Saints 2023 Week 1 Recap

Jamie UK • September 11, 2023

        In an absolute defensive struggle, the Saints defense made the most plays, by intercepting Ryan Tannehill 3 times, to give the Saints a 16- 15 win in the Superdome in

Week 1. There is undoubtedly a lot to clean up for the Saints but it was essential that they gritted through a sluggish offensive showing and got the win. Here’s how it all went down.


Team Stats 

(Saints/Titans)

Final Score: 16-15

First downs: 15-16

3rd down efficiency: 7/16- 2/12

Total yards: 351- 285

Red Zone Efficiency: 1/4  -  0/3

Penalties: 7 for 45 yards- 6 for 45 yards 

Turnovers- 2- 3

Time of possession- 28:40- 31:20


Key Saints Individual Stats (All stats sourced from ESPN)


Offense

Derek Carr- 23/33 (69.6%) 305 Yards 1 Touchdown 1 Interception 96.1 passer rating

Chris Olave- 8 receptions from 10 targets for 112 yards

Rashid Shaheed- 5 receptions from 6 targets for 89 yards, 1 touchdown + 2 rushes for 11 yards

Jamaal Williams- 18 rushes for 45 yards (2.5 YPC) OOFF


Defense

Marshon Lattimore- 1 interception and 4 pass defenses

Demario Davis- 10 tackles, 9 solo! And 1 TFL

Carl Granderson- 1.5 Sacks, 1 TFL and 4 QB hits

Paulson Adebo- 1 interception and 1 pass defense

Marcus Maye- 6 tackles, 5 solo, 1 interception and 1 pass defense.


Takeaways


Defense


        A tough, gritty and frankly nerve-wracking win for the Saints, crucially though it was just that, a win. This game had an ominous air to it from the get-go after Rashid Shaheed fumbled the opening kickoff which gave the Titans’ offense a short field to work with, the Saints defense stepped up (with help from the Domefieldadvantage, who forced two false starts) and held the Titans to only 3 points. From here the Saints defense didn’t look back. They looked like the best defense in the league forcing 3 turnovers, They also sacked Tannehill 3 times but were in his face all gaming hitting him a further 10 times.


        The rebuilt d-line was outstanding led by Carl Granderson who was an absolute force, he gave Titans LT Andre Dillard the business from the first whistle. Rookie DT Bryan Bresee and vet Malcom Roach also had really strong days as rushers. The one negative for this unit was 3rd year DE Payton Turner left with a Toe injury, after a strong summer where he finally stayed healthy and looked to have turned a corner, another long-term injury would be a killer for Turner’s development and the Saints depth.


        The Secondary was elite, today led by Marshon Lattimore, by the other starters and role players stepped up as well. Adebo was really good opposite him and Alontae Taylor after a rookie pre-season looked to have held up well in the slot, especially as a tackler in the open field and in run support which is vitally important for a Slot CB.


Offense


        Now for the offense, which frankly was bad for the most part. A lot of the blame can be put on the offensive line, which struggled mightily most of the game. Especially the left side consisting of Trevor Penning and James Hurst, both of whom were getting beat in run and pass protection. Penning, who looked to give up at least 2 sacks on really bad, quick losses and many many other pressure and hits. 


        The line play was a big part of Carr's struggles early, especially in the first half. Particularly, Carr struggled in the Red Zone and it was frustrating to not see Taysom Hill in this part of the field. Yes, some of the missed plays were on Carr, the awful interception he threw for one, but many were due to the leaky o-line, I also don't think the play calling helped much either with very little quick passing being called. Coming in clutch, Carr managed to complete a 19-yard touchdown pass to Rashid Shaheed (who ran a nasty route by the way). This was his lone completion in the Red Zone (Carr finished 1-7 on passes from inside the 20).


        Carr and the rest of the offense played much better in the second half, namely because Pete Carmichael Jr finally called some quick passing concepts which helped the struggling o-line and the Saints finally gave Penning some help which allowed Carr more time to complete some passes downfield, to Chris Olave and somewhat of a game sealer to Rashid Shaheed. These types of throws showed why the Saints splashed the cash on Carr rather than sticking with the QBs they had last year.


        Plenty that needs fixing for certainly some encouraging signs for the offense to build off going forward.



Saints Stock Exchange (Sponsored By… Nobody)


        Just a quick hit section each week to highlight which Saints players have their stock value increasing and decreasing after each game, 3 up and 3 down:


Stock Up

- Marshon Lattimore

- Carl Granderson

- Mike Thomas


        I could have included the whole defense on this list honestly but that would be cheating, Granderson and Lattimore were just the most dominant for me. The final up I went for was Mike Thomas, not because he was the most dominant of the 3 WRs (both Olave and Shaheed were excellent today) but because Thomas feels like a true riser he got open, showed he infamous strong hands in tough contested catch situations and overall had a really nice game (it could have been even better if Carr hadn't missed him twice after being really open in the Red Zone).


        Honourable mention- The Specialists, both Lou Hedley and Blake Grupe looked excellent today, if their play continues like this the Saints nailed those decisions.


Stock Down

- Trevor Penning 

- James Hurst

- Keith Kirkwood


        Penning and Hurst a pretty obvious so I won't labour the point there. Kirkwood may seem harsh to some and maybe it is, but he’s on here because of one play and one play alone. Its 1st and 10 02:12 on the clock and the Saints are up 2 trying to run out the clock. Pete Carmichael dials up a perfect play, a jet sweep run to Shaheed which goes for 27 yards, Kirkwood gets called for holding, it was the correct call and completely unnecessary by Kirkwood. Shaheed already had the edge and was darting towards the second level there was no need to hold there and if not for Shaheed and Carr connecting on a ballsy bomb on 3rd down 2 plays later, that penalty could have cost the Saints the game.


Make sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @SaintsReportUK, for much more Saints content and discussion throughout the 2023 season and beyond.

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Why Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton RoyalWhy Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton Royal

By Auston Taylor • July 8, 2026
 LSU has made it clear that five-star wide receiver Easton Royal remains one of its top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class. Although Royal is currently committed to Texas, LSU has continued to recruit him aggressively. Based on recent recruiting events and public reporting, one factor that could strengthen the Tigers' position is the presence of quarterback commit Peyton "Pop" Houston. While no outcome is guaranteed in recruiting, Houston's relationship with Royal has become one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding LSU's 2027 class. According to recruiting coverage from The Opening and reports from And The Valley Shook, Houston and Royal showcased noticeable chemistry while competing together on the national stage. Houston also drew attention by winning the event's longest throw competition with a reported 67-yard throw, further reinforcing why many evaluators consider him one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. In my view, Houston has the potential to become much more than another highly rated offensive commitment. Elite quarterbacks often become magnets for other top recruits, and early signs suggest Houston could have that kind of influence on LSU's 2027 recruiting class. Why Houston Matters in Royal's Recruitment Quarterback and wide receiver relationships have become one of the most influential factors in modern recruiting. Elite receivers aren't simply choosing a school—they're choosing an offense, a coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, the quarterback who will help maximize their abilities. If Royal ultimately views Houston as LSU's quarterback of the future, it gives the Tigers another compelling selling point. Rather than asking Royal to imagine what the offense could become, LSU can point to chemistry that has already been displayed during national recruiting events. That doesn't guarantee a commitment flip, but it does provide LSU with something tangible that few recruiting pitches can offer: an established connection between two elite prospects. LSU's History Shows Why This Matters LSU's greatest offensive seasons have consistently featured elite quarterbacks throwing to elite receivers. During the Tigers' historic 2019 National Championship season, Joe Burrow captured the Heisman Trophy while throwing to arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. That offense rewrote NCAA record books and remains the standard for modern college football offenses. A few years later, history repeated itself. Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy while benefiting from one of the nation's most explosive receiving duos in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels' remarkable development was certainly his own, but LSU's elite receiving talent allowed the offense to reach another level. The lesson is clear: great quarterbacks elevate receivers, but elite receivers also help quarterbacks reach championship-level production. That history gives LSU a compelling message for recruits considering Baton Rouge. Peyton "Pop" Houston's Development Houston's rise as one of Louisiana's premier quarterback prospects is backed by more than recruiting rankings. Evaluators consistently praise his arm strength, touch, ability to extend plays outside the pocket, and willingness to attack defenses vertically. His continued development at Evangel Christian Academy has made him one of the foundation pieces of LSU's 2027 recruiting class. The Bigger Picture If LSU eventually pairs Peyton Houston with Easton Royal, it would represent much more than another recruiting victory. It would signal that LSU landed a quarterback capable of attracting elite talent around him while adding a receiver willing to build alongside that vision. Programs that consistently compete for championships often see recruiting momentum build this way. Elite quarterbacks attract receivers. Elite receivers attract additional offensive talent. Once that cycle begins, recruiting classes can quickly become special. None of this guarantees that Easton Royal will flip his commitment. Texas remains in a strong position, and recruiting decisions can change for countless reasons. However, Houston's emergence gives LSU something every elite program hopes to have: a quarterback capable of becoming the centerpiece of an entire recruiting class. LSU has already witnessed what happens when championship-caliber quarterbacks are paired with elite receivers. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. If Peyton "Pop" Houston eventually helps bring Easton Royal to Baton Rouge, it could become one of the defining recruiting stories of LSU's 2027 class—and perhaps the first step toward building another explosive Tiger offense.

Tight End Room Outlook: Revamped and Ready To Roll

By Kaden Arkeder • July 4, 2026
The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.
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