Saints’ Ground Game

The Saints are known for their potent passing attack, but through the first half of this season, their run game is the league’s 7th best.

Any great passing unit puts stress on defenses and creates running lanes. New Orleans, in particular, is a favorable environment for a lead back like Mark Ingram due to the formations head coach Sean Payton employs. But in May, the Saints drafted yet another weapon to add even more wrinkles to what they may or may not do.

This play from Sunday’s win over the Packers shows how defenses can get lost focusing on first-round receiver Brandin Cooks. The speedy rookie crosses the formation as an option for an end around, but the handoff goes to Ingram:

Let’s look at a screen shoot taken after the handoff. With Cooks streaking through the backfield, four members of the Packers’ back seven have their eyes on him. That takes them out of position to defend against a run on the other side of the field. The only player who could tackle Ingram immediately is met by the fullback and Ingram does the rest:

But Ingram isn’t just a product of the Saints’ system. The former Heisman trophy winner has loads of talent that he’s finally showcasing this season:

When we break down this play into four frames, we can see a strong running back trait in each one.

• Frame 1: He’s patient and waits in the backfield for the play to develop.
• Frame 2: He stays balanced and runs through a Packers’ defender.
• Frame 3: He changes directions in the middle of his run.
• Frame 4: He keeps his legs driving and carries a tackler while gaining extra yardage.

A combination of the Saints’ system, increased carries, and his growth as a player have allowed Ingram to flourish in his fourth season.

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Panthers’ Run Defense

The Panthers are ranked 28th against the run, but they did a solid job against Seattle’s second-ranked rushing attack.

Perhaps they were responding to comments made by linebacker Thomas Davis because they were swarming with more effort.

Defensive tackle Star Lotulelei has had a very quiet second season, but on this play, he beats his blocker and gets an assist from his teammates:

Defensive end Charles Johnson easily powers through an out-of-position lineman, and Davis gets around a tight end. The result is a four-yard loss for running back Marshawn Lynch.

That’s the type of swarming effort Davis and defensive coordinator Sean McDermott called for last week and it will need to continue Thursday against the potent Saints.

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Panthers’ Pass Rush

Johnson had a very nice game last Sunday, and that helped rookie Kony Ealy shine. The second-round pick picked up his first career sack and flashed on a handful of his other snaps.

On this play, Johnson pushed the right tackle back into quarterback Russell Wilson’s sight. Ealy, on the right side, is against left tackle Russell Okung.

Once again, Charles Johnson had a very nice game. He pushes the right tackle back into Russell Wilson’s sight, which assists Ealy. The rookie attempts to beat Russell Okung around the edge:

The first thing Ealy does is use his hands. He bats away Okung’s hands so he can work without being grabbed. That also puts Okung off balance. Ealy is then able to bend around the edge just enough to get past the former Pro Bowler:

Once disengaged, Ealy flies toward Wilson and brings him down:

Once disengaged, Ealy flies toward Wilson and brings him down.

Ealy has not burst onto the scene as a rookie, but his play against the Seahawks showed signs of what he can do. And the Panthers need that and more from their front seven if they’re going to slow down quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints.

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