Why are the Saints so bad at running the football?

Without rookie RB Kendre Miller most of the year the Saints have relied on Alvin Kamara, Taysom Hill, and Jamaal Williams as their 3 workhorses so far in 2023 in the running game.

Taysom Hill is averaging 4.9 yards per carry on 71 attempts for 347 yards. Alvin Kamara is averaging 3.9 yards per carry on 161 attempts for 630 yards. Jamaal Williams is averaging 3.0 yards per carry on 71 attempts for 214 yards.

They are the Saints three leading rushers with AK41 averaging 14.6 attempts per game and TH7 averaging 5.5 attempts per game and JW21 averaging 5.0 attempts per game.

55% of Alvin's carries have come on 1st down where he is averaging 3.7 yards per attempt. Taysom has rushed 63% of the time on 1st down where he is averaging 5.0 yards per attempt on. Jamaal has rushed 59% of the time on 1st down where he is averaging 2.8 yards per carry.

The cumulative from these three is a total of 303 rushing attempts for 1,191 yards, an average of 3.93 yards per carry and they have carried the ball on 1st down 175 times for 665 yards for a 3.8 yards per carry average on 1st downs.

So far in 2023 the Saints have ran the ball 33.82% of the time on 1st down, 14th most in the league.

So far in 2023 the Saints have ran the ball 42.5% of the time, 17th highest in the league.

The Saints appear to be a middle of the pack rushing team, ranked 19th overall in total rushing yards.

A deeper look shows the Saints to be #9 in rushing attempts but #29 in yards per rush at 3.7 yards per attempt. Ouch !