Saints already showing focus in substitutions, lineup variety

By Ross Jackson

One of the observations that was easy to identify from the first practice session of New Orleans Saints Organized Team Activities (OTAs) was the amount of substitutions and packages the team worked on all throughout walkthroughs. 

The team dedication time both substituting with in-game tempo on offense and matching personnel on defense. That looks like it will be a key factor in the team’s game plan next season. 

For the offense, this change would be a welcome one if done out of choice rather than necessity. Last year, the Saints’ offense was No. 14 in the league with 334 offensive lineups used, per NFLGSIS. The team saw a lot of those lineup changes come along due to injury, especially toward the end of the season. The count was also doubled-up in some instances after the team’s quarterback change midway through the season. 

Going into 2026 with the plan of constantly rotating personnel and deploying talent from a variety of alignments will help create and exploit favorable matchups. 

Despite the new playmakers the team added to the fold this offseason being very early in their process, the Saints are quickly introducing them to this concept, which reinforces the idea that it will be an emphasis this year. 

Defensively, the rotation will be dictated by the opposition’s personnel. But last year, the Saints used among the fewest defensive lineups in the league. 

Per NFLGSIS, New Orleans only fielded 363 defensive lineups. The eighth fewest in the league. The Dallas Cowboys utilized the most with a whopping 662. 

That defensive consistency is part of why the team was surging late, as the unit grew more familiar with itself and the defensive system.