May 10, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore during rookie minicamp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
The New Orleans Saints have seen their offense change and evolve over the last few years. Even before the departure of former head coach Sean Payton, there were shifts and adjustments being made as the team rebounded from a down stretch, reclaiming success beginning in 2017.
Now, the offense will see perhaps its biggest schematic change under new head coach Kellen Moore. In order to seek out some of the changes to expect, looking at personnel groupings or the number of players at various positions during an offensive play could shed some light.
The most popular personnel group in today’s NFL is 11-personnel. The first digit of the two digit number represents the number of running backs and the second shows the number of tight ends on the field for that play. The remainder of the five skill position players are usually wide receivers, though sometimes an extra offensive lineman may be involved, which is usually designated a specific way. (Such as 611 instead of 11, for example.)
11-personnel is the NFL’s most popular formation as the rise of the slot receiver years ago has thrown into motion. This grouping is the three-wide receiver group that became the league’s go-to deployment for years. Teams are using more heavier sets (12-personnel and 21-personnel) now to counter defenses getting smaller and faster. Overall, the predominant trend remains the same.
However, looking at least year’s offensive personnel percentages shows that the Saints did not completely buy in on that trend, or at least had so many injuries at wideout that they could.
2024 11-Personnel Regular Season Usage (TruMedia):
NFL Average: 645.3 offensive snaps (61.1% of snaps)
Saints: 344 (33.3%)
Eagles: 667 (59.9%)
While the Eagles, Moore’s former team, exceeded the league average in total snaps out of this look and effectively met the league average, the Saints were far below. New Orleans ranked No. 31 in total 11-personnel reps last year while the Eagles were No. 14. This is an indication that the Saints could see more three-wide receiver sets in 2025, assuming the group stays healthy.
While Moore builds his approach off of the strengths of his roster and players, 11-personnel usage has been consistent for Moore over the years.
2024 Eagles: 59.9%
2023 Los Angeles Chargers: 70.0%
2022 Dallas Cowboys: 61.0%
2021 Dallas Cowboys: 62.3%
2020 Dallas Cowboys: 71.4%
2019 Dallas Cowboys: 66.8%
It’s safe to assume that more of these looks will be on the way for New Orleans. With wide receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed leading the way at the position, which receiver will become the third option feels like it already has an answer: veteran wideout Brandin Cooks. Cooks has held down a consistent role in recent years as a player that moves inside and out at wide receiver, bouncing between roughly 25% to 35% of his snaps coming out of the slot. He is likely to be the option alongside Olave and Shaheed this year.
Although, fellow veteran receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. has been a primary slot option in Moore’s offense before. So he will be another name to keep an eye on in the rotation.
Other Personnel Groupings of Note:
12-Personnel: (One RB, two TEs, two WRs)
Saints: 313 (30.3%) – No. 9
Eagles: 333 (29.9%) – No. 4
Average: 233.2 (22.1%)
21-Personnel (Two RBs, one TE, two WRs):
Saints: 168 (16.3%) – No. 4
Eagles: 17 (1.5%) – No. 19
Average: 66 (6.2%)
22-Personnel (Two RBs, two TEs, one WR):
Saints: 78 (7.6%) – No. 4
Eagles: 24 (2.2%) – No. 24
Average: 22.1 (2.1%)
Expect the Saints to perhaps get a little lighter in their offense in 2025. It would not be surprising to see Moore still lean on the tight end room more in New Orleans than in his previous stops. From the sound of it, the head coach isn’t just looking to just bring what he’s done before to New Orleans, but instead blend his previous experience with what the Saints have found success doing in the past and have the personnel to support.
With tight ends Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau, Jack Stoll and other young options available (and Taysom Hill, once healthy), deploying two-tight end sets wouldn’t be much of a surprise. He did this at a career high last season in Philadelphia.
