Kellen Moore’s RPO Revolution: How the Saints’ New Offense Will Explode in 2025

The New Orleans Saints are betting big on Kellen Moore to revitalize their offense in 2025. After a lackluster 5-12 season in 2024, marked by offensive inconsistencies, the Saints brought in Moore, the former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator, to inject new life into their game. One thing Saints fans can expect to see more of in 2025 is the run-pass option. Last season, Moore’s Eagles ran 274 RPO plays, the most in the league. The Saints ran nearly nine-times fewer RPOs in the meanwhile. Will Kellen Moore unleash an RPO revolution in the Big Easy?

Moore’s Offensive Philosophy: A Blend of Versatility and Aggression

Kellen Moore’s offensive philosophy is characterized by versatility and aggression. He has a knack for tailoring his schemes to the strengths of his players. Whether it’s a pass-heavy attack or a run-dominant approach, Moore adapts to the available personnel.

Versatility in the Passing Game: Moore’s system incorporates expanded route trees for receivers, allowing them to exploit their individual talents.
Versatility in the Running Game: Moore is known for his ability to create a dynamic rushing attack, utilizing various formations and play designs.
Pre-Snap Adjustments: Moore emphasizes pre-snap reads and adjustments, empowering quarterbacks to make informed decisions at the line of scrimmage.

The RPO Revolution: A New Dimension to the Saints’ Offense

One of the key elements Moore is expected to bring to the Saints is a heavy dose of run-pass options (RPOs). RPOs allow the quarterback to make a split-second decision after the snap, choosing to either hand the ball off to the running back or throw a pass based on the defensive alignment.

RPO Success with the Eagles: In 2024, Moore’s Eagles led the league in RPO plays, with Jalen Hurts making quick decisions to maximize yardage.
College Comfort: Both Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler, the Saints’ young quarterbacks, have experience running RPOs from their college days.
Increased RPO Usage: The Saints ran just 33 RPO plays last season, but that number is expected to increase significantly under Moore.

Quarterback Conundrum: Shough or Rattler at the Helm?

The Saints’ quarterback situation is currently in flux, with Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler vying for the starting role. Both quarterbacks possess the skill sets to thrive in Moore’s RPO-heavy offense.

Tyler Shough: Drafted in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Shough is considered the favorite to win the starting job. He posted an impressive 87.7 PFF passing grade in his final season at Louisville.
Spencer Rattler: Rattler, a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has NFL experience. He started six games for the Saints last season.
QB-Friendly System: Moore’s offensive scheme is known for being “quarterback-friendly,” with clear communication and easy-to-understand play calls.

Key Players to Watch in Moore’s Offense

Several players are poised to benefit from Kellen Moore’s offensive system.

Alvin Kamara: Kamara remains a focal point of the Saints’ offense. Moore could utilize more two-back sets with Kamara and Kendre Miller, leveraging Kamara’s pass-catching ability in space.
Chris Olave: Olave is expected to be a primary target in Moore’s passing game. Moore’s system emphasizes quick passing and play-action, which should create opportunities for Olave to showcase his route-running skills and speed.
Rashid Shaheed: Shaheed’s speed and big-play ability make him a valuable asset in Moore’s offense. He can stretch the field vertically and create mismatches against opposing defenses.
Juwan Johnson: Johnson’s role as a tight end could expand in Moore’s system. Tight ends are often seen as “security blankets” for quarterbacks, and Johnson’s size and receiving skills make him a reliable target in the short and intermediate passing game.

The Offensive Line: A Key to Success

The success of Kellen Moore’s offense hinges on the performance of the Saints’ offensive line. A strong offensive line is essential for both run blocking and pass protection.

O-Line Challenges: The Saints’ offensive line struggled with consistency in 2024, ranking 23rd in OL+.
Improving the Trenches: The Saints must improve their offensive line to replicate the success Moore had with the Eagles, who boasted one of the league’s best O-lines.
Kelvin Banks Jr.: The selection of Kelvin Banks Jr. at No. 9 overall should bolster the offensive line.

Predicting the Saints’ Offensive Output in 2025

Predicting the Saints’ offensive output in 2025 is a challenging task, given the quarterback uncertainty and the newness of Moore’s system. However, several factors suggest that the Saints’ offense could be significantly improved.

Top 10 Potential: With Moore’s play-calling and the talent on the roster, the Saints could finish in the top 10 in both yardage and points scored.
Balanced Attack: Moore’s offenses have historically been balanced, with a mix of run and pass plays.
Rushing Improvement: The Saints could see a significant improvement in their rushing attack, with a potential increase of 500-700 rushing yards compared to last season.

Conclusion: A New Era for the Saints’ Offense

Kellen Moore’s arrival in New Orleans signals a new era for the Saints’ offense. With his innovative play-calling, emphasis on RPOs, and ability to tailor his system to the strengths of his players, Moore has the potential to transform the Saints into an offensive powerhouse. While there are still questions to be answered, particularly at the quarterback position, the future looks bright for the Saints’ offense under Kellen Moore’s leadership.