One of the biggest offseason acquisitions for the New Orleans Saints was the signing of linebacker Kaden Elliss. Especially after the loss of long-time starting linebacker Demario Davis, who took an opportunity to go back to where it all started for him by signing with the New York Jets in free agency.
Elliss did something similar this offseason. Signing with New Orleans, he also returns to the team that drafted him after spending three years as a starter, signal caller and captain with the Atlanta Falcons. The former Idaho defender started his career in New Orleans as a seventh-round draft pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Now, he returns to the Crescent City.
While he’s returning to a similar locker room, same facilities and stadium, the coaching staff, roster and system have all changed dramatically. Elliss is working hard this offseason to get settled into his new system, one that he’ll be helping to lead onto the field every Sunday.
While terminology is always a big change for players headed into new systems, Elliss explained that there are truly some new elements for him in defensive coordinator Brandon Statley’s scheme.
“There’s some truly different things that I haven’t done before,” he said following the second open OTA practice. “In different aspects of the game, different coverages and whatnot, but it’s really cool to learn how they do it and we’ll be good to go.”
In order to learn more about the requirements of the defense, he’s spending as much time as possible with the architect, Staley, as he can.
“A lot of different coordinators in a few years here,” he said. “I don’t want to be out there game one like it’s my first game in this defense. I want it to look like it’s my 50th game in this defense. The best way to do that is to pick the genius’s brain and that’s what I’m going to do.”
While there are some changes in the system from what Elliss was accustomed to during his last stop in New Orleans, as well as in Atlanta, he said that some of the individual coverage asks are fairly similar to what he’s done before in volume.
However, it’s reasonable to expect that he’ll also be asked to rush the passer and help apply pressure from all around the defensive alignment, as that is one of his biggest strengths. The saints have built incentives into his contract for exactly that purpose.
As Elliss gets fully onboarded to the new approach, he’s been a key contributor to the team’s success. He’s a strong on-field and off-field leader, a versatile piece that can be moved all along the defense and durable, tough competitor. He’ll be one of the standard-bearers for the New Orleans roster throughout his time back with the team.
He believes that the team’s defense can be special. And his performance alone could be vital in the Saints’ ability to live up to that potential.
“Brandon’s got a really special defense here,” he said. “Everybody’s bought in, everybody’s dialed and I’m excited to play my part in it.”
