New Orleans Saints could move Andrus Peat to left guard

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Andrus Peat might change positions again.

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton said Friday the team always planned to use the 2015 first-round pick on the right side, whether at tackle or guard, but with Peat struggling at right guard this summer, he could soon move to left guard.

"He hasn't played very well over on that right side, so we've got to keep looking and pay close attention to it," Payton said Monday on a teleconference. "I was hoping that we were able to put him in one spot. I know what he can do well, and we've got to find a way to be at a high enough level inside. And I think we can get that done."

Peat started training camp at left tackle while Terron Armstead was on the physically unable to perform list and moved to right guard when Armstead returned. Even though the team planned to have Peat at right guard while Tim Lelito and Senio Kelemete competed for the left guard job, it sounds like another poor effort by the offensive line in Friday's exhibition loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers could force some change.

"Look, the guard position needs to play better," Payton said Monday.

Peat was a left tackle in college, and the Saints drafted him 13th overall last year. Payton said the plan was for him to play on the right side, but with 32-year-old Zach Strief still a solid option at right tackle, the team wanted Peat to take over the right guard spot this summer.

As a rookie, Peat made a few starts at left guard, and even though he struggled at times, Payton said the Saints saw the necessary size and athleticism for him to excel inside on last year's tape.

Payton was critical Monday of the line play on both sides of the ball and said the team could look for outside help -- at all positions -- over the next 10 days based on roster cuts around the NFL or the potential trade market.

"I think we've got a group of guys that have played quite a bit," Payton said of the line. "Peat's played a lot of snaps a year ago. I expect him to be better. Now, it might be more over on the left side. We've moved him around enough, and we've got to settle in on where we feel like this player's going to play, whether it's the right or the left side.

"I think Strief, by and large, played pretty well last week. I think Lelito and Senio are competing for that spot, and I think we got to pay attention closely to what we think we can do well and try to highlight that some. So, it's still a work in progress, and obviously it wasn't good enough this weekend."

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