Rushing key to playoff success
NEW ORLEANS – It’s January now, which even after the most prolific passing season in NFL history still means something significant to a guy like Pierre Thomas.
“It’s the playoffs,” the fifth-year running back explained after the Saturday night massacre of the Lions propelled the Saints into the second round of the NFC tournament. “When the playoffs hit, you’ve got to be a totally different animal.”
Maybe that explains it, because Thomas was some beast against Detroit with a determined, violent style of running that was the heart of New Orleans’ 167 rushing yards.
Thomas, who rushed for 66 yards on just eight carries and added 55 yards in similarly determined fashion on six receptions, was just part of three-headed backfield monster that added pop to a rushing attack that was facilitated by the wide lanes created by the huge O-line.
Scatback Darren Sproles scooted and created for 51 yards. And physical Chris Ivory left a punishing mark, too, with 47 yards.
While it’s so easy to become enamored with the Drew Brees-led passing attack – and sure enough, the sharpshooting quarterback scorched the Lions for 466 yards and three TDS – the Saints have a complete offense with a sixth-ranked rushing attack often overshadowed by the aerial circus.
That dimension makes New Orleans so dangerous in these playoffs, as evidenced on Saturday night and in the weeks leading to the playoffs.
In each of their final three regular-season games, the Saints rushed for at least 161 yards; on the year they ran 133 yards per game.
“We have a good rotation going with those three guys,” coach Sean Payton said of Thomas, Sproles and Ivory. “I was pleased with our balance.”
A bigger test awaits in San Francisco, where the Saints will be greeted by the NFL’S No. 1-ranked run defense. Yet it is evident that New Orleans has a dependable rushing attack – behind a massive offensive line, anchored by all-pro guards Karl Nicks and Jahri Evans– to avoid becoming onedimensional and perhaps pick up the slack if Brees and the passing game get into a rut.
That has traditionally been a crucial component for survival during the playoffs. While Atlanta, for instance, couldn’t convert a pair of fourth-andone plays in falling at New York, Payton leaned on his running game and went for it three times on fourth down (they ended the game with a kneel-down on a fourth attempt) and converted in each case to extend scoring drives.
“We felt coming in that one of the strengths of Detroit was that front four, and they gave us some fits in the first half,” Payton said, praising his Oline. “At some point, that battle up front decides who wins and loses.”
That theme surely applied throughout the first round.
Consider: – The Giants outrushed Atlanta, 172 to 64, as Brandon Jacobs matched his career postseason high with 92 yards on 14 carries.
– The Texans needed only 159 passing yards from rookie quarterback T.J. Yates, as Arian Foster rushed 24 times for 153 yards, with a 42yard jaunt among his two scores.
– Denver was the only winner that didn’t outrush its opponent but still gained 131 yards against the Steelers – including 50 yards and a TD from Tim Tebow.
As Thomas put it, it’s playoff time. And for everything that sizzles with wide-open NFL passing games, there’s still a need for all that can be provided by a smash-mouth rushing attack –like clock control gained with long drives –in the door-die postseason.
In fact, it can still provide, too, the feel-good juice to fuel an offense.
Raiders fire Jackson
The Oakland Raiders new regime will not include coach Hue Jackson
The former head coach was fired less than four hours before new GM Reggie Mckenzie was to be introduced at the club’s facility, with Mckenzie informing Jackson he wanted to bring in someone new.
Jackson’s status had been a matter of speculation since Mckenzie was hired Friday to be the club’s GM.
Dismissing Jackson means the Raiders will be looking for their 10th head coach since the franchise returned to Oakland in 1995, with the others being Mike White, Joe Bugel, Jon Gruden, Bill Callahan, Norv Turner, Art Shell, Lane Kiffin, Tom Cable and Jackson.
Jackson was hired by the late Al Davis to be the offensive coordinator under Cable, and he immediately turned around one of the NFL’S worst offenses.
The Raiders have reportedly already told some defensive staff members, including coordinator Chuck Bresnahan, that they won’t be back.
That means Mckenzie will be presiding not only over a makeover of the infrastructure of the organization, but of the Raiders offensive and defensive systems of football as well after their second straight 8-8 season. (USA Today/mct)