By Ross Jackson
The New Orleans Saints’ offensive line has been the focus of conversation quite a bit as of late after the shuffling of the unit led to former right tackle Trevor Penning moving inside to left guard during recent OTA practices. While more shuffling may be on the way, the willingness to try something new has sparked some excitement about the potential of the unit’s future.
Over the last few years, injury concerns and other elements have had an adverse impact on the offensive trenches for New Orleans. The position group is looking for a bit of a bounce back in 2025 with a new and promising scheme set to be implemented.
A key ingredient to success is chemistry. And the offensive line has its own ways of making sure the relationship among them is strong. Starting tackle Taliese Fuaga spoke with us and shared the two players that have, thus far, been a driving force behind the unit’s connection.
“I feel like Erik (McCoy) has always done a good job of trying to keep it like a brotherhood in there,” he said. “I think with rookie stuff, all those little things, it works out well. Especially with Erik and Cesar Ruiz.”
The two veterans seem to be leading the way in building and maintaining the relationship across
the offensive line. From an on field perspective, Fuaga said that McCoy and Ruiz have been impactful coaching up younger guys and working between reps, but even off the field and away from the facility, they work to strengthen the bond.
“We go out to eat once a week,” Fuaga said of the group.
The weekly meals serve as a chance to solidify friendships and bonds across the players making them more than just teammates on the field. This type of personal focus pays when the whistle blows and the action on the gridiron starts.
It’s part of the reason that coaches are excited to work with the group as well.
“They all like each other,” run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti said of the offensive linemen. “It’s awesome. It means everything. We’re going to be in that little room with each other all year, right? So for no one to be looking over somebody’s shoulder and be like, ‘Oh, he’s trying to take my job!’ That’s the only way to win.”
That’s certainly the hope going into 2025. If the offensive line stays healthy and performs up to the team’s standard, everything else should begin to fall in place. Even if the Saints are still a year or two away from what they truly intend to build, the trenches shoring up sooner than later is a huge win.
The relationships are where it all starts. And the Saints may be ahead of schedule there.
