Getting back into the win column has provided the New Orleans Saints a sense of relief over the course of their practice week in Versailles, France this week. The energy was high throughout practices and there was a clear feeling that a weight had been lifted off of the collective shoulders of Saints staff as well.
The team badly needed a win after its three-game home losing streak, but beyond knocking off an opponent on the road, perhaps the most promising element to come from the victory was that New Orleans was able to win without the need of a heroic day from quarterback Tyler Shough.
The second-year quarterback’s impact was undeniable, though, with four total touchdowns, including three through the air and one on the ground at the goal line. However, it felt as if it was the first game of the season that the team wasn’t in a situation in which Shough was left to chase a big lead, or throw the ball with a heavy workload.
For the first time this season, New Orleans ran the ball (38 carries) more than they threw it (30 passing attempts) and for only the second time this season, Shough did not throw the ball more than 30 times.
During the team’s first four games of the season, Shough threw more than 40 passes three times and more than 30 all four weeks. In Week 5, he attempted only 25 passes, but the offense hardly held the ball throughout the game with only 43 total plays from scrimmage.
The sixth week of the season was a true testament that the Saints don’t always need Shough to be the hero in order to win a game this year. Instead, the team won with a strong run game, averaging 4.6 yards per carry for its second-best average of the season, and with strong defense defined by four takeaways.
New Orleans did continue to start slow on offense, but the defense did well in keeping the game within reach. When the Saints trailed by 10 points, it didn’t abandon its run game and instead, increased the physicality on both sides of the ball.
New Orleans won with a man rushing scheme on offense and a lot more press and man coverage calls on defense.
Throughout Sunday’s Week 7 game in Paris, the team may look to use the same physical approach against a Pittsburgh Steelers team that traveled late, and had its Friday practice in France interrupted by weather and the team’s acclimation to the time change.
If the Saints choose that avenue, that could put them right back in position not to have to rely on 40 or 50 passing attempts from Shough for their third win of the season. Remaining balanced, and playing complementary football, will be their best chance to come out on top in Week 7.
