect the possibility of a successful handoff. Those basic improvements can create breathing room throughout a game.
Cleveland Provides an Immediate Test
The Saints return Sunday, Nov. 8, against the Browns at Caesars Superdome. Cleveland enters the matchup at 5-3, giving New Orleans an immediate opportunity to measure its adjustments against a team with a winning record.
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I would judge the reset by consistency before chasing a flashy rushing total.
Can the Saints generate useful gains early in possessions? Can they convert a short-yardage opportunity without making it feel like an emergency? Can they keep a negative run from wrecking an otherwise promising drive?
Those questions matter because an unreliable ground game limits the entire offense. Passing situations become easier to anticipate, and the play caller has fewer comfortable options.
For fans watching from Houston or anywhere else, this is familiar football math: An offense becomes much harder to defend when every possession does not depend on the passing game rescuing it.
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My Two Pennies
Moore described the decision as a way to improve staff workflow and told WWL that additional adjustments to the weekly process were possible. That gives us a clear standard to watch: Does preparation translate into cleaner execution?
I am willing to give the changes a chance. I also think the burden of proof belongs to everyone still in the building.
For the draft-minded crowd, these remaining games should help clarify where better instruction can unlock production and where the roster needs reinforcement. That evaluation requires honest answers.
Saints fans have heard enough about finding solutions. Against Cleveland, a few dependable running lanes would make a much stronger statement.
