The New Orleans Saints have faced several issues this season, including problems on defense, special teams, and offense. Many of these struggles can be pinpointed to the players on the roster, but one unused playmaker could be the answer.
Why is the New Orleans Saints’ Rushing Offense Struggling?
So far this season, veteran running back Alvin Kamara has struggled and not looked like his usual dynamic self. This could be attributed to age, but it may also be due to how head coach Kellen Moore is running the offense. Compared to last season’s heavy outside zone run offense under former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, the new rushing scheme features significantly more runs through the middle. Kamara has struggled to get past the initial rush of tacklers on the opposing defensive line, which is also not entirely his fault due to the offensive line’s struggles.
This offseason, Moore moved former offensive tackle Trevor Penning to left guard, and since he has come back from injury, it has not looked great. Combining this with right guard Cesar Ruiz’s struggles this season, which puts him at No. 40 overall in PFSN’s Player Offensive Line Impact metric, and center Erik McCoy’s season-ending injury, the interior of the Saints’ offensive line is a significant weakness.
Time for New Orleans to Rely on the Rookie
In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Saints selected running back Devin Neal out of Kansas. Being a fifth-round pick, his spot on the roster was not a guarantee, especially with Kamara and Kendre Miller ahead of him, but Neal made it. With two running backs ahead of him, the Saints did not really look his way until Miller went down with a season-ending injury. Last week, Neal was RB2 behind Kamara, but there were still issues.
Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Neal had some good catches and excellent pass blocking. In a questionable move, the Saints still did not look Neal’s way in the run game. Not giving him the ball and generally avoiding the run were significant criticisms of Moore’s performance last Sunday, but those need to change this week against the Los Angeles Rams. Neal thrives running down the middle and picking up difficult yards, which is something the Saints are missing right now.
If New Orleans wants a chance to win Sunday and take pressure off its rookie quarterback, Tyler Shough, the Saints must look Neal’s way.
