Saints offense finally establishes an identity in preseason game against 49ers

The New Orleans Saints have been off to a slow start offensively in the preseason. In the first preseason game of the year, against the Arizona Cardinals, the starting unit had two drives, which lasted nine total plays, resulting in just 18 yards and two punts. Needless to say, fans were discouraged.

Unfortunately, in Week 2 of the preseason, the starting unit picked up where they left off. Playing against the San Francisco 49ers, the Saints started the game with two three and outs. Nothing was working, and fans were concerned this could be a sign of what’s to come throughout the year.

However, the starting unit found the switch on the next drive and finally turned it on. Starting the drive on their own five-yard line, the Saints put together a 16-play, 95-yard touchdown drive that lasted over eight minutes. For the first time this year, New Orleans looked like the offense everyone hoped they would be.

Saints starting offense flashes promising signs against 49ers

What really got things going was the run game. New Orleans ran the ball 10 times on the drive, and was gashing the San Francisco defense. With Alvin Kamara out for the game, Jamaal Williams and Taysom Hill did most of the damage. Fittingly, Hill capped of the drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown.

This run-heavy mentality shouldn’t come as a surprise, as new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak made it known all offseason that running the ball would be the Saints identity. However, it’s one thing to have that desire, and an entirely different thing to actually do it.

For the first time this year, New Orleans did it in a game. The offensive line was moving bodies, and so were the full backs. The running backs did their job by following behind and getting up field. This was all accomplished without Alvin Kamara and Taliese Fuaga, two key starters that can really make the run game go.

Obviously, it’s still just the preseason, and the 49ers didn’t even have their best defenders playing. Still, it was great to see the offense actually establish an identity and get points on the board. The Saints must now build on that and carry it into the regular season.

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