The New Orleans Saints have struggled to reach their offensive potential this season, largely because of a rushing attack that has become the team’s Achilles’ heel.
The Saints are averaging just 86 rushing yards per game through the first seven contests. They’ve averaged just 3.5 yards per carry. Both metrics rank within the bottom-five of NFL teams.
With a run game that’s not found a way to pick up steam, the team’s bye week serves as a chance to refocus, self-scout and address the shortcomings of the area. Making the most of that opportunity will obviously be in question, considering the team’s inability to get it going with an offseason, but the opportunity is there nonetheless.
Getting the run game turned around should be the team’s top priority over the week. How they go about doing it is up to the team and its decision-makers, but getting it done is imperative.
Head coach Kellen Moore has built notably successful rushing attacks in most of his stops as an offensive play-caller, finding out how to carve the path towards improvement could be the difference between continuing forward as the team’s leader and not making it through an offseason.
It may end up being the biggest litmus test for the true potential of the club.
The run game’s impact goes beyond the yardage gained on the ground, which is why the sense of urgency should be high around its progress.
While New Orleans hasn’t struggled to keep its offense on the field as a whole, averaging better than six plays per drive, it’s having to do so through the air. Quarterback Tyler Shough has seen the second-most dropbacks in the NFL among all quarterbacks between Weeks 1 and 7, and was tied for the third-most passing attempts during the same span.
New Orleans has been able to extend drives because of his accuracy, completing 67% of his passes (No. 8 in the NFL). However, the team’s three-and-out rate ranks No. 12 in the league and their time of possession margin (minus-2:30) ranks No. 25.
That combination makes sense due to incomplete passes stopping the clock and with the team’s consistent three-and-out issues early and late in games this season. The Saints have the second-highest combined first- and fourth-quarter three-and-out rate so far this year.
Without the ability to run effectively, time of possession and drive sustainability can become a challenge. Both are key to winning games, especially with a struggling defense on the other side.
This has to be priority No. 1 for the Saints over the bye week. Not only is it in the best interest of their own success in fielding the complementary team they want to on the offensive side of the ball, it’s also imperative in protecting its top asset, the quarterback they hope to become the future of the franchise.
