The New Orleans Saints already had a difficult assignment against the Minnesota Vikings’ pressure-heavy defense. Wednesday’s injury report added another concern: Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (left hand) was estimated as a limited participant in the team’s walk-through.
New Orleans hosts Minnesota at Caesars Superdome on Sunday, Oct. 11, and Shough’s official game status will not arrive until Friday. The Saints need a plan that limits pressure on their starting quarterback while giving him quick, efficient answers when Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores sends extra rushers.
Locked On Saints host Ross Jackson called the matchup between Shough and Flores the central issue of the crossover episode with Locked On Vikings. Jackson said Shough has handled blitzes well in the early portion of the season but noted that Atlanta generated pressure on nearly half of the quarterback’s dropbacks despite blitzing infrequently. Flores presents a different problem because Minnesota can create pressure without sacrificing its coverage structure.
Locked On Vikings host Luke Braun described Flores’ approach as a five-man base rush that is built to take away the easy hot throws. That places more responsibility on Shough to work through his normal progression and on New Orleans’ protection to withstand one-on-one matchups. Minnesota outside linebacker Dallas Turner has 5.5 sacks through four games.
Jackson identified Saints tight end Juwan Johnson as a possible outlet when pressure arrives. Johnson has 21 catches for 232 yards and three touchdowns this season, and his work after the catch can turn a short completion into a chunk play. That option becomes less useful if New Orleans needs Johnson to stay in and help its tackles block Turner and the rest of Minnesota’s rush.
The Saints’ challenge for head coach Kellen Moore is balancing those demands. Quick throws, help for the edges and designed opportunities for Johnson can reduce the number of hits Shough takes. With Shough on the injury report, New Orleans has even less room for the sort of long-yardage situations that let Flores dictate the game.
New Orleans can make Sunday’s matchup more manageable by staying ahead of the chains and getting the ball to Johnson and its other receivers before Minnesota’s pressure can turn the afternoon into a protection drill.
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