NewOrleans.Football: Saints Podcast

Nick and Mike discuss where the Saints fall in the current NFC South landscape. - Should we only evaluate the Saints since turning to Tyler Shough? - Could the Saints have competed for the division if Shough started sooner? - What if Drew Brees came out of retirement in 2021?

Saints HC Kellen Moore spoke to the media Friday afternoon for the final time before the Saints host the Panthers Sunday afternoon. Here's what you missed. - RB Alvin Kama (knee/ankle), RT Asim Richards (ankle) ruled OUT - S Justin Reid (knee) QUESTIONABLE - Safety depth stepped up in the absence of Reid - Creating positive habits is more important than focusing on draft position - Keeping players engaged by using a variety of clips and keeping meetings tight - Using high school and college clips as teaching points to focus on fundamentals - Importance of having a plan and trusting the training staff to prevent injuries - Response to OC Doug Nussmeier's comments about the Boise State vs. Idaho rivalry

Saints STC Phil Galiano, DC Brandon Staley and OC Doug Nussmeier held their weekly media availability Thursday afternoon. Here's what you missed. Galiano: - The starting kicker position is being evaluated one game at a time - Starting fast against Tampa Bay with a well-executed kickoff return - Explanation of situational punting near midfield - Thoughts on WR Mason Tipton's growth and ability as a kick returner Staley: - LB Demario Davis and DE Cam Jordan echoing key philosophies, such as the importance of "silent tape" - Maintaining consistent messaging during a challenging season instead of looking for quick fixes - Lessons learned from installing systems at other stops, importance of creating a connection with the players - Pride, preparation and mentality in short-yardage and fourth-down situations - Hammering fundamentals and technique with defensive backs Nussmeier: - Thoughts on RB Devin Neal's progress - TE Juwan Johnson has adapted well to scheme change - Memories of coaching against Kellen Moore in college - Running with the QB helps balance the run game

Saints HC Kellen Moore, QB Tyler Shough, RB Devin Neal and DE Cam Jordan spoke to the media Wednesday afternoon. Here's what you missed. Moore: - RB Alvin Kamara, S Justin Reid and RT Asim Richards did not practice, several others limited - Identifying why the team has played better recently: cleaner football, turnovers and early-down execution - Importance of playing well in divisional games - Thought's on Shough's confidence - Lack of concern about Shough's age as a rookie - Reflecting on being a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2010 - The defense has been able to benefit from the offense's recent success while improving on their end as well Shough: - Confidence fluctuates, but preparation breeds high confidence - Learning how to prepare in the NFL has been an area of growth - Biggest lesson as a rookie has been figuring out the NFL schedule and how to approach it - Thoughts on praise from LB Demario Davis - Handling criticism and whether or not it can be used as motivation - Being smart about when to take hits and when to go down Neal: - Saints physicality and willpower led to success in rainy game at Tampa Bay - Shough's scrambling ability helped open up the run game - Winning and finishing strong is more important than playing spoiler for another team Jordan: - Defense is resilient if nothing else - Resilience shows the team's passion for playing football despite being out of the playoff race - Thoughts on the young defensive backs - Having the opportunity to ruin a rival's playoff chances brings joy

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