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Film review: How the Saints ran wild on the 49ers
By Nick Underhill -- Advocate
The Saints have seen a resurgence in their ground game the last two weeks.
Two weeks ago, the ground game helped the Saints drop the Seattle Seahawks, and it worked again this week in a 41-23 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Saints ran 42 times and went through the air 39 times, which is rare for an offense that likes to pass so much.
But the approach really shouldn’t have been a shock. The 49ers are allowing an unfathomable 193 yards rushing per game, which is as futile a rushing defense the league has seen in three decades. Turning a blind eye to that fact and not attacking it would have been a major error in game planning.
So, while there has been some success that last two weeks, it’s much more likely the New Orleans coaching staff will continue to attack teams in a manner that suits the opponent. But, for now, and maybe even this weekend against Denver, a balanced, clock-controlling attack has suited this team.
New Orleans wasn’t shy about letting the 49ers know it planned to run the ball. Out of 40 attempts between Tim Hightower, Mark Ingram and John Kuhn, the Saints rushed only eight times with three receivers on the field. That look typically forces a defense to put an extra defensive back on the field and removes a player from the tackle box. In other words, it can create some mismatches.
MORE -- Advocate
Film review: How the Saints ran wild on the 49ers
By Nick Underhill -- Advocate
The Saints have seen a resurgence in their ground game the last two weeks.
Two weeks ago, the ground game helped the Saints drop the Seattle Seahawks, and it worked again this week in a 41-23 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Saints ran 42 times and went through the air 39 times, which is rare for an offense that likes to pass so much.
But the approach really shouldn’t have been a shock. The 49ers are allowing an unfathomable 193 yards rushing per game, which is as futile a rushing defense the league has seen in three decades. Turning a blind eye to that fact and not attacking it would have been a major error in game planning.
So, while there has been some success that last two weeks, it’s much more likely the New Orleans coaching staff will continue to attack teams in a manner that suits the opponent. But, for now, and maybe even this weekend against Denver, a balanced, clock-controlling attack has suited this team.
New Orleans wasn’t shy about letting the 49ers know it planned to run the ball. Out of 40 attempts between Tim Hightower, Mark Ingram and John Kuhn, the Saints rushed only eight times with three receivers on the field. That look typically forces a defense to put an extra defensive back on the field and removes a player from the tackle box. In other words, it can create some mismatches.
MORE -- Advocate
