Tyler Shough one of NFL’s best intermediate passers

By Ross Jackson

The New Orleans Saints have a lot of reasons to be excited about their future with quarterback Tyler Shough at the helm. 

Recently named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Month, Shough has done a lot of key things well for New Orleans. He impressed in clutch situations such as third down and fourth quarter, his downfield production bucked NFL trends and his work in the middle of the field had a major impact during the season. 

Another area where the rookie impressed was in the intermediate area of the field. The intermediate area is the part of the field 10-19 yards from the line of scrimmage. It’s become a hotbed for offensive production in the passing game with teams playing with more deep defenders and coverage shells over the years. 

Much like the middle of the field, efficiency in this area is vital to a team’s passing success. Shough provided that benefit as one of the best intermediate passers in the NFL. 

He had the league’s highest completion percentage (67.9%) in the area and finished No. 2 in both passer rating (118.5) and completion percentage over expected (+8.9). He also finished No. 6 in EPA per drop back, an efficiency metric that takes into account down, distance and game situation among other factors. 

It’s a strong start for the player the Saints hope will be the future of their franchise’s most important position. Whether operating in clutch situations, the middle of the field, deep or in the intermediate area, Shough has given the Saints a promising return on their investment thus far.