Saints’ coverage plan shifted dramatically in Bucs win

By Ross Jackson

Part of being an effective coach and club in the NFL is the ability to adjust. The New Orleans Saints’ defense, led by defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, did exactly that in the team’s recent win at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Going into the game, the Saints’ pass defense was one of the top-10 most frequent zone coverage teams in the league, playing man coverage in less than 15% of snaps.

Against the Buccaneers, the Saints’ man coverage usage leapt to 37.1%, their highest of the season, per Next Gen Stats.

The shift is an example of a team that isn’t stubborn. There’s a belief in the core tenants of the system in New Orleans. Of that there is no doubt. But Staley’s willingness to adjust based on what the opponent across the line of scrimmage is what sets him apart from most at his position around the league. 

It’s something that veteran cornerback Isaac Yiadom, who has had multiple stops with Staley, highlights as a part of what makes Staley a strong coach.

“Every week we still have our core stuff, but he changes stuff around to fit our opponent,” Yiadom told LouisianaSports.Net. “I feel like it does involve a lot of thinking. But I think the biggest thing in this defense, and I’ve been in it a couple of times, is if you get everybody to believe in the defense or why we’re doing it, and everybody to do their job, then it works really well. And I think towards the second stretch of the season, that’s what we’ve been doing a really good job at, is buying into it, everybody doing their part of the defense.”

The Saints saw an opportunity to adjust and match up aggressively with their opponent. In doing so, the unit played a large role in solidifying the team’s third win of the season, and of their rare wins, over a winning team in recent years.

New Orleans is trying to establish a new culture. One that players are proud to be a part of from the inside and wish to join from the outside. Showing a lack of ego and an ability to put players in position to succeed, even if that means changing and adjusting, is a strong start to building that environment. 

Staley is creating a defensive revitalization in New Orleans. With the offseason on the way, a focus on adding more playmakers to his group should be a top priority. If that focus is successful, the defense stands to take another step forward in 2026.