One of the stars of the New Orleans Saints’ preseason opener was veteran quarterback Zach Wilson. While his showing has ignited conversations around the team’s second quarterback position, the most important element of his performance is that it serves as proof-positive around the team’s offensive system.
Wilson has spent the least amount of time working with Saints Head Coach Kellen Moore out of the quarterback room.
Yet his 11/16, 145-passing yard display which included a red zone touchdown pass to rookie tight end Oscar Delp left him looking as if he’d been part of the system for a long while.
Wilson explained the quarterback-friendly nature of Moore’s system after the game.
“I feel confident that when he calls something like that, if I do it the right way, I have an option versus every coverage,” Wilson said of the playcall that led to his 37-yard completion to wide receiver Bub Means. “A lot of times in the league, it’s hard to know what you’re getting nowadays. Everyone disguises so well. And so to call all-purpose beaters, it’s a quarterback’s best friend.”
With Wilson’s success in the books, it’s easy to translate the optimism to starting passer Tyler Shough.
As Shough enters his second season, but first full year as the team’s starting quarterback and leader, expectations of his growth in the passing game are magnified.
Those expectations can see a glimpse of what’s to come in Wilson’s performance.
It serves as confirmation that the system works. So when the guys the system is being built for and with is at the helm during the regular season, there’s evidence that the offense can be a fun and explosive one, just like JT was against the Jacksonville Jaguars to open the preseason.
