By Ross Jackson
Building their new identity stands as one of the most crucial objectives the New Orleans Saints must achieve during their 2025 training camp. With new coaches, new philosophies and changing schemes in every phase, the Saints are looking to usher in the franchise’s next era. Finding their identity in the process will be imperative.
It may take into the season for said identity to be fully realized, but establishing its foundation throughout training camp will provide a strong framework upon which to build.
What that identity will be remains to be seen. There are several possibilities.
The Run Game
The most likely path seems to be building around running back Alvin Kamara and the rushing attack. With two young quarterbacks, this would take the pressure off of the passing game and provide support as they settle into the new offense.
Head coach Kellen Moore did this last year, finding incredible success with the Philadelphia Eagles run game led by 2024 Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley.
Kamara, the team’s star back, is one of the club’s most notable names and producers. He has also called into question the team’s identity in the past as results continued to disappoint. Making him the central heartbeat of the team, at least on offense, seems like a wise way to go.
🆕: Alvin Kamara on finding solutions to offensive issues
Full Interview:⬇️https://t.co/R1BKleBoDb pic.twitter.com/JFfg7NwVD8
— NOF (@nofnetwork) November 26, 2023
In order to do this to the fullest, however, other backs will need to step up. The Saints have not had a running back as their second-leading rusher since Latavius Murray back in 2021. Every year since then, the rushing leader following Kamara has been versatile tight end Tasyom Hill, who is unlikely to be ready to return to the field early in the season.
Another back will have to step in.
Quarterback-First
An identity built around the starting quarterback is a popular way to go but rarely begins with a player’s first Week One start. Whether rookie Tyler Shough or second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler gets the nod, it will be a new venture to be the starter at the top of the season.
Teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills are easy to identify as those that have this kind of identity. But in the first year of starting quarterback duties coming out of training camp, this would be a tough ask.
Although, last year, the Washington Commanders and Jayden Daniels were able to pull it off thanks to Daniels’ remarkable talent.
Defense Wins Championships
A championship is a big ask for New Orleans coming into this year. Many expect them to struggle to stay alive in their own division let alone take home a Lombardi trophy. That should stop the team from building towards that success.
The Pittsburgh Steelers always come to mind as the model for this approach, and the Saints have found success here before.
Between 2017 and 2021, the team’s defense was a large part of its success. From the pass rush to coverage and takeaway production, defense became the cornerstone of the team’s success while the offense produced on consistency and precision.
New Orleans brought in new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley to help recapture the team’s defensive success. Doing so in year one will be a challenge as everything is changing, but starting the path towards a defensively led team could pay dividends as the offense finds its footing.
By Ross Jackson
TEXT GOES HERE
