The New Orleans Saints know that stopping the run is critical to halting their five-game losing streak when they visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Through their last three games, the Saints (2-5) have allowed 641 rushing yards on an average of 5.9 yards per carry while missing a combined 24 tackles.
New Orleans’ defense could be tested by the running game of the Chargers (3-3), who enter Week 8 ranked 10th in the NFL with 29.2 rushing attempts per game.
“I think that’s the type of game that they want to play, so we’re going to see it, and we’re going to see it until we stop it,” Saints coach Dennis Allen said of the Chargers.
“We’re going to have to do a better job of striking blocks, we’re going to have to do a better job of getting off the blocks, and we’re going to have to do a better job of tackling when we when we get in those positions. And that’s fundamental football, so we’ve identified areas that we have to improve in and now we got to go out and do it.”
New Orleans surrendered 225 yards on the ground in a 33-10 loss to Denver and former Saints coach Sean Payton in Week 7. Allen said his defense did not have enough “population” around the football.
“Missed tackles do happen in our league, but when you create more and more population to the ball, they don’t become as costly, because you have somebody else that’s backing you up,” Allen said.
The Chargers’ rushing attack is led by J.K. Dobbins, who has 95 carries for 478 yards and three touchdowns this season. Much of that production came in the first two games, however, and Los Angeles has been limited to 61 or fewer rushing yards in three of its last four contests.
Arizona held Los Angeles to 59 yards on 22 rush attempts in the Cardinals’ 17-15 victory on Monday, with Dobbins gaining 40 yards on 14 carries.
“They were forcing guys in the box and doing a couple different things,” center Bradley Bozeman said. “At the end of the day, we have to execute and give J.K. those seams.”
Justin Herbert threw for a season-high 349 yards at Arizona, and Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh was asked this week about the lack of offensive balance against the Cardinals.
“Sometimes you go George Patton — on the ground. Sometimes it’s Chuck Yeager, Amelia Earhart and you’re going through the air,” Harbaugh said. “We were very effective through the air in this ballgame. You really don’t know what the next will be, so you’re striving to get good at both.”
The Chargers are preparing to face Saints rookie Spencer Rattler, with injured quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) out for a third consecutive week. Rattler has completed 47 of 75 passes for 415 yards with one touchdown and two picks in losses against the Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Carr and offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri (shoulder) were the only Saints who didn’t participate in practice on Wednesday. Limited participants included running back Alvin Kamara (hand/rib), wide receivers Chris Olave (concussion) and Cedrick Wilson Jr. (hip), tight end Taysom Hill (rib), and offensive linemen Lucas Patrick (chest), Cesar Ruiz (knee) and Connor McGovern (back).
Wide receivers Quentin Johnston (ankle) and Ladd McConkey (hip), tight ends Hayden Hurst (groin) and Will Dissly (shoulder), and linebacker Denzel Perryman (toe) did not practice for the Chargers on Wednesday. Linebacker Joey Bosa (hip) and wideout DJ Chark Jr. (groin) were limited.
