Ahead of the New Orleans Saints’ 23-22 overtime win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, the team’s defense made a significant change to its meeting structure.
In addition to the typical position-focused meetings, the team upped its frequency of full-defense gatherings. From film review to game plan, the entire group was brought together more readily to cultivate two key elements: trust and a greater understanding of everyone’s role.
One source with knowledge of the changes told LouisianaSports.Net that the intent of the meetings was also to drive accountability, with the defensive line’s production against the run game being a focus.
It worked.
The Saints held the Browns’ rushing attack to just 2.8 yards per carry, despite the run game being available from a game flow perspective until deep into the fourth quarter.
The benefit of the change was that each defender became more versed in what each of their teammate’s responsibilities are. It caused less of a need for players to abandon their gaps in the hopes of making a play. They gained a sense of trust and understanding where their teammate would be and established the confidence that the play would be made, while maintaining gap integrity elsewhere.
The impact was clear and New Orleans appeared much more fundamentally sound in the run game against the Browns, who had made a concerted effort to get that part of their game going against New Orleans.
Head coach Kellen Moore added that the emphasis came after the bye week, signaling another helpful change made by the team after a week of self-scouting.
New Orleans will face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, who are tied for the second-fewest rushing attempts in the NFL.
