NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky harshly blames Saints staff for offensive struggles
Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky shared a strong opinion on NFL offenses on Thursday afternoon. The New Orleans Saints need to take a hard look at his thoughts, along with plenty other experienced minds around the league and football. Orlovsky, now an on-air analyst, points out that teams using plenty of play action and motion […]
Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky shared a strong opinion on NFL offenses on Thursday afternoon. The New Orleans Saints need to take a hard look at his thoughts, along with plenty other experienced minds around the league and football.
Orlovsky, now an on-air analyst, points out that teams using plenty of play action and motion at or before the snap are seeing more consistent success than teams that lack those aspects. The Saints fall in the latter category there.
I detailed the ridiculously ignorant game planning by the Saints offensive coaching staff here.
It is no secret that New Orleans is not using motion or play action nearly often enough. Even with an arguably top five player at running back in Alvin Kamara, they give no threat of a fake run followed by a pass on a consistent basis.
The Saints are last in play action percentage, last in play action pass yards percentage, and 31st in percentage of plays in motion before/at the snap, according to Katherine Terrell.
Pete Carmichael Jr. is doing his own team a disservice by not incorporating more of those dynamics into the scheme he's running. If you can remember, Sean Payton was a fan of play action. That tendency has not carried over in the 'continuity' category for Carmichael, who worked under Payton.
Accordingly, Orlovsky is correct. Teams like the Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, and Philadelphia Eagles all use plenty of play action. They aren't the only high-powered offenses doing so, either.
Those teams are creative with their weapons. They make defenses worry about every aspect of the football field. The Saints' staff doesn't – plain and simple. The numbers prove it.
The Saints' staff just continues to ignore the statistics that are screaming at them in the face. Until they adjust, the offense will continue to be inconsistent and somewhat monotonous in New Orleans.
