The 2012 edition of the New Orleans Saints will begin their quest to be the first team to play for an NFL championship in their own building this Sunday, as they matchup against an up-and-coming Washington Redskins squad. In order for the Saints to begin the season on the right path, the offense will need to replicate a record setting performance from a year ago.
Keeping OLB Brian Orakpo off of Brees will be key for the Saints to have any offensive success.
PASS OFFENSE
New Orleans enters the 2012 regular season boasting a passing attack that expects to rank at the top of the league, despite missing some pieces from a year ago. WR Robert Meachem and standout OG Carl Nicks both left New Orleans via free agency, leaving the offense in a perceived state of flux during the beginning of the offseason.
Replacing Nicks on the offensive line will be newcomer Ben Grubbs, a very good player on his own merit. He should fit in smoothly with an offensive line that returns four starters from a year ago. Grubbs comes from the power-running offensive scheme of Baltimore, making his transition to a more pass-oriented philosophy something to keep an eye on. Nonetheless, Grubbs is a veteran player who made the Pro Bowl last season, and shouldn’t have any problem stepping in; he seemed very comfortable during the preseason.
Who will step up in the place of the departed Robert Meachem? That question has existed since the former first rounder left for San Diego during the offseason, and hasn’t fully been answered yet. Rookie Nick Toon, the Saints‘ 4th round selection from this year’s draft, was the presumptive candidate; his foot injury during training camp has made him unavailable for this season, as he was placed on Injured Reserve.
Instead, the Saints will implement a steady stream of unproven receivers in order to fill the void at the fourth spot. Adrian Arrington, Courtney Roby, and Joe Morgan will all find themselves experiencing significant playing time this season. Morgan adds an emerging deep threat to an already potent offense. If he can find any sort of true consistency and limited dropped passes, Morgan could become another great weapon.
Much of the Saints‘ success with the passing game can be attributed to the production from the backfield. RB Darren Sproles, who sat out the last two preseason games with a knee injury, is listed as probable against Washington. Sproles, Pierre Thomas, and newcomer Travaris Cadet will be counted upon to contribute in the passing game by catching quick screens and acting as a safety valve for Brees. The short passing game for the Saints has worked as an extension of the running game, proving to be quite effective over the past few seasons.
The Washington Redskins will try to slow the constant barrage of Saints‘ skill position players by pressuring the quarterback. Although the team finished with a 5-11 record last year, the pass defense was above average, allowing 222.1 yards per game (12th in the NFL). The Redskins swept the eventual Superbowl Champion New York Giants during the regular season, showing that the team has enough talent to compete with top-tier talent.
DE/OLB Brian Orakpo presents the greatest threat to disrupting the Saints‘ passing attack. The two-time Pro Bowler registered nine sacks last season, and has consistently been one of the better pass rushing linebackers in the game since entering the league. The offensive line cannot dedicate all of its attention to Orapko, however. Starting opposite to him is second-year player Ryan Kerrigan, who shined at times last season.
A talented Washington secondary will try to capitalize on any pressure that the defense applies to Brees. CB DeAngelo Hall has enjoyed a bit of a career resurgence as a Redskin after being traded from Atlanta and released by Oakland. Even though Hall will see more time at nickel corner this season, he will be called upon often to shut down the opposing team’s top wide receiver. Also, expect to see Hall in more of a blitzing role at the nickel position; Hall’s pure speed creates a mismatch against tight ends and running backs left back to block.
For the Saints, protecting Brees will be the key for a successful passing attack, as it has been for the past six seasons. Particular attention to the outside rush will be very important.
Muting a Redskin pass rush can be accomplished in two ways. First, the Saints can operate out of tight end/fullback heavy packages, allowing for those positions to stay back and assist with blocking. Secondly, the Saints can operate under the other extreme – spreading out the defense with four and five wide receiver sets, forcing Washington to go to more nickel and dime secondary sets, taking away more pass rushers. Quick, high completion probability passes from Brees will be another effective antidote for the Redskin rush.
RUN OFFENSE
The Saints will carry five running backs on the active roster in 2012, an amazing fact given the team’s pass-happy philosophy. However, the offense values running backs that provide a specific and unique skill set, allowing for each member of the backfield to compliment one another.
The aforementioned Sproles and Cadet bring more of a speed option to the running back position, ideal for pass catching, but ultimately effective with outside running as well. Mark Ingram and Chris Ivory will be counted upon to provide an inside, power rushing attack. Pierre Thomas acts as a bridge between the two styles, possessing a nice combination of speed, toughness, and agility, giving the Saints a complete package.
As a running team last year, the Saints moved the ball quite nicely. It may be hard to believe, but New Orleans had the sixth best rushing attack in the NFL last year, averaging 132.9 yards per game. Keep in mind that Mark Ingram was injured last year, and that stat becomes even more impressive. The 4.9 yard per carry average ranked fourth-best league wide, meaning each run carried significant value.
Washington’s run defense was about in the middle of the pack league wide a year ago, allowing averages of 117.8 yards per game and 4.3 yards per carry. DT/NG Barry Cofield anchors a defensive line that had trouble at times against elite rushing teams. The transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4 base defense has not been as smooth as one would hope; Redskin defensive coaches are certainly looking for more progress in 2012.
Creating a consistent running attack will be the key for New Orleans, especially late if the Saints have a lead. A steady stream of Thomas and Ingram should set the tone, providing an early inside running game. Sproles will continue to thrive in his role – outside running and providing a change of pace. If the Saints can average around four yards per carry and keep some pressure off of the passing game, mission accomplished.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
TE Jimmy Graham
The Saints should have some success using TE Jimmy Graham against the Washington secondary. According to Washington Post beat reporter Lenny Bernstein, SS Brandon Meriweather is expected to be out two to four weeks after spraining his MCL and PCL during practice. Second year player DeJon Gomes is expected to replace Meriweather, leaving a sizeable gap in the Washington secondary. Meriweather’s physical play works well against tight ends, and his absence will allow Graham exploit the middle of field. Expect a huge game from the Saints’ top tight end.
RB Darren Sproles
As stated earlier, Sproles missed the last two preseason games due to injury. He is listed as probable, but it will still be interesting to see if he has the same explosiveness and agility before the injury. He is one of the main cogs in the Saints’ offensive machine, and his production (or lack thereof) could be the difference between victory and defeat.
C Brian De La Puente
De La Puente begins the 2012 season as the team’s starting center, an unfamiliar place for the journeyman out of Cal. He started last season as the Saints‘ backup option, but following Olin Kreutz’s abrupt retirement during the middle of the season, De La Puente was handed the starting role. He performed very well in that capacity, fitting in extremely well with QB Drew Brees. This week, De La Puente will be tasked with slowing powerful DT Barry Cofield. His success against Cofield will loom large for the Saints in order to establish a running game, or to keep pressure out of the interior of the pocket.
