Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
Usually preseason games are laden with “vanilla,” or basic, offensive and defensive schemes. But New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore didn’t let that stop him from implementing some key factors to his innovative offense.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Saints ranked in the top five among all teams in preseason Week 1 for both play-action and motion usage.
Motion
#Saints ran the fifth-most plays with motion during the first preseason week, per PFF. pic.twitter.com/zp7pjoGKac
— Ross Jackson (@RossJacksonNOLA) August 11, 2025
New Orleans ran the fifth-most plays with motion during the first week of the preseason. This shows how integral the use of motion will be in Moore’s offense. If Sunday was a glimpse of the foundational part of the scheme, this is clearly an indication of motion and shift being important elements.
Play Action
#Saints also tied for the fifth-most play action plays with a few other teams.
EPA on dropbacks with play action: 0.032 (No. 15)
EPA on dropbacks without: -0.490 (No. 30) pic.twitter.com/gUDRGFCMxU— Ross Jackson (@RossJacksonNOLA) August 11, 2025
Similarly, the Saints tied for No. 5 in play action snaps. During those plays, rookie quarterback Tyler Shough was particularly effective, throwing for 100 yards and a touchdown.
For young quarterbacks, play action is massively helpful, allowing them to see the defensive picture a little longer before starting their progressions. Expect a ton of play action for either quarterback in this new-look offense.
