Between circus catches, New Orleans Saints want consistency from Chris Olave - ESPN

METAIRIE, La. — New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave is still learning how to be great in Year 2.

Olave can make the big plays that go viral: The toe-tapping receptions, the leaping grabs and the one-handed circus catches.

At times the 23-year-old, who leads the Saints in receptions (32) and receiving yards (414), can make the tough plays look like an art form. ​

«I've seen Chris work on that a lot in practice,» wide receiver Rashid Shaheed said. «This offseason he spent a lot of time to perfect those kind of catches. Those kind of catches are never easy and the fact that he makes them look so simple, that just goes to show what type of talent he has.»

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As the Saints (3-3) prepare to host the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) on «Thursday Night Football,» (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video), Olave has a chance to show off his playmaking skills in prime time.

The reeling offense could use the boost, as the Saints rank 20th in yards per game (312.5) and 24th in points (18.2).

«We've got a lot of weapons,» Olave said. «I don't get why we're not so explosive, but it's everybody in the building. We know what we've got, we know what we can do, but we've just got to put it all together.»

Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas said there are pieces of the puzzle that have worked, like Olave's catch over the head of a defender in their 20-13 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday. He wants the Saints to play like that all the time.

«Those are what I call desperation plays,» Thomas said after the