New Orleans Saints defensive and offensive lines adapting under new coaching staff, systems

'A lot of this is going to get figured out in training camp'

Jun 06, 2025 at 07:10 AM

John DeShazier

Senior Writer

Check out photos of New Orleans Saints players participating in the team's 2025 OTA practice on June 4, 2025 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center.

Among the myriad items either that could have been discovered or confirmed during the New Orleans Saints OTAs, which concluded Thursday at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center, interior line play wasn't one of them.

The Saints have a good idea who will be the players, but not as much information on how the offensive and defensive lines will perform in new schemes under a new coaching staff. With physicality between the units non-existent until later in the summer, the evaluation stage won't go into overdrive until then.

"O line, D line – a lot of this is going to get figured out in training camp," Coach Kellen Moore said. "That's just the reality of OTAs. They're doing everything they can, they're competing. Love the heck out of those guys and once that comes, we'll get a better feel for them.

"From a run game perspective on both sides of the football, you're not going to get a real great evaluation this time of year. It's more, 'Hey, are they assignment sound, do they understand their responsibilities?'

"The execution and what it looks like ultimately won't happen until training camp, but these guys are doing everything they can from a fundamental perspective in individual (drills). Certainly, our defensive line and offensive line have spent a ton of time on individual – that's really the bulk of their days this time of year. It's going to be a growing process as we go through it."

That growth includes for a player like defensive end Chase Young, as he and his linemates digest the switch from a 4-3 front to a 3-4 alignment. There'll be times when Young, Carl Granderson and Cameron Jordan will drop into coverage as subterfuge, but the primary responsibility won't change.

"Certainly, he's going to be a pass rusher," Moore said of Young. "There'll be some versatile roles that he'll be able to do and we'll be able to line up in some different fronts and structures and all that fun stuff, but allowing him to maximize, be an edge rusher, play with some width and get after the QB."

The offensive line adjustment will be as much personnel as schematic. With Trevor Penning moving from right tackle to left guard, Taliese Fuaga shifting from left tackle to right tackle and rookie Kelvin Banks Jr. stepping in at left tackle, three-fifths of the unit projects to open the season with a new starter.

For Penning, it'll be the third position in as many seasons.

"You have to be able to anchor in this league in some capacity," Moore said. "You're going to get bull rushed – the bull rush, if someone can run through you there's going to be challenges no matter what the circumstance is.

"Trevor playing at guard – he's got size, he's got mass, he's got physicality that's going to be perfect for that position. Our experience, the last couple of spots everyone (on the coaching staff) has been, has had those guys go from tackle to guard so we feel good about the transition."

Photos: Saints participate in 2025 OTA practice | June 5, 2025