The 6-7 Saints will take on the 10-3 Buccaneers in a divisional matchup on Sunday night football. This game is critical as to how the Saints team actually can perform as they are still competing for a playoff spot at the 7 seed. They match up well vs the Bucs and will need to find ways to execute the offensive game plan.
Prior to their game, the Saints made five roster moves to adjust and prepare for their Sunday night showdown against the Buccaneers.
Roster Moves
Wide receiver/returner Easop Winston and offensive lineman Forrest Lamp were elevated off the practice squad and onto the active roster for Sunday’s game.
Tight end Adam Trautman was activated off of injured reserve while tight end Garrett Griffin was placed on injured reserve. A lot of people give Adam Trautman a hard time, and deservingly so, but he was starting to develop momentum prior to his injury in Philadelphia, and right now, the Saints are not a team to complain about getting a skill position starter back.
Offensive lineman James Carpenter was signed to the active 53 roster man roster off the practice squad.
Offense: Keys to the game
Keep Taysom calm, the Saints offense is gonna need Taysom Hill to play his best game if they want to win this game. If they want Hill to play his best game and stay turnover free, they have to keep Hill in comfortable situations. Don’t get too far behind because that’s when you start to see Hill force passes and get intercepted. Keep the backfield involved and rely on the best part of your offense, keep the Bucs defense guessing and keep the run game in the mix which set Hill up for early success.
Get off to a fast start, the Buccaneers are a team that become one dimensional once they start falling behind. They’ve gotten off to a fast start the past few weeks, but the Colts were a team that got off to an early fast start and forced the Buccaneers to become a one dimensional team. That game was a one score game, so the Saints will have to find a way to start off with some points offensively, which has been a struggle this season.
Control the clock, the Saints have to keep the run game involved in the game plan. The Bucs have a top three run defense, and with Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram back together they have to find ways to utilize them smartly. Using extensions of the run game like screens and RPO’s will help run the clock and get some easy yards. To go along with this, it rests the defense and keeps Tom Brady off the field which is critical in a game like this. Since week 6 as well, the Buccaneers run defense is ranked 19th with 119.5 rushing yards per game and 31st in yards per carry with 5.1 average (numbers from Luke Johnson). And the team will have to do this without their starting left tackle, right tackle, and left guard.
Execute, the Saints haven’t been the best team on third down or on conversions at all. If the Saints defense creates a turnover, the offense has to execute off that opportunity and put up some kind of points. Execute on third down and keep the offense on the field. Opportunities will be at a minimum, so the offense has to execute the opportunities that are presented to the offense.
Defense: Keys to the game
Pressure Brady with four, this is critical in any game against Tom Brady. Getting to Brady with four and forcing mistakes is something the Saints have done well against Brady in the past three regular season matchups. They need to make Brady uncomfortable and pressure him consistently and constantly.
Force some turnovers, in the last four matchups vs a Buccaneers team led by Tom Brady the team with the most forced turnovers won the game. Lattimore can’t have a slouch of a game, he needs to be on his A-game along with his supporting cast. Chauncey Gardner Johnson needs to play better this time around over the middle and not allowing the crossing routes to result in a 20 yard catch and run. Adebo needs to be more physical this week I would say and make more contact with whoever he is locked on.
Key players to watch:
Nick Vannett/Adam Trautman, I wrote earlier this week how the tight end position needs/should have a big role in this game. The Buccaneers aren’t the best defense when it comes to covering tight ends, so the offense has to find ways to scheme Vannett and Trautman open and get them the ball.
Alvin Kamara, just like every week the offense will have to rely on Alvin Kamara. Going against a top three front seven in Tampa Bay, with no Terron Armstead or Ryan Ramczyk, Alvin Kamara is gonna have to find ways to have production in the run game along with availability in the receiving game.
Chauncey Gardner Johnson, in the last matchup CGJ struggled. He was allowing crossing routes all game and struggled trying to find adjustments. He needs to be more physical on the line and make first touch tackles.
Marcus Davenport, the Saints need to pressure Brady and they’re best odd rusher in Marcus Davenport will play a critical role in pressuring Brady. Davenport has had himself a phenomenal season, and he will need to continue his dominant performance on Sunday.
Marshon Lattimore, going against his nemesis in Mike Evans, Lattimore has to be on his top tier game. When he plays good, the rest of the defense plays good and keeping Evans, their top receiver quiet all game long will play a critical role in how the Saints defense performs.
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Written By Kadin Janisch
If you need to contact me email me at whodattnation@gmail.com and I’ll try to get back to you.
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