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Katherine Terrell
METAIRIE, La. — Anybody who has spent a while with the New Orleans Saints‘ broad receivers this offseason may discover one thing concerning the group: No person goes by their given names.
Saints broad receivers coach Keith “Dub” Williams, one of many few employees holdovers from final season, has made deep connections with this group. So it was simple for him to begin handing out new names.
Even Brandin Cooks, who signed with the Saints after stops with the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys, has a historical past with Williams courting again to when Cooks was a teen. Williams merely calls Cooks “209,” the world code for his or her shared hometown of Stockton, California.
Williams mentioned Mason Tipton is “Lawyer Tipton,” as a result of he is “tremendous good” and performed for Yale. Veteran Cedrick Wilson Jr. is “The Professor.” Dante Pettis is “Harry Potter” as a result of he “runs routes like a wizard.”
Rashid Shaheed is solely “Sheed,” which can also be his deal with on his social media accounts.
“He is like Prince,” Williams mentioned, referring to the late musician who merely glided by one title.
Williams, who turned down different job alternatives to remain in New Orleans, mentioned the group’s bond is among the issues that excites him about this season. He observed it in minicamp after the remainder of the broad receiver group defended rookie Moochie Dixon. When Williams began to get on Dixon a couple of dropped catch, the remainder of the receivers advised him to offer him a break.
“They love one another,” Williams mentioned. “There isn’t any envy, there is not any ego. The egos are checked in on the door. … It is an excellent group. I actually get pleasure from driving into work. I do know what I’ll get on daily basis from every one collectively and they also simply work.”
But Williams is aware of the camaraderie will solely go up to now. The Saints completed the 2024 season ranked No. 24 within the league with 3,730 receiving yards. It was a season that was tough for a big portion of the group due to accidents, and the way the receivers will bounce again is considered one of main the questions dealing with the group.
However Cooks, who handled a knee an infection final season that restricted him to 10 video games and profession lows of 26 catches for 29 yards, mentioned everyone seems to be beginning “0-0” this offseason.
“It do not matter what you probably did the earlier yr,” Cooks mentioned. “It is a new slate for us and you’ll name us the underdog or regardless of the case could also be, however we placing in our work and we’ll let our actions speak come Sundays in the course of the season.”
Shaheed, the group’s finest kick returner and deep risk, began final season with three touchdowns however went on injured reserve after tearing his meniscus in Week 6. Whereas these accidents may need opened the door for Bub Means in his rookie season, an ankle sprain additionally ended his yr early in Week 8.
Large receiver Chris Olave performed in eight video games after sustaining two concussions and consulted specialists on the finish of the season.
“It was robust,” Olave mentioned “I ain’t by no means actually sat out that lengthy or been in a position to not play soccer, in order that was actually my first main damage and sitting out eight or 9 video games was robust for me. Simply not having the ability to go to follow or go to conferences with my guys was the worst half, however … I really feel like I am prepared. I used to be coaching and lifting and all the things in December, so I really feel like I am good.”
New assistant broad receivers coach Kyle Valero, who was with first-year coach Kellen Moore on the Philadelphia Eagles employees final season, was the one who got here up with a nickname for Olave: “The ninja with the smoke bombs.”
In line with Valero and Williams, it is as a result of one second Olave is there and the following he is gone.
“You are subsequent to him after which he throws a smoke bomb and it clears and he is 5 steps forward of you,” Williams mentioned. “Nothing in his physique language modified, it is simply the smoke bomb cleared. … You do not know what occurred.”
Williams mentioned some gamers, like Shaheed, merely look quick as a consequence of their actions. Olave glides throughout the sphere as an alternative, making defenders assume he is transferring slower than he really is.
“He is such a glider when it comes to his motion sample that usually does not equate to a really, very quick participant, which he is also,” Williams mentioned. “And so he is positively a ninja with some smoke bombs.”
The Saints have ample wage cap area to signal one other veteran receiver if wanted, however Williams mentioned he is proud of the make-up of the group proper now.
“I am very, very glad, excited concerning the guys we’ve,” Williams mentioned. “… They’re quick, they’re fast, they’ll catch and so they’re versatile. They’ll run each route. They don’t seem to be simply slots in and never simply outdoors.”
When requested concerning the basic make-up of the group, Williams mentioned he did not really feel like they have been outmuscled when blocking defensive backs final season. The three receivers assumed to be the highest targets in 2025 — Cooks, Olave and Shaheed — are 6-foot or shorter. He used a basketball analogy when discussing the professionals and cons of top, saying a quick broad receiver nonetheless has a bonus over a taller DB.
“It is not basketball the place if [Kyrie Irving] performed LeBron [James] 1-on-1, you could be involved for Kyrie as a result of he is received to protect LeBron. However soccer … the wideout does not have to protect the man. The 6-2 man has to maintain up with the quick man, and so if you happen to’re skillful and proficient and may catch, then you are going to be open.”
Cooks mentioned he is aware of the general public opinion concerning the lack of top within the room, but it surely comes down to at least one factor: “Are you able to break your man in entrance of you?”
“I feel a number of us can try this, so there’s a number of narrative: There’s not a tall, there’s not a giant man, however all of us can separate and so it does not matter the similarities that we received,” Cooks mentioned. “We will all play in any area.”
