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USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Saints first-round pick Trevor Penning is finally trying out at guard
Former Saints first-round pick Trevor Penning is finally trying out at guard Now that's interesting. The New Orleans Saints shared another video of quick cuts from organized team activities on Thursday, and Nick Underhill made a sharp-eyed observation. At one point the Saints were lining up Taliese Fuaga at right tackle with rookie draft pick Kelvin Banks Jr. at left tackle, and Trevor Penning at left guard. Fuaga and Banks were playing their college positions and Penning had moved inside. It's tough to pinpoint where that is in the clip, which is full of rapid cuts, but during resistance band work the Saints had Fuaga at right tackle with Cesar Ruiz at right guard and Will Clapp at center, with Penning positioned but not participating to Clapp's left, but Banks wasn't shown. Second-year tackle Josiah Ezirim was next up in the group of observing linemen, which included Penning and Landon Young. On paper, that would be the smartest way to get all three players on the field at positions they are best suited to. But it's something the Saints had been vocally resistant to. Both head coach Kellen Moore and his predecessor Dennis Allen had said they viewed Penning as a tackle, pointing to his improvement after moving to the right side. However, actions speak louder than words. For at least a little while Penning kicked inside at practice on Wednesday. We'll see if it lasts. Guys move around often this time of the year to find where they can be most effective. Maybe that means Penning stays inside at guard where his physicality is more of an asset and his slow feet aren't as great a liability. That approach worked out for Andrus Peat, another former first-round pick who the Saints moved from left tackle to the right side before he settled in at left guard. Or maybe the Saints' concerns are validated and they prefer to have Penning playing right tackle. Banks was projected as a guard by some draft analysts and he could be the better fit at that spot of the two. If the rookie does end up starting inside before moving out to tackle later in his career (assuming Penning leaves in free agency next year), he'd be following the same path that guys like Laremy Tunsil took to reach five Pro Bowls. OTAs and minicamp are about answering those questions. Practice time and what teams can do is heavily restricted here in May and June, and players won't even wear shoulder pads until training camp begins in late July. It's good that Penning is receptive to moving around to try and salvage his career, and that the Saints aren't as stubborn about keeping him at tackle as they have indicated when asked. We'll be watching to see if this new strategy works out for all involved.
USA Today
06-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
WATCH: Drew Brees shares passionate speech after former teammate Terron Armstead retires
WATCH: Drew Brees shares passionate speech after former teammate Terron Armstead retires Shout out to Terron Armstead. The five-time Pro Bowl left tackle called it a career and announced his retirement on Saturday, surrounded by his New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins teammates. And one of the first people to be handed a microphone to share their comments on the occasion was his legendary quarterback Drew Brees. Brees addressed the crowd and reflected on Armstead's impact on the teams they led together for several minutes. Part of his speech congratulating Armstead on a 12-year career was shared on social media by Nick Underhill. "Twelve amazing years in the NFL. The mainstay wherever he went," Brees began. "I will never forget the day he showed up in our locker room back in 2013, he didn't start off that year as the starter, but it became evident very clearly that this guy was not only going to be a starting left tackle for us for a very long time, but he was going to be a leader in our locker room, he was going to be a leader in the huddle, and he was going to be a leader throughout the league. He's exemplified what it takes to be a champion in this league and in in the locker room and with his teams for a long time." Armstead's teammates elected him as a captain with the Saints every year from 2018 to 2021; when he left to join the Dolphins in 2022, he continued to wear the captain's patch for the final three years of his career. That says a lot about the respect he's earned around the league for two different locker rooms to rally around him. His leadership by example and perseverance to continue playing through multiple career-threatening injuries stood out, and Brees said Armstead's presence helped guys like him be their best. He had a lot to say about how Armstead became a rallying point when the going got tough. "This is how I define (leadership). Leaders make those around them better. They bring out the best qualities, the best traits. They instill confidence. They make you feel that you can do something that maybe you didn't think you could do. Those are the best leaders. They also inspire you every time you wake up. When you walk into that locker room, body's hurting, you're not sure if you're going to be able to make it out to practice, you don't know if you're going to make it to Sunday. But then you think about the guys that have invested so much, that have sacrificed so much, that have laid it on the line day after day? You think to yourself, 'Damn, I am not gonna miss it. I'm going to do whatever I have to do to get out there. Because I want to win, not only do I want to win, I want to win a championship and I want to win it for somebody like that,'" Brees said, pointing to Armstead. "And that's the feeling I got every day to step into the New Orleans Saints locker room." Armstead was a critical piece of the Saints' success from the day he entered the starting lineup to the last snap he logged with New Orleans. He started 93 of the 97 regular season games he appeared in and continued to take point in the postseason, starting all 9 of his Saints playoff games. He continued to lead the way for the Dolphins, starting in 38 regular season games with a pair of playoff appearances. And now his job on Sundays gets easier. He's expected to quickly take up a career in broadcasting or radio commentary and share his knowledge of the game with others. If his first life in football is any indication, he's well-prepared for what comes next.
USA Today
02-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Saints visit with versatile LSU offensive lineman
Saints visit with versatile LSU offensive lineman Nick Underhill reported the New Orleans Saints visited with LSU right tackle Emery Jones while hosting 2025 draft prospects from around the area at their local pro day. The team has now met with both LSU offensive tackles, Jones and Will Campbell. One similarity Jones and Campbell has is questions about if they'll move to guard in the NFL. Where Jones differentiates himself, is he showed himself playing guard at the Senior Bowl and impressed some people. ESPN draft analyst, Matt Miller, noticed how comfortable Jones was on the interior. The proof of concept of Jones at guard is there, and where he'd be drafted is good value for the Saints. Dillon Radunz is slotted to be the starting left guard in Kellen Moore's inaugural season, but he's only on a one-year contract. Jones would be a Day 2 selection, who could come in and compete for that job as a rookie. Even if he doesn't start, there's a good chance New Orleans would be drafting him to start the next season. Jones' history as a right tackle and projection as a guard would, at the worst, give the Saints a backup who can step up at four different positions.
USA Today
20-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kellen Moore has made his decision for Saints' offensive coordinator
There it is. Nick Underhill reports what we've expected would be the case — the Saints are hiring Doug Nussmeier to become Kellen Moore's offensive coordinator in 2025. Nussmeier, 54, has worked with Moore as a quarterbacks coach every step of the way through his NFL journey. They were together on the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers, and this year's Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles team. But Moore will continue to call plays after becoming the Saints' head coach, so what will Nussmeier be responsible for? Expect him to spend a lot of time supervising the different position groups, breaking down opponents' tape, and game planning during the week. As a former NFL quarterback himself (Nussmeier was drafted by the Saints and spent several years in New Orleans as a backup), he'll have an important role in working with the team's passers each week, too. Whether that's Derek Carr, Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener or someone else entirely remains to be seen.
USA Today
13-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kellen Moore's first assistant coach hire has had success with the Saints before
Kellen Moore has hired his first assistant coach from outside the New Orleans Saints' staff directory, but it's someone who has had success here before. Nick Underhill and Mike Triplett report that Brendan Nugent is coming back to the Crescent City. Nugent began working with the Saints as an assistant coach in 2015 before being assigned to the offensive line crew under Dan Roushar from 2017 to 2020. He was promoted to the full-time role in 2021 but was fired a year later. Dennis Allen thought Doug Marrone was better suited for the job but had to replace him with John Benton two years later. Benton followed Klint Kubiak to the Seattle Seahawks this offseason. Ironically, Nugent worked in Seattle himself in 2024. And while Nugent has coached for the Saints before, he has also worked with Moore. He was on staff with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022 and 2023, the same year Moore worked as L.A.'s offensive coordinator, and they're clearly comfortable working together. It helps that Nugent did a great job in New Orleans. His offensive linemen earned a combined 10 Pro Bowl nods and typically ranked top-10 as a unit in Pro Football Focus protection metrics. The offense will go as far as their line can take them. Hopefully Nugent can get them back on track after a couple of up-and-down seasons.
