Saints Rushing Attack Needs to Come Alive Against Panthers

The Saints need a much better rushing performance for a better chance of winning at Carolina on Monday night.

The 1-0 New Orleans Saints face their first divisional opponent when they travel to face the 0-1 Carolina Panthers on Monday night. New Orleans pulled out a physical 16-15 home win over Tennessee to open the year. The Panthers are coming off a 24-10 road loss to the Falcons. 

New Orleans RB Alvin Kamara will be serving his second of a three-game suspension this week. Saints rookie RB Kendre Miller also missed the season opener with a hamstring injury. Without them, the team managed just 69 yards on the ground against a formidable Titans defense. Miller returned to practice in a limited capacity on Friday, and it looks like he'll make his NFL debut. 

The Panthers ranked 18th against the run last season. They return roughly the same defensive personnel that bottled up the Saints on the ground in their last two trips to Carolina. Two significant new faces to their unit are former Saints DT Shy Tuttle and S Vonn Bell. 

As New Orleans hopes to reverse their rushing fortunes in Week 2, here's how they'll match up against Carolina's run defense. 

Saints Rushing Attack vs. Panthers Run Defense 

Carolina Run Defense 

Jan 8, 2023; New Orleans Saints running back David Johnson (28) is tackled by Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson (7). Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The Panthers struggled to contain Falcons RBs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier in the opener, allowing a combined 131 yards and 5.2 per carry. This is mostly the same unit that surrendered eight rushers of at least 70 yards in 2022, including three 100-yard outings. 

Carolina switched their base alignment from a 4-3 to a 3-4 front this offseason. To play nose tackle, they brought in former Saints run-stopper Shy Tuttle. Derrick Brown, a top-10 choice in the 2020 draft, and DeShawn Williams round out the front. The three average over 300-Lbs., but there's no depth here outside of practice squad journeyman Nick Thurman.

Brian Burns, Justin Houston, and Yetur Gross-Matos are now listed as outside linebacker. In reality, they are still defensive ends and edge rushers. Burns, a two-time Pro Bowler, is the team's best defender. He's one of the league's better pass rushers, but also has good power and positioning against the run. 

Thirteen-year veteran Houston is still an outstanding pass rusher and solid against the run. However, the Panthers would like to limit his snaps to increase his effectiveness in passing situations. For that to happen, 2020 second-round pick Gross-Matos must eliminate his erratic production and play up to his potential. 

Sep 19, 2021; New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) is tackled by Carolina Panthers safety Jeremy Chinn (21). Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Inside linebackers Shaq Thompson and Frankie Luvu are highly active defenders all over the field. The two combined for 246 tackles in 2022, including 28 for loss. Luvu is perhaps this defense's most underrated player, but is best as a blitzer. Thompson can sometimes get caught up in traffic in outside pursuit or be pushed off the point of attack. 

Safeties Jeremy Chinn and Xavier Woods are also instrumental in run support and are as good as extra linebackers at the line of scrimmage. Chinn is Carolina's chess piece all over the field. That impact could be limited with him expected to play more of a coverage role because of an injury to CB Jaycee Horn. 

New Orleans Running Game 

Sep 10, 2023; New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams (21) leaps to avoid the tackle of Tennessee Titans safety Amani Hooker (37). Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY

The Saints were held to just 69 yards on the ground and a paltry 2.6 per carry against the Titans. Yes, the absences of Kamara and Miller limited backfield options, but the offensive line never gave their backs a chance. 

Second-year LT Trevor Penning came under criticism for his struggles in pass protection, but was nearly as ineffective as a run blocker. Pro Bowl RT Ryan Ramczyk is normally very efficient, but was unable to clear out rushing lanes.

Bruiser RG Cesar Ruiz and C Erik McCoy, along with reliable LG James Hurst, were unable to open inside running options. The physical Tennessee defensive front had the decided advantage all afternoon. 

Because of the physical mismatch, Taysom Hill had little impact on last week's result. Hill, a physical runner with great burst, couldn't even get his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage because blockers were pushed backwards.

Sep 19, 2021; New Orleans Saints Taysom Hill (7) runs for yardage against the Carolina Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY

The versatile Hill can bowl over defenders if he can hit the line with some momentum, then has the big play ability to break big gains. His running skills are certainly a massive upgrade over veteran Tony Jones Jr., who adds little to the offense. 

The most successful running plays that the Saints had against Tennessee were three jet sweeps to WR Rashid Shaheed. One of which was nullified by penalty. Jamaal Williams finally broke off an 11-yard rush over the right side to clinch the game late in the fourth quarter. 

Williams will continue to shoulder the backfield load until Kamara's return. Signed to be a physical complement to the dynamic Kamara this offseason, Williams is coming off his first 1,000-yard campaign and an NFL-high 17 touchdowns with the Lions.

With Williams expected to be the primary inside runner, the Saints are hoping that Miller (hamstring) can be the outside and open field threat. The rookie third-round choice may only be used in a situational role, but could at least add speed and a receiving option if he's able to play.

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

This is a game where we could see the power running of Taysom Hill play a bigger role than last week. The Falcons had success with counter plays and were able to open up cutback lanes on the interior of the Panthers defense.

Jamaal Williams will get the brunt of the carries. If Kendre Miller is able to go that would also add another athletic option to the backfield. We could also see some early jet sweeps from Shaheed in an effort to spread out the Carolina linebackers. 

Don't be surprised if the Saints come out throwing the ball to keep the Panthers from stacking extra defenders at the line of scrimmage. They may even use the pass to set up the run throughout the game, but establishing balance will be critical for offensive success. 

No matter what the game plan is or who's in the backfield, the Saints need a better performance up front. Penning and Hurst are a new combination on the left, so New Orleans may use a tight end most often on that side or look to run behind Ruiz and Ramczyk on the right.

Atlanta's success on the ground against Carolina was undoubtedly encouraging to New Orleans coaches. The Saints may be able to win this game without a dominant rushing performance, but must at least establish balance for a better chance.