SmashMouth

He had a vision for how his playbook would change if the Saints were able to acquire Michael Hoomanawanui from the New England Patriots. But the trade had to happen before it could come to fruition.

That vision included using more three-tight end sets, which would pair Hoomanwanui with Josh Hill and Ben Watson, and using Hoomanawanui as something of a fullback or blocking back at times in other personnel groupings. That in turn would create more flexibility and help make the Saints more unpredictable, while also helping to dictate some of the action within opposing defenses.

The vision would add another wrinkle to the offense that Payton wanted to explore. The vision finally came into focus last month after the Saints sent defensive end Akiem Hicks to New England in exchange for Hoomanawanui. The New Orleans offense has been in transformation since.



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