We are only a few days into New Orleans Saints training camp, but the creativity the Saints have shown on offense is encouraging. Proper execution is obviously required though the intention is the true story here. Stale play calling was one of the biggest causes of frustration last season. Early signs show offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. is making an effort to use his weapons in less-traditional ways.
Rashid Shaheed was one of the biggest victims of this a season ago. It’s just one example, but at a recent training camp practice Shaheed was seen motioning into the backfield to run a route on a play. That’s not something you likely would have seen last year.
When Shaheed first exploded on the scene, he was a dynamic player who showcased chess-piece versatility. The wide receiver’s first touch was a 44-yard touchdown around the end. We didn’t see him touch the ball in that way much more through the season, gaining just 13 yards on his other three rushing attempts. Seeing him run routes out of the backfield occasionally would be a welcomed addition to his toolbox.
What a grab from @RashidShaheed 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TEnRznVX5h
— Boot Krewe Media (@BootKreweMedia) July 27, 2023
Alvin Kamara ran routes with the receivers at camp which could be a sign of things to come. Jamaal Williams and Kendre Miller should lessen how much New Orleans relies on Kamara at running back. Having those two players frees up Kamara to move around the field. One could even argue it would be a good idea to try to get two of the three on the field together frequently. Kamara lining up as a receiver would be the most dangerous way to accomplish this goal. After catching 81, 81, 81, and 83 passes in his first four years, Kamara has totaled 47 and 57 receptions the last two seasons.
Alvin Kamara ran routes with the receivers today pic.twitter.com/kLPdmU6Zcp
— NOF (@nofnetwork) July 29, 2023
So you have a wide receiver lining up in the backfield and a running back lining up as a receiver. This is the type of versatility that favors both player’s skill sets. It’s also more creative than what we were accustomed to in 2022. Using your most dynamic players in different alignments to attack the defense from multiple directions makes your offense more lethal.
