The New Orleans Saints might’ve suffered their first loss on Sunday, but they still have rookies making some rumblings.
Taliese Fuaga once again stood out. Starting his third straight game at left tackle, he allowed the first three hurries of his career. His run blocking is especially impressive, more so now that it’s gotten better each week. Here are his run-blocking grades from PFF:
- Week 1: 65.0
- Week 2: 66.6
- Week 3: 68.9
Fuaga is also impressive with his pass blocking. Through the first two weeks, he had yet to allow a pressure, and it wasn’t until week three that he let one go. Unfortunately, he had three pressures allowed, but he was still the highlight of the day for the Saints offensive line.
In a game that saw center Erik McCoy taken out with an injury, his talent was standing out. With McCoy’s absence, it was clear that he could hold his own in just his third game. Other offensive linemen struggled without the team captain, like right guard Cesar Ruiz. Just look at this freeze-frame photo of the last play of the game for the Saints, where Fuaga is the only one who blocked his man:
Many expected Cedrick Wilson Jr., who was signed in the offseason, to become the WR3 for New Orleans. Others suggested that wide receiver A.T. Perry could leap in his second year. However, UDFA Mason Tipton has come out of nowhere to take that role from both.
On Sunday, he was targeted three times and caught two of them, for 11 receiving yards. He wasn’t targeted in Week 2 but had a crucial block on an Alvin Kamara touchdown. In Week 1, he was targeted once for one reception and six receiving yards. That’s more than Cedrick Wilson, who has only been targeted once. More than A.T. Perry as well, who hasn’t even seen the field yet this season. It’s clear that for now, it’s his spot to lose.
