Saints’ success remains tied to their elite passing attack

Inconsistency of Rushing Offenses

Naturally, rushing attacks are also going to be more inconsistent than passing attacks.

Whereas passing the ball is centered around the quarterback and one receiver getting open, rushing is very different. Not only do all five offensive linemen need to work together to hit the hole, but the running back also has to hit said hole.

There are a lot of moving parts to running the ball effectively, and that would help explain why it is generally inefficient.

Plus, when you’re relying on more players to perform, the chances of achieving something consistently go down- that’s just common sense. In general, the Saints serve as an example of why rushing is so volatile.

Yes, the Saints have run for 100-plus yards a lot this season, but a lot of that has to do with game script and the fact that they are running the ball so much- 5th in rushing play percentage. However, their efficiency has often wavered.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, New Orleans has been regarded as the premier run defense in the NFL, yet they have been gashed for 177.7 yards/game over their past three affairs, and also struggled earlier in the season against the run.

With rushing production so dependent on the offensive line, box counts, game script, and the running back, the idea that you can rely on a rushing attack revolves around you playing with scorching hot fire.

That doesn’t sound enticing when there is a far superior alternative (passing the ball) in place.