Saints Mandatory Minicamp: Key Takeaways from Kellen Moore's Press Conference

The Saints are still teaching.

That may sound obvious in June, but it matters because it explains nearly every answer Moore gave during his press conference ahead of mandatory minicamp.

While fans are looking for depth-chart battles and breakout candidates, the coaching staff is still focused on installation, assignments, and building habits.

Moore emphasized that OTAs have been about learning and volume, but mandatory minicamp will be more situational football with an expectation that players retain what they've been taught over the last several weeks.

In other words, the Saints aren't evaluating finished products yet.

They're evaluating who can handle more.

Tyler Shough Is Earning More Responsibility

One of the more interesting moments from the press conference involved

Tyler Shough.

Moore highlighted a play where the defense presented a look that wasn't ideal for the original call. Shough recognized it, checked out of the play, and got the offense into something better, firing up the offensive line.

That's not a throwaway comment.

Young quarterbacks don't earn freedom. They earn trust.

The fact Moore chose that example tells you a lot about where Shough is in his development. The Saints are gradually putting more on his plate because he's showing he can handle it.

Moore agreed with a comment from Travis Etienne that Shough appears further along than a typical second-year player.

Again, not surprising.

Shough isn't a typical second-year player.

His age, experience, and football background are part of what makes his profile unique. The Saints clearly believe those traits are accelerating his development.

The Saints Want Cleaner Football

Another theme that surfaced throughout the press conference was execution.

Moore discussed the offense operating out of shotgun roughly 75 percent of the time last season. While some of that was intentional and some of it was carryover from Philadelphia, it sounds like the Saints would like more balance moving forward.

More importantly, Moore repeatedly came back to fundamentals.

Better first halves.

Fewer turnovers early in the game.

Cleaner alignment and assignment sound football.

The emphasis wasn't fully on scheme, though some adjustments will be made there, it was on execution.  That's usually a sign of a coaching staff that believes the answers already exist inside the building.

Star role gets compared to Tight-End

Kellen Moore describe the Star role as one of the more demanding jobs in Brandon Staley's defense. It's a position with multiple responsibilities, similar to the way teams talk about tight ends on offense.

You need coverage ability.

You need tackling ability.

You need pressure versatility.

And to get it right, you need high reps.

The Saints will continue building depth there, and Moore noted they have safeties who can move down or corner's who can move inside but it increasingly sounds like Jonas Sanker is positioned to receive the majority of those opportunities.

The Defensive Line Remains a Developmental Story

The defensive line discussion was interesting because Moore seemed far more focused on development than immediate results.

Vernon Broughton remains a technique and assignment project, though Moore acknowledged the difficulty of evaluating defensive linemen in a limited-contact environment.

Tyree Wilson may have generated the most interesting comments of the group.

Moore described him as a sponge, highlighting both his willingness to learn and the work being done by Jay Rodgers to develop him as an edge player.

That's exactly what coaches want to see this time of year.

Not production.

Growth.

The Saints also seem comfortable with their edge depth overall. They may not have another star pass rusher beyond Chase Young, but they believe they have enough bodies to keep players fresh throughout the season.

Quick Hits

• Cesar Ruiz reported in good shape and appears positioned to stabilize the right guard position.

• Kendre Miller continues to progress from his ACL injury while Devin Neal is currently sidelined.

• Alvin Kamara and Nathan Shepherd remain limited.

• There have been no conversations regarding Taysom Hill, though Moore left the door open by adding, "you never know."

• Taliese Fuaga received positive reviews for his confidence and recovery from last year's injuries.

• Cam Jordan is in the building for a visit today, he and Mickey Loomis will have some discussions, and Moore is optimistic that something could get done today.

• Jordan Tyson, Christen Miller, and Chris Olave are all limited and on a similar injury protocol as they were for the OTA's.

• Moore highlighted there is 100% attendance from players

• Saints have sold out season tickets for 21 consecutive years.

Final Thought

If there was one phrase that summarized Kellen Moore's press conference, it was this:

The Saints are still teaching.

Fans and media want answers in June.

Coaches want development.

Right now, the Saints seem far more concerned with who is learning, who is retaining information, and who can handle additional responsibility than they are with naming starters.

That's not always exciting.

But it's usually where winning football begins.