In last Sunday’s overtime win over the Cleveland Browns, the New Orleans Saints finally got their run game going. While it wasn’t their first time eclipsing 150 rushing yards in a game this season, there were some promising advancements that suggest this could be more sustainable by the team.
There were three factors that set this week’s success apart. The first, being more double teams allowing the team to win at the line of scrimmage.
Combo Blocks
The Saints established a physical tone from the first snap. Right away, the team got an ace block (double team with the center and guard) and a deuce block (double team with the guard and tackle) off the snap and created a big home for running back Audric Estime to run through.
This trend continued throughout the game, creating space in the run game and forced push at the line.
These also took some of the bigger defensive players out of position to get involved in tackles, setting up not chances for broken tackles against smaller tacklers.
Devaughn Vele
The Saints got some great contributions from wide receiver Devaughn Vele who consistently got to the second level and helped to push linebackers and safeties out of plays. That helped the Saints’ run game quickly climb upfield for big gains.
Sixth OL
The Saints, for the first time consistently, also utilized offensive lineman Will Sherman as a sixth offensive lineman. That helped to bolster the team’s size at the line and win with more physicality.
Sherman had to shift to center midway through the game, and could be in line to start there against the Carolina Panthers, taking him away from the role.
However, the Saints could also look at other approaches to help at center, freeing up Sherman to remain in the sixth-offensive lineman role.
