Making offensive improvements was a focal point for both the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers this offseason.
New Orleans and Carolina begin the proving grounds march when they meet Sunday afternoon in the season opener.
Carolina hired new coach Dave Canales back in January in the hopes that he would help second-year quarterback Bryce Young develop. Canales was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator in 2023, guiding signal-caller Baker Mayfield to the best season of his career.
“We want to establish the run, put up the run, but obviously we’re going to look to push the ball down the field,” Young said. “I think for us, it’s trying to create as efficient of an operation as possible.”
Carolina went 2-15 last season as Young, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, struggled with the transition from college to the NFL while operating behind an offensive line that tied for the second-most sacks allowed (65) in the league and couldn’t gain traction in the ground game.
To take some pressure off of Young, the Panthers went to the bank to bring in the brawn, signing veteran guards — Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis — in free agency.
“I have all the confidence in the world in my offensive line,” Young said. “I have a ton of confidence in the scheme we have.”
Carolina also tried to surround Young with a stronger receiving corps, using the final pick of the first round to draft Xavier Legette out of South Carolina. The Panthers also traded for Diontae Johnson, who spent his first five NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Saints have a better idea of what they have at quarterback. Veteran Derek Carr is entering is 11th NFL season and second with New Orleans. But the Saints fought similar issues with protection and establishing the running game last season.
Carr started all 17 games for the Saints last season, going 9-8 while throwing for 3,878 yards and 25 touchdowns against just eight interceptions. New Orleans peaked late, winning four of its final five games.
The Saints will try to carry that late-season momentum over to the current campaign, and they will now have Klint Kubiak as offensive coordinator. Kubiak was the 49ers’ passing game coordinator in 2023 — his lone season with San Francisco — after serving as an assistant with the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings.
Kubiak had a hand in working Niners star Christian McCaffrey into San Francisco’s passing game last year, and New Orleans is hoping that versatile running back Alvin Kamara can be utilized in a similar fashion.
“I think that’s what Klint is here for, I think that’s what the rest of those guys are here for,” Kamara said. “That’s what’s expected, an increase in production. When you look at what they’ve been able to produce, it’s exciting. … Hopefully, we’ll do the same here.”
New Orleans, like Carolina, is hoping for improved play from its offensive line, which will likely feature three new starters.
Trevor Penning, a first-round draft choice in 2022 who has often looked overmatched during his time in the NFL, was moved from left tackle to right tackle. Taliese Fuaga was drafted out of Oregon State in the first round of this year’s draft to start at left tackle, and Lucas Patrick will likely start at left guard after being signed as a free agent.
Defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (calf) and linebackers Jaylan Ford (hamstring) and D’Marco Jackson (calf) didn’t practice for the Saints on Wednesday. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore was limited due to a hip ailment.
Panthers tight ends Ian Thomas (calf) and Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back) were held out of Wednesday’s practice. Running back Miles Sanders was limited with a finger injury.
