All throughout training camp, the most electric New Orleans Saints moments came from a rookie wide receiver, but not always the one that everyone expected.
Time and time again, sixth-round draft pick and former LSU wide receiver Barion Brown provided highlight moment after highlight moment on deep passes from quarterbacks Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough.
Now, those big plays are translating to regular season action.
Early on, Brown’s role was mostly behind the line of scrimmage. Shovel passes, jet sweep hand-offs and quick screens were all a part of his touches early in the season. However, over the last two games, Brown’s down-field potential has begun to be realized.
Against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Paris, France, Shough found Brown for a 49-yard completion, their first connection for more than five yards.
Then, in their next game against the Cleveland Browns, Shough and Brown hit on another explosive play for 52 yards.
Each catch was made in a contested situation, leading to Brown immediately being taken down after the catch, but it provided a jolt to the offense in both games. Unfortunately for New Orleans, though both completions didn’t end in touchdowns, but that will be the next evolution of the attack.
Once Brown consistently creates separation, and Shough is able to deliver on time, the speedy wideout’s contributions become all the more valuable. With first-round rookie Jordyn Tyson set to see more action, it will only create more opportunities for Brown to take the top off of defenses while they focus in on Tyson and star receiver Chris Olave.
Brown’s deep-threat reputation in camp is finally finding its way on to the field in games, helping the Saints generating more explosive plays. That was the identity the club was starting to build early in the season. Now, they have a chance to regain that element of their offense thanks to Brown’s noticeable ascension over recent weeks.
Of Brown’s 114 receiving yards, 101 of that total have come on his two targets of 20-plus yards. Head coach Kellen Moore was adamant about the rookie’s capabilities as a receiver, rather than pigeon-holing him into a return role.
That vision is finally starting to come to life.
“He’s a receiver as well,” Moore said. “And I think that’s the important asset that we view this as, is we’re onboarding a guy who’s a returner and a receiver and it’s not going to be just a (returner) and nothing else.”
