Saints' Shorthanded Backfield Must Still Make Plays at Green Bay

It might take some ingenuity, but the Saints must manufacture a running game to pull out a Week 3 win at Green Bay.

The New Orleans Saints come into their Week 3 game at the Green Bay Packers with a 2-0 record. Little of that has to do with their rushing attack. New Orleans showed signs of life on the ground against Carolina, rushing for 134 yards after managing only 69 against Tennessee in Week 1.

Unfortunately, the Saints also lost RB Jamaal Williams for the next few weeks with a hamstring injury. With Alvin Kamara serving the last of his three-game suspension, the team comes in with a shorthanded backfield against Green Bay. 

The 1-1 Packers were expected to have a strong defense in 2023. However, they've shown some vulnerability against both the run and pass early this season. Do the Saints have enough backfield talent left to take advantage of Green Bay's deficiencies against the run?

Saints Rushing Attack vs. Packers Run Defense 

Green Bay Run Defense 

Sep 12, 2021; Green Bay Packers linebacker De'Vondre Campbell (59) stops New Orleans Saints running back Tony Jones Jr. (34). Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Only two teams have allowed more than the 167 yards on the ground that the Packers have surrendered through two games. Atlanta gashed them for 211 rushing yards last week, as RBs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier averaged nearly five yards per carry. This is much of the same defensive personnel that allowed 139.5 yards on the ground for a 26th ranked rushing defense in 2022.

Green Bay's 3-4 front has a lot of big bodies along their defensive line. Nose tackle T.J. Slaton does an outstanding job tying up blockers and getting interior push. Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt are big enough to play inside in a four man front but athletic enough as ends in a 3-4. Rookie Karl Brooks provides depth at both spots.

Edge rushers Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, and rookie first-rounder Lukas Van Ness are big and physical downhill defenders. All three are outstanding pass rushers, but have been pushed off the ball by run blockers. Inside LBs De'Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker are terrific athletes and relentless in lateral pursuit. Both are big players, but need to show more physicality in the tackle box. 

Darnell Savage is one of the league's better safeties and can be employed as an extra linebacker at the line of scrimmage. The rest of Green Bay's secondary doesn't shy away from run support, but tackling at the second level can be an issue. 

New Orleans Rushing Attack 

Sep 18, 2023; New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) runs past Carolina Panthers linebacker Brian Burns (0) and defensive end Nick Thurman (91). Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Saints have had some blocking issues along their offensive line, but have also been dealing with missing pieces in their backfield. Kamara is out for one more game, while Jamaal Williams is expected to miss at least a few weeks. On the bright side, rookie third-round pick Kendre Miller is expected to see his first regular season action.

Taysom Hill led all rushers with 75 yards on just nine carries against Carolina. Fourth-year RB Tony Jones Jr. pitched in with 34 yards on 12 carries and two key second half touchdowns. 

Hill is a jack-of-all-trades weapon who does most of his damage as a runner. Often taking direct snaps as a wildcat quarterback, Hill has the power to roll through defenders and the burst to break big plays. He's a legitimate rushing threat inside and around the edge. 

Jones is a plodder who is most effective on interior runs. He isn't a big-play threat, but fights for extra yardage inside. His career best of 50 rushing yards actually came in a season-opening rout of the Packers in 2021. The 34 yards he had against the Panthers was the second best production of his career. 

Sep 18, 2023; New Orleans Saints running back Tony Jones Jr. (34) follows a block by offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) against the Carolina Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

The Saints welcome explosive rookie Kendre Miller into the lineup after missing the first two weeks with a hamstring injury. Miller gives the team speed to the outside that they've lacked over the first two weeks. He also shows good natural vision to hit inside rushing lanes.

New Orleans continues to have pass blocking issues along the offensive line. However, the unit was able to get some push for the running game against the Panthers. The Saints have averaged only 3.4 per rush, a number that must improve if they are to establish offensive balance. 

On the left side, OT Trevor Penning is a mauler who drives defenders off the ball while G James Hurst is an outstanding technician. Fifth-year C Erik McCoy is one of the league's better players at his position. On the right side, powerful G Cesar Ruiz and T Ryan Ramczyk typically lead the way for Taysom Hill’s edge runs.

What to Watch 

Aug 20, 2023; New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (25) carries the ball against the Los Angeles Chargers. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Dating back to the 2020 season, the Saints are 17-3 when Taysom Hill rushes at least six times. It's safe to say that he'll get at least that many chances against Green Bay. New Orleans will look to establish Kendre Miller or Tony Jones as their main runners. Taysom Hill will certainly be a factor, but the offense will be far easier to read if he's their only source of rushing production. 

Look for Jones to get the short yardage and red zone looks, while Miller takes the early down reps. Miller's ability to pick up blitzers, an area where Jones excels, could determine which back gets the majority of the snaps.

Unless Miller is an immediate star, then the Saints backfield will again be limited until Kamara returns. This also means that the bulk of the offensive success will depend on QB Derek Carr and the passing game. However, New Orleans simply isn't playing well enough along the offensive line to have any success with a one-dimensional game plan.

Even if it's just modest production, the Saints must get some push up front for their running game. A road victory over the Packers likely depends on at least providing the threat of a running game.