The New Orleans Saints have suffered some significant injuries on the offensive line, but the unit has responded well to each lineup change.
Going into the 2024 season, the offensive line was viewed as the weak point of the New Orleans Saints roster. Many fans and experts thought that the line wouldn’t be able to hold up, and would ultimately blow up the team’s season. However, this has not been the case through four weeks. Even through key injuries, the Saints’ offensive line has played well. They haven’t been perfect, but it’s been enough to operate the offense effectively.
New Orleans found themselves without starting center Erik McCoy, and starting right guard Cesar Ruiz in Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons. Let’s not pretend that the Falcons have the best pass rush in the league, but missing two quality starters should hinder the success of any team. However, even with Shane Lemieux and Landon Young in the lineup, New Orleans surrendered just one sack.
New Orleans also ran the ball for 131 yards, on four yards a carry. The team may have ended up losing the game, but it wasn’t because the offensive line didn’t hold up.
The loss of Erik McCoy is still a devastating blow to the Saints. He went out early in Week 3 with a groin injury. After the game, McCoy was placed on IR. He is expected to be out for approximately 6-8 weeks. He is undoubtedly a star lineman on the interio, and his loss was felt immediately when Jalen Carter wreaked havoc against the interior— the Saints can’t allow that again.
They will have a huge test going up against Chris Jones and the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5. It is pivotal that they have their communication under control and give Derek Carr time.
The availability of Cesar Ruiz and Shane Lemieux for this game is unknown, as both are dealing with injuries. The Saints are hoping they can be available for the Monday night football game against the Chiefs.
It will be interesting to see who is out on the field in Week 5, as New Orleans has already had multiple combinations through four games. The first two weeks, the Saints had the same starters playing most of the time. Here is what it looked like.
LT: Taliese Fuaga
LG: Lucas Patrick
C: Erik McCoy
RG: Cesar Ruiz
RT: Trevor Penning
That starting lineup worked extremely well for New Orleans. Derek Carr had an ample amount of time, playing the best football of his career. However, once Erik McCoy got injured, the Saints had to dramatically shift their line to look like this.
LT: Taliese Fuaga
LG: Oli Udoh
C: Lucas Patrick
RG: Cesar Ruiz
RT: Trevor Penning
The interior really struggled against Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. The Saints had to scramble even more to put together a lineup in Week 4 after Cesar Ruiz suffered his injury.
LT: Taliese Fuaga
LG: Lucas Patrick
C: Shane Lemieux
RG: Landon Young
RT: Trevor Penning
Even though two backups were playing, this group played well. Communication was good enough and the team ran the ball well while giving up just one sack. If the line can perform like this until McCoy is back, things would be perfectly fine.
It’s important to note that a large reason the Saints are having success is because of Taliese Fuaga, Lucas Patrick, and Trevor Penning. It’s looking like the Saints found a stud with Taliese Fuaga in the draft. He has played exceptionally well for a rookie.
It’s appearing that Lucas Patrick may have been the best free agent signing this year. He was one of the highest ranked offensive lineman according to PFF early in the season.
Trevor Penning was easily the most questioned player on the roster this offseason. Regardless of that, he has played well. Going into the season, if someone said that Trevor Penning would only allow one sack in the first four weeks, fans would be ecstatic.
Although the Saints have suffered many injuries on the offensive line early in the season, they have still held up well. It is key for the success of New Orleans that they continue to do this until Erik McCoy returns. They haven’t been perfect but the way they are playing is enough to run the offense successfully.
