Could This Be The Most Versatile Saints Backfield Combination....Ever?

Jamie UK • July 31, 2023

The Saints could have one of the most versatile and impactful backfields in the NFL but not just for the reasons you might think



The New Orleans Saints have always prided themselves on having some of the most versatile backfields in the NFL, from Reggie Bush to Pierre Thomas all the way to the present day with Alvin Kamara. However, this year the Saints have the opportunity to fill their backfield not just with RBs, but with players with other primary positions to give opposing defenses all kinds of headaches. How you ask? Let me break it down.


The Saints boast quite a bevvy of versatile RB options coming out of the backfield, Alvin Kamara has long been one of the best receiving backs in the league. Add to him Jamaal Williams who averages 38 receptions per season over his career and third-round rookie Kendre Miller, who has underrated receiving skills which he’s shown off so far in camp. Even fullback Adam Prentice caught a couple of touchdown passes from the backfield earlier in camp.


Having three backs who can be a threat in the passing game is great but not revolutionary, where it gets spicy is the threat a couple of other non-RBs who could add an explosive and creative element to an already-stacked Saints backfield. Already in camp, we’ve seen that the Saints might share my vision.


Rashid Shaheed


Rashid Shaheed’s first offensive play in a Saints uniform was 44-tard touchdown run. He's an elite returner, meaning is an ultra-dynamic player with the ball in his hands. Unfortunately, Shaheed was criminally underutilised last season, as we only saw him used on jet sweeps outside of his play as a receiver/returner. That looks like it could be about to change as during training camp on Saturday he lined up In the backfield. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQQvBc5XXGg


The options here are endless for how he could be used. He could run routes, your run-of-the-mill routes to the flat, texas routes or option routes (as Kamara has done so effectively) etc… But the Saints could get really creative, using him on your classic backfield screens, deep routes as lining up the backfield would likely give him a clean release which with his speed would be deadly. 


A final wrinkle is turning Shaheed into Tyreek Hill lite. This would involve Pete Carmichael delving into the Chiefs use of Hill in the backfield. During his time in KC Hill was at times game-breaking as a runner with his elite burst and agility. So far we’ve seen Shaheed have the type of speed and agility to be a huge success in this type of role.


Taysom Hill


It should come as no surprise who my second ‘non-RB’ is…. It's ‘Mr Perfect’ himself Taysom Hill. Hill has already shown his dominance in the run game. However, it’s mainly come when lined up as a QB and I'm not suggesting that should change, more that the Saints should just add to it. 


Lining Hill up in the backfield more often adds even more stress to opposing defenses than he already has during his Saints career, which is crazy to say considering he averages 5.5 yards per carry and has 32 touchdowns rushing and receiving combined. Yes, he could be a ball carrier or run routes as the other backfield options I've listed. But, where he adds extra stress is he can also throw and block. Imagine Carr pitches the ball to Hill he could battering ram his way through the defense or throw it over the top of the safeties crashing downhill to stop the run. 


Where Hill in the backfield gets more interesting though would be in 2 back sets. Pair him with any of the players I've mentioned and it becomes scary. Hill could rush, pass, run a route or crucially turn into a freakish lead blocking Fullback. Now, you've got a player when lined up in the backfield who could do any one of 4 things to be effective and if mixed up correctly the defense would have no idea which of those 4 things Hill is going to be doing on any given play. Add to all this a QB under center who is smart enough to even change Hill's role on a play-by-play basis depending on what he see’s, that should be an opportunity too good for the Saints to pass up on.


Fever dream- imagine pre-snap, Taysom Hill and Rashid Shaheed in the backfield, Alvin Kamara in the slot and Michael Thomas and Chirs Olave out wide. With Kamara, Taysom and Shaheed all being backfield and WR threats motioning them pre and post-snap to different positions at will, whos playing where? Who’s going to run the ball? Who’s running routes? Who knows, how do you defend that? Gladly I’m not an NFL DC just a crazy fan with too much time (clearly) to think about the endless possibilities this would provide the Saints offense. 



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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