By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS — Every NFL game can usually be narrowed down to a handful of plays that truly decide the result. But games often come down to matchups as well. The New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers will square off this weekend, and the matchups they will look to exploit will be key. Here are three we are watching for the Saints’ defense.
Saints CB Marshon Lattimore Vs. Chargers WR D.J. Chark
Chargers receivers have struggled against press man coverage, which is the bread and butter of the Saints’ defense, as well as the comfort zone for Lattimore. Chark looks like he’ll be making his Chargers debut while three other wide receivers are trending towards being out or at least limited by injury on Sunday. That should push the former LSU Tiger into constant matchups with the Saints’ top cover corner.
Lattimore has been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, drawing only 12 targets as the closest defender so far this season, per Pro Football Focus. In man coverage, his target per snap vs. average separation allowed matrix is outstanding. This matchup could be the difference in the Chargers’ scoring potential on Sunday, the team has not scored a touchdown in 15 consecutive possessions.
Rookie cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry will be important here as well, filling in for fellow starting corner Paulson Adebo. The Saints tend to play sides rather than shadow wideouts. If Chark moves about on offense, he’ll draw the coverage of both corners in nickel packages.
Saints DE Chase Young Vs. Chargers OT Rashawn Slater
Young’s 14.4% pressure rate leads the Saints’ defense. Slater was struggling early in the season when lined up at right tackle, but as the team’s health improved, he was able to move back to the left side. According to Next Gen Stats, Slater has drastically improved getting back to the left side allowing a pressure rate of just 7.6% there over the last two games. On the right side, he was surrendering a rate of 13.4%.
Young spends the vast majority of his time lined up over the left tackle, on the defensive left side. He and Slater should be matched up most of the game. The Chargers’ offensive line as a whole has allowed the NFL’s No. 3 highest pressure percentage so far this year.
Saints LB Demario Davis Vs. Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins
New Orleans has struggled mightily against the run again this season. Yes, partially due to tackling. But unfortunately for New Orleans, the issues run deeper than just one area. In addition to the team’s defensive line consistently losing the line of scrimmage, the second-level pursuit has been an issue as well. Linebackers seem to be out of position or unable to make the plays that a Saints defense is typically known for.
The team would love to see that course corrected this week. Dobbins has been the lifeblood of the Los Angeles run game so far this year. His 478 rushing yards make up 68.5% of the team’s ground game. If Davis and the Saints can formidably match up with Dobbins, they may be able to get back on track in slowing down an opposing run game
