After their 22-14 loss to the Carolina Panthers, the New Orleans Saints are a team looking to answer some mounting questions. Another slow start for the offense compounded with miscues on defense and special teams will leave Saints fans with some lingering doubts as the team travels to London in Week 4. For the team, however, addressing those doubts and making positive strides are the focus, and one must assume it will all start by getting right on offense. Here are seven takeaways from the Saints’ Week 3 loss to the NFC South-rival Panthers.
1
Slow starts are still a problem for the Saints offense
After two weeks of struggling to get the offense going in the first two quarters, the Saints did exactly what they did Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The offense moved well down the field to open the game during their first drive, but shot themselves in the foot with a pair of penalties. After that drive, the offense gave up a score on an Alvin Kamara fumble and then went three and out three series in a row.
New Orleans has struggled to find its rhythm to open games and at this point, it doesn’t seem that they are any closer to improving their situation. Penalties, turnovers and lack of execution continue to riddle the team. Slow starts on offense are forcing the team to play from behind themselves, let alone their opponents.
2
Tackling starting to generate concern on defense
Despite the Saints being a solid tackling team in recent history, missed tackles did them in on defense against the Panthers. Several missed tackles led to a touchdown by wide receiver Laviska Shenault and more than a few first-down conversions throughout the matchup. With things already going so poorly on offense, tackling cannot become a concern for the defense. If that happens, solace for the Saints will be hard to come by.
3
Turnovers are becoming a recurring issue
The Saints have committed 9 turnovers in their first three games this season. Meanwhile, they’ve forced just three takeaways. Being on the wrong end of a 3-to-1 turnover ratio is not the way to string together wins in the NFL. And it’s far from what anyone expected from what has been one of the league’s best defensive units. One has to till wonder, though: if the Saints defense can start to stack up takeaways to their usual standard, will the offense be able to do anything with it?
4
Saints special teams not as reliable as it has been in the past
Speaking of surefire units dealing with miscues, the Saints special teams operation is drawing some concerns of its own. A missed field goal in each of the team’s three games, missed tackles in punt coverage and a free rusher coming off the edge on a much needed field goal attempt are all miscues you don’t expect to see from the black and gold. In a season where things are looking bleak to start for the offense, the Saints’ special teams unit is usually something you could always feel confident in. Making strides here could go a long way for the team as they look to maximize opportunities for points and flip the field on opponents in order to force low-scoring contests. The special teams unit has also drawn six penalty flags in just three games after only receiving 10 special teams fouls all of last season.
5
Chris Olave is a stud
If you’re looking for a bright spot for the Saints offense, it’s the rookie first-round wide receiver out of Ohio State. Olave saw double-digit targets for the second game in a row and converted them for 9 catches and 147 receiving yards. The explosive wideout is finding his way without much issue in the Saints offense, but until those yards and catches start to convert to points, the fan’s reluctance to celebrate is understandable. But as Olave continues to grow, it’s clear he’s going to be a long-time threat for this team.
If Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry and Tre’Quan Smith’s injuries lead to extended time missed, Olave and running back Alvin Kamara will have to shoulder the load of offensive production. And even still, with those veterans heathy, what the former Buckeyes is putting together is a necessity for a Saints team that may have to rely on big plays to put up points if stringing together drives continues to be an issue.
6
Confidence is become hard to muster
While it’s not wise to completely count out a team after just three games to start the season, it is warranted to be concerned about where the Saints’ season is heading right now. New coach, effectively new offense and three weeks of flat production can’t just be ignored. Head coach Dennis Allen and the Saints sound like they’re ready to answer the questions, but until the adjustments they’ve discussed with media show up on the field, the rising level of skepticism makes sense. This is unknown territory to see an offense struggle like this 2022 group has to start the season. While that doesn’t mean that you can close the book on the team, it would be disingenuous to not question it.
7
Belief in LB Pete Werner proving warranted
The defense as a whole is usually the bright spot of a Saints loss and sans the missed tackles, the unit did play well. But their second-year linebacker was a highlight yet again. Werner totaled 11 combined tackles, his second game this season notching double-digits. He also continues to play well in coverage and contributed to Panthers star McCaffrey to only 2 catches for 7 receiving yards. Werner has hushed all of the questions that surrounded the Saints’ decision to not reinvest in New York Jets linebacker Kwon Alexander who had just two tackles in his Week 3 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
