“Hard-Headed About Running The Ball”
October 12th, 2024
So the New Orleans Saints will try to have their offensive line win the game for them Sunday, along with high-mileage running back Alvin Kamara and his 2,060 career touches.
Joe notes the career touches because in the history of football most running backs are long gone from the NFL before they hit that number. Only two active players have more touches than Kamara (Derrick Henry and Ezekiel Elliott).
And Kamara figures to rack up another 25 or more tomorrow with the slimy Saints starting rookie QB Spencer Rattler. It was be Rattler’s NFL debut.
Before facing the Chiefs on Monday, the Saints led the NFL in percentage of run plays. And Kamara has been leading the way in what’s been a revival season for him (91 carries for 388 yards and 5 touchdowns).
If the Bucs can stuff Kamara, they should be well on their way to a victory and a 4-2 record.
Bucs defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers said this week that while the Saints have always been a run-focused team, they’ve hit a new level in 2024.
“Before they were running the ball, now they’re hard-headed about running the ball,” Rodgers said, adding that the Saints run on third down as often as they pass.
In 2019 and 2020, the Bucs had a historically good run defense, best in the league both years. It was still strong in 2021 but took a step back in 2022. Last year was very solid, but this year it’s been shaky at best.
However, with defensive tackles Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey healthy and playing together Sunday for the first time this season, Joe is expecting a return of strong run defense. And 10 days off after the debacle in Atlanta should help, too.
October 12th, 2024 at 11:17 am
We will stop the run….worried about deep passes & our lawn chair pass defense
October 12th, 2024 at 11:19 am
This means they will go pass happy.
October 12th, 2024 at 11:48 am
Better stop the pass, we gave up 509 yards thru the air, and 4 TDs. Teams don’t have to try and run it on us, our secondary sucks, and so does our pass rush. Play soft zone, and rush 4 watch Rattler do what Nix did to us.
October 12th, 2024 at 12:23 pm
Bowles will want to stop the run and the Saints will play action the Bucs for 500 yards from a rookie and maybe give up chunk runs from the Rattle. Kancey will will be very rusty so not expecting much from him and he’ll be on a count. Kamara has been doing OK, still probably better than R-White.
October 12th, 2024 at 1:04 pm
Saints will just have Kamara run short routes to the middle of the field where defensive guru Bowles will have KJ Britt covering him all game.
October 12th, 2024 at 1:06 pm
And after the game, when Kamara has 12 receptions, 140 yards and 2 TDs, Bowles will say the team needs to play better and he needs to coach better.
October 12th, 2024 at 1:43 pm
We gave up yuge passing yards down the middle, which is the last place a coach wants his rookie QB going to
October 12th, 2024 at 2:05 pm
3 easy steps to improving pass defense:
1) Better safety play! AWJ & Whitehead returning should improve this..
2) Crack the whip on Dean’s a$$ to STOP with these ridiculous 10 yard cushions on opposing wide receiver at the LOS. If you can’t tighten up his cushion, then bench him. We are sick and tired of watching this guy play scared!! I am totally open to seeing what Funderburk can do 🤷🏻♂️…
3) Use dime defense On obvious passing downs, so KJ Britt is not out there exposed. Also use JJ Wilcox on third downs as well.
October 12th, 2024 at 3:00 pm
Buc88… JJ Wilcox? What kind of Stooge comment is that? All your points are stupid and wrong but suggesting we play a 33 year-old free agent that isn’t even on our roster takes the cake.
October 12th, 2024 at 3:09 pm
Git em Brandon…grrrr.
October 12th, 2024 at 3:18 pm
Joe … ‘Last year was very solid, but this year it’s been shaky at best.’
If you’re trying to be kind Joe, it’s not working. Last season our run defense ranked #5 (Yards Allowed), but as a consequence of focusing on that our pass defense ranked #29 (Yards Allowed).
This season we suck at both. Our run defense is ranked #16 and our pass defense is ranked #28. That’s just bad defense all-around, reminescent of the Mike Smith years (in 2018 we ranked #24 run defense and #26 pass defense).
October 12th, 2024 at 3:42 pm
Thanks @DR. The numbers tell it all. What are the personnel differences on the defense from last year for the drop off in rushing D? The line is essentially the same less Shaq. LB is the same. Safeties actually upgraded. Corners lost CDlll. Hmmmm. Could it be coaching? Or was Carlton tackling all the running backs and we didn’t notice. I wonder……
October 12th, 2024 at 5:36 pm
Doesn’t matter who the quarterback is, you’re facing Todd Bowles so you throw to win. 28th passing defense with zero pass rush plus Kamara is a pass catching back too
October 12th, 2024 at 7:46 pm
BadBucs … The difference in our defense is AVAILABILITY. Kancey & Vea have missed 6 games (together) already this year. Several others have been banged up, limiting their practice time but they still played in the games.
And despite Joe’s contention that Cousins is a statue, he chewed us up and turned us into ground beef. He showed the rest of the league how to beat the Bucs (quick release, short passes, largely in th middle). Most teams (those with enough talent) will duplicate that recipe until we show that we can stop it. And I don’t think we can using 2 ILBs with Britt being one of them. SOMETHING has gotta change.