The NFL has an exciting season with some intriguing storylines. The New Orleans Saints are on top of the NFC South, but it’s their offense that is captivating audiences across America.
Taysom Hill and Alvin Kamara have a prolific duo at quarterback, running back and wide receiver. This will be a case study for other teams looking to emulate what they’re doing in 2018.
The “alvin kamara stats with taysom hill” is a question that has been asked of the New Orleans Saints offense. Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill have had success running the ball, but what about the passing game?
METAIRIE, LA. (WAFB) – The New Orleans Saints are in unfamiliar ground coming into their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night.
According to Caesars Sportsbook, the Saints (6-7) started the week as 11 1/2-point underdogs. If that holds true, this will be their first game as double-digit underdogs since Sean Payton and Drew Brees took over in 2006, ending a five-year run, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
The fact that New Orleans no longer possesses the spectacular passing offense that made Payton and Brees so famous is likely the largest reason for the large margin.
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With just 197.9 passing yards per game and a completion percentage of 58.0, the Saints are in last place in the league – by far the lowest totals in the Payton era. With Jameis Winston, Trevor Siemian, or Taysom Hill as quarterback, they haven’t had a single 300-yard throwing game.
Payton, who tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Sunday’s game, has been unrepentant about winning in recent years, even when it’s “not aesthetically beautiful.”
From 2017 through 2020, the Saints relied more than ever on their rushing game and defense to win four consecutive NFC South championships. They did it again last week, when they resurrected their season with a 30-9 thrashing of the New York Jets, with Hill and Alvin Kamara combining for a season-high 203 running yards.
However, Payton said that the Saints would need a bit more air in their game to stay up with Tom Brady and the Buccaneers on Sunday (8:20 ET, NBC), as they lead the NFL in scores (31.5 per game), total yards (410.2), and passing yards (341.5). (314.2).
Even though Winston tore his ACL early in the second quarter, the Saints were able to beat the Bucs 36-27 at the Superdome with only 209 passing yards. They realize, though, that against Tampa’s third-ranked rushing defense, they can’t depend only on the run game.
When asked whether he is worried about the run-pass balance, Payton answered, “I believe it depends on the game you’re in.” “There are certain games where you’ll have to be able to toss it well.” Based on some of the things Tampa does so well, we’ll need to have a terrific passing game this Sunday.
“However, you (always) want to be efficient.” When you choose to (throw), you want to be able to execute.”
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Hill’s ongoing growth as a passer will be crucial for the Saints, a task that was made more difficult when he sustained a mallet finger injury on his right throwing hand two weeks ago during his first start of the season.
Hill, who will most likely need to wear a splint on his middle finger for the rest of the season, said it has a significant impact on his grip strength. But he’s getting the hang of it.
Hill showed some potential in his first start (a 27-17 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys), rushing for a career-high 101 yards. But it all went wrong in the fourth quarter when he threw three of his career-high four interceptions.
Last week, Hill was much better, completing 15 of 21 throws for 175 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 73 yards and two scores. He fumbled twice, but both times he recovered. It was a sloppy but acceptable effort, comparable to Hill’s 3-1 performance as Brees’ injured substitute last season.
When questioned about Hill’s decision-making, Payton replied, “I felt it was one of his best games.” “He had a number of errant throws.” But I felt it was terrific in terms of where he’s throwing, the concept, and the defense. “I think he did a good job.”
“There are always a few plays you could’ve done better,” Hill said, “but generally I was thrilled with where I threw the ball and my choices – and the overall speed and energy on offense.”
In retrospect, Winston’s performance throughout the first six weeks should be lauded even more. After completing 14 touchdown passes with just three picks, his big-play ability has been severely missed. The Saints’ passing offense, even with Winston, lacked volume and consistency, finishing among the worst three teams in attempts, yards, and completion %.
Drop-offs may occur for a variety of reasons. One is, without a doubt, Brees’ retirement. Another factor is injuries, like as receiver Michael Thomas’ season-ending ankle injury. The Saints were also hit by the salary limit reduction, which forced them to release experienced pass-catchers like Emmanuel Sanders and Jared Cook without investing to replace them. Meanwhile, on-field receivers and tight ends have failed to get open and catch passes throughout the season.
The Saints can’t hope for a miraculous recovery. However, the schedule lightens significantly after Sunday (with home games against the Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers before the season finale at the Atlanta Falcons). So, if Hill and the pass-catchers can make incremental improvements and eventually gain some injury luck, they may be able to make a postseason push.
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Alvin Kamara has been a big part of the New Orleans Saints’ offense this season. He’s averaging over six yards per carry and leads the team in touchdowns with seven. The Saints have an impressive passing game, but what about their running game? Reference: alvin kamara.
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