Strategy for tomorrow? (offense)

[Ellard80]

So how would you approach tomorrows game from an offensive standpoint? The Saints have one of the best run defenses, (2nd) but a more susceptible pass defense (29th).

Over the course of the last few games we have gone from being an aggressive passing offense to more of a physical run game team. The "safe" strategy would be to stay with this script, feeding the ball to Gurley and Anderson consistently, with the occasional play-action chunk plays, with shorter safe throws and screens. The issue with this plan is that it plays into the strength of the Saints D (though their all-pro d-tackle Rankins is out). It's also likely what the Saints expect us to do. I envision them stacking the box and trying to make us beat them over the top.

Or do we turn back to the team we were for the first 2/3 of the season? Come out with a vertical passing game and deep shots, to go with play-action. Much like we did in our 1st meeting when we scored 35 on them. The advantage of this approach is that it hits more where the Saints have weakness, and in my estimation it wouldn't be as expected. The risks is that you increase the likelyhood of sacks, or turnovers. So you may end up with a double digit lead early or have a dougle digit deficit quickly.

Of course how the Saints come out and scheme their defense will likely dictate which approach we see more. I'm interested to hear what other people think. I'm really now sure how we will play it tomorrow. It seems more likely that we stick with the ground and pound... but McVay isn't the type to be predictable.

I wouldn't be surprised tomorrow if we came out slinging it.

 

[12intheBox]

Run run run. Then run some more.

 

[jrry32]

I'd use the same offense we've been running all year. Attack them with balance. Their run defense took a big hit with the loss of Rankins. Test it out and see if they can stop us. If they can, adjust. If they can't, batter them with the rushing attack like we did Dallas.

 

[Ellard80]

I'd use the same offense we've been running all year. Attack them with balance. Their run defense took a big hit with the loss of Rankins. Test it out and see if they can stop us. If they can, adjust. If they can't, batter them with the rushing attack like we did Dallas.[/QUOT

But our offense isn't the same right now as it was early in the year..... we were much more pass heavy the first 2/3 of the season. Through the first 11 games we averaged 310 passing yard. Over the last 6 we have averaged 213 passing yards per game. We have played a much more smash mouth/run style of offense as of late.

 

[SteezyEndo]

I think utilizing CJ more we can see how adjustments are being made by the Saints D on the fly... I say this because he changes the whole dynamic...

 

[payote75]

The saints have one of the best rush defenses in the league is only by the numbers but if you look deeper you see that they:

1. Didn't play to many top backs in the league
2. In most of there games they were up by a lot of points that probably two running backs had 20 or more carries.
3. Gurley was one of the backs they faced and he had what 90 something yards on 16 carries when the Rams abondanded the run to play catch up (see point number 2).
4. This time they are missing Rankins although they have decent back ups none of them are Rankins as he calls out plays and is the qb type in a lot of ways on defense. Not to mention he collapses the pocket as well.

I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow as nervous as I am for some reason I have a better feeling about this game than I did the Cowboys maybe it's just wishful thinking lol. I will say I believe that the saints will sell out on stopping the run and make goff beat them. Our dline to me is the key obviously both lines are but if our dline can provide ample pressure and stop the run then allowing our corners to bump and ruin timing routes of the saints most importantly Thomas then we will be ok. But those are all big ifs. I do believe though saints rush defense has to be looked into beyond the rankings.

 

[dang]

I would expect a heavy run game plan. The one change we need is to not settle for FGs in the red zone. I don't think we will just be able to pound it up the middle against the Saints when we are in the red zone so we need to get Gurley in space a little more (screen, jet sweep) and be creative on getting Reynolds/TEs free. TDs instead of the 2 short FGs against the Cowboys last week and the game would have been over with by half time.

 

[1maGoh]

The saints have one of the best rush defenses in the league is only by the numbers but if you look deeper you see that they:

1. Didn't play to many top backs in the league
2. In most of there games they were up by a lot of points that probably two running backs had 20 or more carries.
3. Gurley was one of the backs they faced and he had what 90 something yards on 16 carries when the Rams abondanded the run to play catch up (see point number 2).
4. This time they are missing Rankins although they have decent back ups none of them are Rankins as he calls out plays and is the qb type in a lot of ways on defense. Not to mention he collapses the pocket as well.

I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow as nervous as I am for some reason I have a better feeling about this game than I did the Cowboys maybe it's just wishful thinking lol. I will say I believe that the saints will sell out on stopping the run and make goff beat them. Our dline to me is the key obviously both lines are but if our dline can provide ample pressure and stop the run then allowing our corners to bump and ruin timing routes of the saints most importantly Thomas then we will be ok. But those are all big ifs. I do believe though saints rush defense has to be looked into beyond the rankings.

But they were also first (tied) in yards per carry allowed. So it's not like they were giving up chunks of rushing yards before they got out to big leads. They we pretty strong up front AND got out to big leads.

Also, I hate defending them. Yuck.
uke:

 

[RamBall]

Good teams can run it when the other team knows they are going to run it. IMO the Rams will be able to run the ball with success, not as well as last week but well enough to open the passing game and keep the D on their heels. As stated above the saints played with a lead a lot of the time forcing teams to abandon the run. Which made their run D look better then it is and made their pass D look weaker than it is, prevent D gives up lots of yards in the 4th qtr skewing the numbers.

 

[payote75]

But they were also first (tied) in yards per carry allowed. So it's not like they were giving up chunks of rushing yards before they got out to big leads. They we pretty strong up front AND got out to big leads.

Also, I hate defending them. Yuck.
uke:

I hear what you are saying but you have to look at everything as a whole. If nobody is running the ball more than 20 times ever and are forced to give up on the run quickly cause the saints have put them behind it skews everything. I'm not saying they aren't a good run defense but I am saying looking inside the numbers they aren't as good as there numbers show and certainly not without Rankins. Even with the Rams playing catch up with the saints Gurley had almost 100 yards rolling out of bed I believe it was 16 carries. And again they weren't facing to many top backs.

 

[Karate61]

It's gotta be a healthy mix of runs and play action. We've been killing it running with Gurley & Anderson, and Goff will have the least pressure throwing out of play action!

 

[1maGoh]

I hear what you are saying but you have to look at everything as a whole. If nobody is running the ball more than 20 times ever and are forced to give up on the run quickly cause the saints have put them behind it skews everything. I'm not saying they aren't a good run defense but I am saying looking inside the numbers they aren't as good as there numbers show and certainly not without Rankins. Even with the Rams playing catch up with the saints Gurley had almost 100 yards rolling out of bed I believe it was 16 carries. And again they weren't facing to many top backs.

I get the top backs thing, but fewer attempts shouldn't skew the yards per carry stat too much. It will throw it off some because defenses get tired and give up greater yardage toward the end of games, but still. They also only averaged 3 less rushing attempts per game than us. We have up tons of yards per game and carry because our run defense was awful. They didn't because theirs wasn't. Top running back caveat not withstanding.

 

[Dieter the Brock]

First Off
I am making the wife and kids have an extended lunch after they get off church then I’m going to the garage and rolling myself a giant .... wait
Oh. You mean the game.....
Run Gurley

 

[OregonRamsFan]

Running the ball sets up everything.
1. It keeps Brees off the field.
2. It opens up the play action
3. It limits interceptions
4. It tires opposing defenses

I agree we do have to mix it up though with play action to keep ‘em honest. I’d be something like 70/30 run/pass. Honestly I like our chances. We need to start fast and pin their necks to the ground. Go Rams!!

 

[jrry32]

But our offense isn't the same right now as it was early in the year..... we were much more pass heavy the first 2/3 of the season. Through the first 11 games we averaged 310 passing yard. Over the last 6 we have averaged 213 passing yards per game. We have played a much more smash mouth/run style of offense as of late.

Our offense has always been predicated on balance. Even when we were throwing the ball more, we did much of our damage from play-action passing. The reason we adjusted is because defenses adjusted to take away our play-action shot plays. McVay adjusted to that by battering them with the running game if they chose to sit back. If NO sits back, he'll batter them unless they find a way to stop it. If NO plays the run more aggressively, you'll see a more aggressive passing attack.

I'm not going into this game planning to run the ball or pass the ball 50 times. I figure out how NO wants to defend us, and then I use that to beat them. Our balance is a massive strength.

 

[jrry32]

But they were also first (tied) in yards per carry allowed. So it's not like they were giving up chunks of rushing yards before they got out to big leads. They we pretty strong up front AND got out to big leads.

Also, I hate defending them. Yuck.
uke:

NO allowed 3.6 yards per carry on the year. Dallas allowed 3.8 yards per carry on the year. NO lost one of its best run stoppers last week in Sheldon Rankins. Right now, I don't fear any run defense. If NO wants to devote resources to stopping our run game, they can, but McVay will use that to his advantage in the passing game. If they don't, I think we can run on them.

 

[Merlin]

Gurley specifically mentioned the physical team was going to win. Suspect the Rams are going to mash, and play action them for big plays.

Really not too worried about the offense. Saints can be had through the air, and our run game right now is going to work on them. Long as Goff doesn't play like a young QB we'll be alright. It's the defense that is going to dictate how this thing goes.

 

[Loyal]

Run run run. Then run some more.

Exactly. run it down their freakin throats, with a few long TD passes thrown in!

 

[IE Rams]

Running the ball sets up everything.
1. It keeps Brees off the field.
2. It opens up the play action
3. It limits interceptions
4. It tires opposing defenses

5. It keeps our OL fresher

which, as the game progresses, could be a game decider.

 

[SteezyEndo]

NO allowed 3.6 yards per carry on the year. Dallas allowed 3.8 yards per carry on the year. NO lost one of its best run stoppers last week in Sheldon Rankins. Right now, I don't fear any run defense. If NO wants to devote resources to stopping our run game, they can, but McVay will use that to his advantage in the passing game. If they don't, I think we can run on them.

I find it funny NO says a top player of theirs is injured then ends up playing...I say go for the throat and don’t assume...