By Ross Jackson
The prevailing moment of the New Orleans Saints’, 16-10, loss to the San Francisco 49ers last weekend had nothing to do with the result of the game. It was all about the starting offense (at least the healthy starters) and their 16-play, 95-yard touchdown drive. Here is a full analysis of what worked or did not work on each play and the key takeaways from the drive as a whole.
First-and-10 – NO 5
PASS: Quarterback Derek Carr completes a pass to tight end Foster Moreau for seven yards.
Motion: None
Play action: Small head-fake as running back Jamaal Williams stepped up for his route.
Oftentimes when a team has their back up against the wall to start a drive line this, they will run the ball to try to get some breathing room. Not offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. He instead called a five-route passing concept that provided a triangle read to Carr’s right side. With a massive throwing window thanks to Moreau’s chip block-and-release along with offensive tackle Trevor Penning’s clean up, this was an easy underneath throw. Moreau caught the ball at the line of scrimmage and picked up all seven yards after the catch.
Second-and-3 – NO 12
RUN: Williams runs for 15 yards off-tackle on an outside zone run.
Motion: Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. motions from out wide to in-line.
Play action: N/A (Run)
This run is designed to go right outside of the tackle box on Penning’s side. The big offensive tackle does a great job sealing the edge on the right side while offensive weapon Taysom Hill delivers a strong lead block on a second-level defender which helps to spring Williams free. Guard Cesar Ruiz also did an excellent job working off of the ace block (a double-team between the center and guard) to get to the next level. Williams did a great job running through contact here as well.
First-and-10 – NO 27
RUN: Hill springs free for an 11-yard gain on the left side.
Motion: Moreau motions from in-line right side to left
Play action: N/A
Hill gets rewarded for doing the dirty work one play ago with an outside zone run to the left of his own. Aligned as the tailback in this play, Hill is led by fullback Adam Prentice who does an excellent job clearing the gap. Tackle Landon Young also keeps the hole clear with his seal block on the left end. Left guard Lucas Patrick gets to the second level to open even more space, and Hill explodes downfield for another first down run. Wrangled by his feet, Hill could have had even more thanks to wide receiver Chris Olave looking ready to lock up a defensive back and get Hill an open lane to the sideline.
This play is well-blocked and read to perfection by Hill.
First-and-10 – NO 38
PASS: Carr completes a pass to Olave in the middle of the field for 19 yards.
Motion: A small hop motion from Williams in the backfield draws the attention of a 49ers linebacker
Play action: None
After Williams motions from a singleback formation to a bit of an off-set backfield alignment, the linebacker in the middle of the field follows him. This gives the pre-snap indication of man coverage. At the snap, San Francisco shows a single-high safety look. The Saints’ offensive concept includes some crossing routes, which are great man coverage beaters.
Because the linebacker follows Williams to the outside, there is no mid-level middle of the field defender. Olave freezes the cornerback covering him at the line with a stutter step release and steals the inside leverage. Upon doing so, he gets to control the separation he can create off of his route. He pushes vertical, selling the go route to the lone safety, and breaks inside on a post route. Carr sees this all the way and delivers a downfield pass resulting in a big 19-yard gain.
Perhaps this ball could have led Olave a bit more for a greater yards after catch threat. But with another route in the area, avoiding throwing a defender into the play is probably wise.
First-and-10 – SF 43
RUN: Williams runs a toss right for a 3-yard loss.
Motion: Hill motions from in-line left to right.
Play action: N/A
This is the first run play that does not work out for the Saints on this drive. The toss to the right ends up hitting a snare because San Francisco’s second-level defenders simply beat the blocker to the play, it appears. The 49ers loaded the box with nine defenders pre-snap. It ended up working out for them as a linebacker evaded a block on the edge by Hill and sliced into the backfield for the tackle for a loss.
Second-and-13 – SF 46
RUN: Running back Jordan Mims runs for 3 yards up the middle.
Motion: Wilson Jr. motions from left to right, the ball is snapped while in motion
Play action: N/A
Perhaps the Wilson Jr. motion was supposed to freeze the Niners’ second-level a bit, but the jet sweep threat did not have the necessary effect on this snap. However, they will return to this look for good value later. Mims takes the handoff up the middle, shooting the A-gap between center and right guard. The hole is blocked well by the offensive line, but good rush lane discipline by the 49ers is able to clean this one up before Mims is able to get much. This run on first-and-10 would be considered a success. On second-and-13, not so much.
Third-and-10 – SF 43
PASS: Carr completes pass to Wilson Jr. for 5 yards in the short-middle area.
Motion: Mims motions from the backfield (left hip of Carr) to the slot right of the formation.
Play action: None
After Mims motions out, the Saints are left with an empty backfield. A linebacker follows him to the right side, suggesting man coverage. Moreau, lined up in-line runs a go route, which clears the center of the field. Wilson Jr. fills the cavity on a hitch. Carr guns the pass in for a five-year gain. On the opposite side of the field, Olave slipped out of the break in his route. Perhaps a bigger play could have been had there depending on how the play developed. The offensive line held up well here.
Fourth-and-5 – SF 38
PASS: Carr connects with rookie wide receiver Bub Means for 7 yards
Motion: Means motions from left to right, joining the trips formation.
Play action: None
This is a perfect example of a situation wherein the scheme cannot help the offensive line. Outside of the quick-game, the line has to be able to hold up in these situations on their own because there is no play action for fourth-and-5. During this play, Young is beaten by an inside move on the left side. But the Saints have three routes deploying to the right.This works out for New Orleans.
Williams stays shallow out of the backfield, Means pushes up to the sticks while Wilson pushes further up field. This is a levels concept. Means does a great job winning the outside leverage on his defender, owning the sideline. Despite the pressure, the pass is well-located and the Saints convert a big fourth down try.
First-and-10 – SF 31
RUN: Williams takes the toss to the left for a 10-yard gain.
Motion: Moreau motions from out wide to just offset from the left side of the offensive line.
Play action: N/A
After losing three yards on a similar play design earlier, the Saints come back to the toss. This time it works. Moreau does a great job leveling a linebacker, eliminating one defensive body from the play side. Wilson Jr. seals off another defender with a strong block on the perimeter, allowing Williams to get to the outside with Young and Hill each leading the way. Hill and Young each pick up defensive backs, paving the way for another early first-down run. Williams has both the speed and awareness to work in this outside zone scheme.
First-and-10 – SF 21
RUN: Hill runs inside for 2 yards
Motion: None
Play action: N/A
Even in a heavy zone run scheme, man or gap concepts will be present. Here is an example. The offensive line goes hat-for-hat matching up with each defensive lineman in their lane with one double team, a duo block on the backside defensive tackle. Hill hits the A-gap and picks up a quick two or three yards, which teams will take every time on a first-and-10. The play for San Francisco is really made by the unblocked defender coming off of the opposite edge that is able to loop around and wrap up Hill from behind.
Second-and-8 – SF 19
PASS: Carr completes to Olave for a 4-yard gain.
Motion: None
Play action: None
This is a straight dropback play from the shotgun for Carr. The Saints run a hitch-fade combination on the right side with Olave in the slot running the hitch. Carr finds Olave quickly off the snap and the team picks up a quick gain, making for a manageable third down.
Perhaps this pass could have been located toward the outside of Olave’s frame, allowing him the chance to turn upfield at the numbers. But that is something that will come in the regular season when timing and schedule are on point.
Third-and-3 – SF 15
RUN: Williams takes a stretch run to the left for six yards.
Motion: Olave runs a jet sweep motion, which plays a pivotal role in this play.
Play action: N/A
Olave starts this play by motioning, full-speed, from the left side of the formation to the right. The ball is snapped while he is in motion, feigning a jet sweep handoff. The threat of that handoff to Olave freezes the 49ers’ second level, allowing for a lot of space to be available to the left side, where Williams attacks. Means clears out a cornerback on that side with a faux fade route, Young does a great job controlling the edge, and center Erik McCoy does a great job holding off the defensive tackle on his first effort. The early use of jet sweep motion did not create the desired effect, but the Saints wisely do not go away from it as it helped a ton here.
This play is a great example of the building blocks that can change what is otherwise just the surface of the system. The Saints could have indeed handed off on the jet sweep here, they could have run the play the ended up running with success, but also could have faked both the jet sweep and stretch run, leading to a bootleg to the right side where Olave’s motion could have turned into a wheel route and shot to the endzone. A lot of potential with this as the tendency.
First-and-10 – SF 9
PASS: Carr’s quick pass to Olave on the left sideline is incomplete.
Motion: Olave motions from out wide tighter to the formation, remaining on the left side.
Play action: None
This one looks like timing is simply off on the quick pass from Carr to Olave. The pass is slightly outside of Olave’s frame and although the wideout gets his hands on it, it is a difficult one to reel in. The ball comes out before Olave gets out of his break, which is appropriate for the throw, but Olave may have been expecting a later delivery here. This is one that will get better with more reps. The offensive line held up enough for Carr to have the chance to step up in the pocket if this were a longer developing play. But with a first down in the red zone, live to fight another play.
Second-and-10 – SF 9
RUN: Mims rushes inside for 4 yards.
Motion: Hill motions from left to right for the split zone run action.
Play action: N/A
One of the best plays in football is a split zone run. This is a play wherein a tight end motions from in-line on one side to the other, but before settling, the ball is snapped. This gives the tight end a running start to initiate contact on a block to an otherwise unblocked defender. On this play, Hill and Moreau collide and a defender is able to get inside of both of their blocking attempts. Less than ideal as that very gap ends up being where Mims is set to run. If that operation moves a little more cleanly, Mims may have had a clearer gap to move through.
Mims does get through, but a second-level defender by San Francisco puts a solid move on guard Lucas Patrick, freeing him and a teammate up to gather the stop on Mims. The offense was one or two blocks away from a likely touchdown on this one. Mims does a good job fighting to the five.
Third-and-6 – SF 5
RUN: Mims runs up the middle for four yards.
Motion: None
Play action: N/A
This play is blocked very well, and Ruiz is the star. A pair of double teams on the inside open up a large gap right up the middle for Mims. The running back uses his vision to attack the area. Once Penning has a good hold on his defender, Ruiz climbs to the next level delivering a great block at the two-yard line. Mims follows him and plunges for the endzone. The play was called down at the one after review because replay officials could not see the running back’s shin as he dove in. Even without the score, this is a successfully blocked and attacked rush.
Fourth-and-1 – SF 1
RUN: Hill takes a fullback dive up the middle for a touchdown.
Motion: Wilson Jr. motions from out wide right to out wide left
Play action: N/A
This play is filled with eye candy and decoy work. Wilson Jr.’s motion from left to right forces a switch in the secondary and pulls a cornerback from the perimeter to the box. One might assume this is not a good idea when running up the middle, but that is where the other decoy, Williams, comes in.
As Carr hands off to Hill at fullback for his dive run, the quarterback also fakes a pitch to Williams. The uncertainty of where the ball is creates just enough hesitation for the second and third levels to lessen the congestion at the line of scrimmage, allowing Hill to bowl into the endzone.
Key takeaways:
- Motion opened up a lot of opportunities for the Saints on this drive.
- There is still so much window dressing to be added to many of these plays, and building tendencies off of these foundational plays can create a lot of curveballs that can be evolved from the looks shown here.
- The success of the 10 run plays immediately generated space and relief for the pass-blocking in five of the six passing plays.
- The threat of how the Saints like to get the ball to their receivers in both areas of the game helped to freeze or create hesitation in the San Francisco second level.
- Pass protection held up well and benefited from shared work and the run game’s success.
- Timing on some throws still has to be massaged, but that is not a big surprise at this point in the preseason.
- Hill took snaps at fullback, tailback, in the slot and at tight end serving as a blocker, route-runner and rusher throughout this drive. Great usage of one of the team’s most dynamic weapons.
