Saints Defense Allowing Six Yards Per Carry On Middle, Right Tackle Runs

We’ve talked quite a bit about how the Pittsburgh Steelers gameplan Sunday against the visiting New Orleans Saints should include a heavy dose of running back Le’Veon Bell. With that reiterated, I thought you’d like to see just how bad the Saints defense has been this season against the run.

As you can see in the table below, the Saints are currently ranked last in the league on runs that have gone both up the middle and off right tackle as they are allowing six or more yards per carry to both of those directions.

They’re not much better at handling runs that go off right guard, either, as they come into Sunday’s game ranked 30th in the league when it comes to yards allowed per carry to that direction.

The Saints will also be without starting defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley on Sunday and that means John Jenkins will replace him in the starting lineup. The Steelers might be without right tackle Marcus Gilbert come Sunday, but his potential replacement, Mike Adams, has shown to be a good run blocker in previous games that he’s played on the right side.

If the Steelers can run the ball at will Sunday against the Saints, it will not only open up the deep passing game, but also keep quarterback Drew Brees off of the field.