Saints 2023 Week 7 Recap

Ethen Meyers • October 20, 2023

The Recap- Saints Vs Jaguars

        The Saints seemed out of sorts, more missed field goals, more defensive turnovers putting the offense in good positions to score, and more red zone struggles. Despite a near comeback late, and some promising offensive poise near the end, the finger pointing is still at an all time high by fans.... Let's get into the recap.


Team Stats

(Saints/Jaguars)

Final Score: 24-31

First downs: 25 - 18

3rd down efficiency: 3/18 - 2/11

Total yards: 407 - 330

Red Zone Efficiency: 2/5 - 2/2

Penalties: 3 for 34 Yards - 5 for 42 yards 

Turnovers: 1 - 2

Time of possession: 36:10 - 23:50


Takeaways

Offense


        It has been said over and over again, the Saints offense is too talented to look this out of sorts. You can cite play calling issues, miscues, and bad reads all the same. The consistent issues are week after week and they were still present tonight against the Jaguars. Derek Carr has a lot of on his plate trying to make miracles happen while the running game still seems to not be living up to the hype.


        Offensive lines struggles didn't look as bad as expected. A few times we saw Penning come in on some jumbo packages which gives hope that the Saints coaching staff have not completely given up on the former first round pick. It was also pretty fun to see big #99 Saunders out there taking a break from defensive snaps and playing fullback. The desire to mix things up is there, but the execution has still fell short. I was also presently surprised by the newest member of the offensive line, Cameron Erving, staying available and he came with a certain bounce in his step that was nice to see.


        A few plays it looked like Carr was seeing a read a step too late which led to passes looking forced or making Jaguars secondary players look like pro bowlers. Aside from the misreads, miscommunication also bled through into yet another week. The Saints offense has been around each other enough, and Saints fans have had enough of the same issues. The "boo birds" were loud and present, and the Saints offense has to get it together in order to pull way in a currently crowded NFC South. The short passing game was a little more exercised this week, and it was nice to see that but the offense still lacks a certain rhythm that we saw start to groove at the end, I feel if they carry that over into next week, we may be on to something.


Defense


        When I write "The defense found a way to give the offense the push it needed" most people may think it was turnovers, good field position, and other things like that. Nope, it was big #99 Khalen Saunders bouncing around and running into guys playing fullback. It was a glorious drive full of the energy we have come so use to seeing around the defense near the goal line, and the Saints finally punched it in with Taysom Hill on 4th down with Saunders as the lead blocker.


        Now on to the actual defense, secondary play was good, defensive line was good, line backers were good. We are spoiled by this defense and despite giving up two early touchdowns to Etienne, the Saints defense buckled down after that not allowing another. The only other score came on a pick 6 that I am willing to bet if Saunders was out there, he would have found a way to get a fumble after the interception and run it for 99 yards and score a touchdown (not really, but we need to find the light).


        I still remain incredibly impressed with the young guys on the line. Cameron Jordan is likely smiling every time he gets less protection in his face with the dominance spread across the line. In general, the Saints defense feels very young with a few potential HOFers in the veteran roles. They have their share of penalties that seem to extend drives, but as many stats will tell you that is a tell tale sign of an aggressive defense. Unfortunately, when the Saints needed it the most the defense gave up what looked like a very easy touchdown to Kirk to seal the game after a short punt. I don't put a lot of this loss on them, but still dropped one when it mattered the most.


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

Khalen Saunders

Foster Moreau/Taysom Hill

Offensive Line


        Did you really think we would have anyone else but Saunders here? Come on, the guy was responsible for a much needed touchdown in a position he doesn't get paid for.

FOOTBALL. PLAYER. No further questions.


        Juwan Johnson misses another game, as expected on a short week. Moreau has stepped up and made himself available a lot where you want him. On the other hand, our other tight end/football player did A LOT that a winning player does. I could not choose because Hill provided that explosiveness you needed, but Moreau provided that constant you need from a backup TE. I know he had a late game drop that someone might argue "cost us the game" but there is a lot more plays you can point out, and I can't let that take away from everything else he did tonight filling in yet again for our TE1.


        After seeing all the news the last week and some change about the offensive line, I am shocked they are up for me but they are. They seemed to be a lot more in sync and while the run game left something to be desired they still played well considering all the changes and new faces in new places. To add, I don't think all the run game can be put on the line, when you quit on the run early it is hard to get anything going later.



Stock Down
Blake Grupe

Lou Hedley 

Chris Olave


        Just going to lump Grupe/Hedley into one. They are both rookies, one a just little younger than the next. They have time to grow, and while I want to still have faith at least Grupe will turn it around, but he is making that harder week after week. Grupe has too many misses to be trusted, and Hedley's punts feel to be right into into a running lane or short too often. The crucial down for Hedley is obviously the punt that set up the Jaguars with short field position which resulted in the score that sealed it.


        I don't love putting Olave here, but I have to. While the passes to him were not perfect, it feels like Derek Carr still wants him as a main target and he seems to quit too often. He is still very young and has a huge career ahead of him, I expect him to be on the up list more often than the down. He is clearly extremely talented, he just needs to mentally lock in.


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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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