The strategy for the Saints every week should be the same: Run the Ball, stop the run...Coach Payton!!!
We were successful with Teddy, not because he is the greatest backup ever, but because we approached every game the same: balance our offense with the pass and run, keep the defense fresh and explosive by keeping them off the field, dominating time of possession with the run, taking pressure off the QB with the run and quick passing game (noticing a pattern?). We need to focus on the things that took us to 5-0 without Drew and use Drew as an additional weapon, not the focus of every play. We've never made it to a Superbowl with Drew throwing for 5000+ yards, why? Once we get one-dimensional, the good teams can take advantage of that. Drew is still great, but that formula hasn't worked for us; we saw what works for us!!!!
I knew we would really get to see Coach Payton's coaching chops once Drew went down. His play calling was great and once Drew got back, we were right back to where we started. I know I sound crazy because we're winning, but I can't ignore that I am always unhappy WATCHING the play-calling in the game. 3rd & 1: yeah, let's pass here??? Murray is only a productive sledgehammer that can easily pick that up. I've seen several posts blaming Drew for being immobile...have you seen the QB of the reigning SB CHAMPS?!?! Let me know if I'm losing it #WeDAT
Let's look a little bit deeper than screaming run the ball and dumb play calling.
Against the Falcons the Saints ran the ball 18 times for 95 yards at 5.3 yards per carry. This sounds like we were running it down the Falcons throat. Look a little deeper and you will see that we had 2 carries for 54 yards. We had 10 carries for that went for -1 to +1 yard for a total of 5 yards or .5 yards per play. The other 6 rushes combined for 35 yards. If you are following along, that means about 1 in every 10 runs would go for a first down, 1 in every 3 runs would go for 5 yards and 60% of runs would go for little or no gain. This means if we ran the ball 10 times on first down, then 6 times we would end up with 2nd and 10 at which point it makes running the ball really tough. Then you start putting your offense in obvious passing situations that opens up your QB's to taking hits and sacks behind a makeshift line. Statistically speaking, it becomes extremely difficult to get 3 first downs in a single drive. Odds are you don't a first down on most drives and the rest of the drives you get one first down before punting.
When Teddy was playing we weren't missing 2 starters along the offensive line and a FB that has done a hell of a job opening holes in the running game. Those guys do make a difference.
We had 4 dropped passes that would have gone for more yards and points than the entire running game produced combined. Now just for fun, the 4 passes that were dropped, all 4 were for first downs to sustain drives. 3 of them would have either been for a TD or for 20+ yards. If those balls aren't dropped Brees is 22/30 275 yards and 3-4 TD's. We are up on the Falcons at the end of the 3rd quarter by 30+ points. Is that bad play calling or is it poor execution? The play calling Payton put together had us turn the ball over 0 times with 0 sacks behind a makeshift offensive line.
So my question for you is, if we won that game 41-10 would you have started this thread?
The Panthers game we had the same problems combined with putrid, bias, officiating. If we don't make the drops and the officiating is called equally we beat the Panthers by 30+.
Despite the drops, with Brees at QB we're averaging 3 points per game more than when Bridgewater was at QB.
Want to know how to make the running game better? We have to catch the ball. Our offense is and always has been to use the pass to set up the run. When you pop a couple big plays over the top then defenses have to adjust by pushing safeties back which opens up the running game. When you hit teams over the top it makes the short passing game better because corners are scared to sit on short routes and the safeties can't come flying up to defend short and intermediate routes.
If you do not punish a defense for cheating up they will continue to so making it very difficult to run the ball, particularly when you are missing 3 that are some of your best blockers in the running game. The play calling the last two games was there to punish the defense and make them back off. It was also there to drive a nail in the coffin and finish the game. The execution was in place from the time the ball was snapped to the time the ball hit the receivers hands. Your players have to make plays to succeed.