By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS – The NFL season is finally here, and the New Orleans Saints will host the Carolina Panthers to kick off the season. This may not be a “must-win” for the Saints, but it certainly feels like a “mustn’t lose.” New Orleans will open with a tough first five games. Losing their Week 1 game (which would be their first loss in an opener since 2018) would cast a lot of early doubt on the team’s new approaches.
There should be confidence in favor of the Saints in this matchup, however, as they look to have the better roster going in. Of course, no one knows much until the game is actually played. Here are five things to know as toe meets leather on Sunday.
- The Saints have a new approach on offense.
New Orleans completely revamped its offensive coaching staff for 2024. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak was the team’s most important addition of the offseason and brings a new offensive identity with him. The team also re-staffed multiple position coaches on that side of the ball.
The new offense will be Kubiak’s version of the ever-popular wide zone scheme. While a change of system does not really involve having to learn an all new foundation to the game of football, it most assuredly will lead to things looking a lot different in terms of execution. The outside zone run game should tick up. Motion and play action are expected to be staples, and a more unified approach to adjustments should be made thanks to a system of rules implemented to address defensive changes.
This is a major storyline headed into this game that is worth keeping an eye on throughout. New Orleans will benefit greatly from this new approach, however the time it may take to get in rhythm with the changes will be key. If the execution on the field looks smooth, controlled and clean it could mean big things for New Orleans this year. If it stumbles out of the gate, the concern will be tough to silence.
- This game is right tackle Trevor Penning’s most important yet.
All of the offseason chatter has finally led to this. After months of conversations, questions and speculation around Penning, he will finally get the chance to rise to the occasion in his first regular season start since Week 5 of the 2023 season.
Things will look inherently different as he will be starting on the right side rather than the left, but he will be expected to show growth and development, hopefully streamlined with the change of position. Penning is a gifted player. He is very athletic, especially at his size and is an absolute freight train in the run game. What he will have to prove is his development as a pass-protector.
Many coaches have shown their confidence in Penning’s progress, but he will look to successfully reintroduce himself to the NFL and the Saints’ fan base against the Panthers.
- Four players have been ruled out, but there are no surprises in terms of availability.
The final injury report of the week was released on Friday. In which the following game designations were announced:
No Designation (Good To Play):
LB Pete Werner (Shoulder)
CB Marshon Lattimore (Hip)
Questionable:
LB Willie Gay Jr. (Back)
WR A.T. Perry (Hand)
OL Nick Saldiveri (Calf)
Out:
DT Khalen Saunders (Ankle)
LB D’Marco Jackson (Calf)
LB Jaylan Ford (Hamstring)
TE Dallin Holker (Ankle)
The Saints also elevated two players from their practice squad to participate in the game: Linebacker Khaleke Hudson and defensive tackle Kendal Vickers.
- The Saints’ run defense will be put to the test.
New Orleans finished the season last year with two games in which they surrendered more than 100 rushing yards on defense. With talented backs Chubba Hubbard and Miles Sanders, who are both in contract years, the Panthers present a good litmus test for how the Saints have improved against the run.
New Carolina head coach Dave Canales wants to, much like New Orleans, predicate his offense by the run game. Carolina will present an effective challenge for New Orleans and its retooled front seven. The offseason additions of defensive end Chase Young, linebacker Willie Gay Jr. and interior defensive linemen Khristian Boyd and John Ridgeway III are potential boosts to the unit. They will be tested early.
- This game may be a winnable one, but it is still an important one.
Something the Saints did very well last year was beat teams that were presumed worse than them. Carolina is believed to be exactly that. Their roster is less experienced, less talented and less reinforced. Though New Orleans has its roster struggles to highlight as well. This is an example of them walking into a game as the better team.
The Saints will need to continue that trend this weekend to get themselves off to another fast start in 2024. They currently have won their last five season openers, the longest active streak in the NFL. Winning this one will be about more than just extending that streak. It is a division game and a winnable one ahead of the tough stretch of contests on the way against the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs.
An early Week 1 win in front of their home crowd would be a big confidence booster for the team.
