What happened: According to Alex Kozora, Pittsburgh linebacker Elandon Roberts spotted on film that New Orleans quarterback Tyler Shough was not making line checks on his own, waiting instead for head coach Kellen Moore to call them in. Analyst Ben Fennell noted that NFL quality control coaches routinely chart cadence timing and pre-snap operations to give defenses cues on when to shift, rotate, or attack.

Why it matters: Identifying when an offense relies on sideline communication lets a defense disguise its shell before shifting coverage late in the play clock. Signed by Pittsburgh on Oct. 13, Roberts brought veteran pattern recognition to a unit facing a quarterback selected 40th overall out of Louisville in the 2025 draft.

What to watch: Opposing defenses on New Orleans' upcoming schedule will watch whether Shough takes over full autonomy at the line of scrimmage or varies his cadence timing to counter pre-snap tendencies.