There is a trend to focus on the amazing things that happened in the game. For example, I wrote about Eli Manning’s great performance about the Saints last week. But for every amazing performance, there is usually a terrible performance that goes along with it. I want to focus on a terrible performance this week and I decided to look at the Saints rushing attack against the Titans. The Saints have been great on offense this year with the second most yards per game (421.7) and sixth most point per game (26.8) but it has been no thanks to its running game efficiency. They have the 25th ranked rushing attack (95.0) and 30th ranked YPA (3.6) in the league and the game against the Titans was statistically their worst performance of the year in terms of efficiency. This is surprising for two reasons. The first is the Saints looked like they had turned around the rushing attack as in three of their last four games (@Eagles, @Colts, vs. Giants) they had run for over 4.0 yards per carry. The second is the Titans have one of the most average run defenses in the league as they are 17th in yards allowed per game (111.5) and 15th in yards allowed per attempt (4.1). The Saints want to become a more physical team running the ball and put their money where their mouth is by bringing in Max Unger at Center. But the results have not shown yet and this film breakdown will look into why the Saints had such a struggle running the ball against the Titans.

Note: This isn’t going to add up to 27 carries for two reason. The first is two of the runs are Drew Brees kneel downs. Kneel downs are counted in the running stats but there is no need to look at them in this post. The second is one of the running plays appears to not have shown up in the play log on the NFL Gamepass app. I did not watch the game live so I have no clue where this run is, therefore it is not going to be covered.

1st Quarter

Play #1

Situation: 1st and 10 NO 28

Description: Q1-(13:36) M. Ingram Left Guard to NO 29 for 1 Yard (M. Griffin)

There are two blocks that fail on this play. The obvious one is RT Zach Strief’s block against DE DaQuan Jones. This is a RB Dive Left play with a man blocking scheme. Strief’s job is to protect the backside and prevent inside penetration. Strief’s lateral agility is lacking though and Jones beats him to the spot. Strief isn’t able to recover and Jones get great penetration on the play. The second block that fails is the combo block of RG Jahri Evans and C Max Unger against NT Al Woods. For this block to work, the combo block needed to get Evans blocking Woods and Unger working up to ILB Wesley Woodyard. Instead, Woods gets outside leverage on Unger and gets into the hole where RB Mark Ingram was suppose to run (A-Gap Left). Evans is left blocking no one so Woodyard ends up being unblocked. Even if Strief does his job, this play isn’t going anywhere. Ingram is force to cutback and FS Michael Griffin is waiting for him as the unblocked eight defender in the box.

Run #2

Situation: 2nd and 9 NO 29

Description: Q1-(13:05) M. Ingram Right Tackle to NO 32 for 3 Yards (A. Willamson)

Unger and Evans have to take the blame again for this run as they cannot move Woods at all. Its a RB Belly Right run and Strief does his job as he seals Jones to the outside. But Evans and Unger are unable to get any movement on Woods. This prevents Evans from slipping off the block on Woods and block ILB Avery Williamson at the second level. This causes Ingram to bounce it to the outside (which I’m torn if that was the right decision) and Williamson is able to chase him down for the short gain.

Run #3

Situation: 1st and 10 TEN 13

Description: Q1-(10:29) M. Ingram Right Guard to TEN 10 for 3 Yards (B. Orakpo; W. Woodyard)

This is a RB Zone Run to the right and the first thing I noticed is WR Willie Snead is the backside cross seal block on this play. Why a WR is asked to do this bock is beyond me because the matchup is almost going to be against the favor of the WR. It would be a minor miracle if Snead blocks ROLB Brian Orakpo and as you would guess he misses the block. I would argue this isn’t really on Snead though as he gets knocked off his path. Unger does a poor job blocking NT Sammie Hill and gives up penetration towards the play side. This knocks Snead off his path and gives Snead no chance on the block. LG Tim Lelito doesn’t do the Saints any favors either as his attempted cut block on Woodyard is too low and Woodyard is able to fend it off easily. Ingram makes the right cut and the rest of the play is pretty well blocked but Unger and Lelito mess it up.

Run #4

Situaiton: 1st and 10 NO 20

Description: Q1-(6:58) M. Ingram Left Guard to NO 23 for 3 Yards (P. Cox; A. Woods)

This play could of been at least been a good (assuming Ingram doesn’t trip over the body of DT/DE Jerrell Casey) as the offensive linemen do a pretty good blocking this Belly Right. The only block that wasn’t all objectively good was LT Terron Armstead letting Casey get inside leverage on him. He does pancake block him four yards downfield though so its hard to be too critical of this block. The block that limited the potential of this play was TE Michael Hoomanawanui against Orakpo. This isn’t an easy reach block for Hoomanawanui as Orakpo has inside leverage on him before the play and does a good job flowing to the inside, Hoomnanawanui instead tries to wash him down the line past the hole. This backfires though as Orakpo ends up flashing into the hole right when Ingram tries to hit it. There is a valid argument that Ingram should be patient and let Hoomnanawanui push Orakpo out of the way but waiting for that to happen can let other defenders get to the area. He instead cuts outside where CB Parrish Cox is waiting for him as the unblocked eighth man in the box and makes the tackle.

Run #5

Situation: 2nd and 10 NO 44

Description: Q1-(5:08) M. Ingram Right Tackle to NO 46 for 2 Yards (A. Williamson)

I would need to see the play call to know for sure who messed up here but someone on the offensive line blew their assignment on the play. If I had to make a guess, it would say it was Lelito should of gotten up to him but I’m not sure. This would been a very difficult block for Lelito to make but this is the only way I see this play working against this formation. Regardless, no one actually blocks Williamson and he is sitting in the hole against a Zone Run Right. On top of that, Evans gets pushed into the backfield by Jones and Unger gives up penetration on Woods. This leaves no where for Ingram to go but through the A-gap and right into Williamson’s arms.

Run #6

Situation: 1st and 10 NO 21

Description: Q1-(0:55) M. Ingram Right End to NO 22 for 1 Yard (A. Williamson; C. Sensabaugh)

The whole right side of the offensive formation (minus TE Benjamin Watson’s block on CB Coty Sensabaugh) was poor on this play. Hoomnanawanui and Evans do a poor job reach blocking LOLB Derrick Morgan and Jones respectively and both of these defenders string out the Zone Stretch run. Strief doesn’t block anyone on this play which allows Griffin to run the alley and fill the gap between Sensabaugh and Morgan. These factors give Ingram nowhere to run and allows the backside pursuit on Williamson and company to catch up to Ingram.

For the 2nd quarter runs, click on the next page.