As Week 2 preparations begin, the New Orleans Saints hope to see the return of a couple key veterans that missed the season-opener because of injury.
Along with edge rusher Cameron Jordan, the team could get veteran running back Alvin Kamara back to face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
If Kamara returns, head coach Kellen Moore will have everything he needs to jump-start the team’s hapless rushing attack.
Last season, the Saints ranked No. 28 in total rushing yards and No. 31 in rushing yards per attempt.
The team has added offensive lineman David Edwards and explosive running back Travis Etienne Jr. in the hopes of bolstering its attack in the ground.
The team’s debut against the Detroit Lions didn’t provide much confidence with the club gaining just 91 yards. The ground game (No. 22 on the week) averaged only 3.6 yards per carry (No. 26).
The Lions, at one point, jumped out to a 21-0 deficit. This erased the Saints’ ability to lean on their run game, but that did not happen until midway through the third quarter.
New Orleans’ defense held Detroit to just a 7-0 score for the first half. During that time, the Saints weren’t successful in establishing their run game. They stacked the box on 24% of their run defense snaps, good for No. 9 most frequent defense to do so in the opening week.
With Kamara back, the Saints could help to lighten the load a bit by using both him and Etienne in the field together. If they both start in the backfield and one motions out to the slot or to a receiver alignment, it may help to lighten the boxes they face against Baltimore a bit.
The Ravens notched Next Gen Stats’ highest stuff percentage in Week 1, forcing 25% of rushing attempts against their defense to go for no gain or a loss.
He also elevated a three-headed approach with running back Kendre Miller also involved, who had the team’s lone rushing touchdown last week, and carried the ball well in the red zone and in short-yardage situations.
Etienne needs to be a centerpiece of the offense, one that has to be committed much earlier than in Week 1. However, the return of Kamara gives the Saints some entirely new wrinkles to incorporate.
Getting Kamara back in the lineup, should he remain a firm participant for all three practices this week, would provide a notable boost to the Saints’ offensive game plan as they match up with a talented Baltimore defense.
