If the New Orleans Saints offense is salivating even in the least bit, it isn't letting on.
But after having watched their next opponent, the Los Angeles Rams, allow 314 rushing yards to Philadelphia in their last game (255 of them on 26 carries to Saquon Barkley), and having accumulated 214 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries in their own game leading up to the bye, it's understandable that while the Saints aren't willing to divulge specifics of the offensive gameplan, it's definitely going to involve attacking a run defense that allows 144 yards per game this season.
The Saints (4-7) play the Rams (5-6) at 3:05 p.m. Sunday in the Caesars Superdome.
"They've got a talented defense – a talented defensive front, a talented young defense," Saints right guard Cesar Ruiz said. "We're coming off a good performance against Cleveland, (but) we've got to put that behind us and I'm pretty sure they're ready to put that Philly one behind them, too.
"So we're just focused on how we're going to keep things rolling this week."
The Saints' roll against Cleveland centered around tight end Taysom Hill, who took snaps at quarterback and running back and posted one of the most productive days of his NFL career.
Hill ran for 138 yards and three touchdowns – including scoring runs of 33 and 75 yards in the fourth quarter, the two longest runs by a Saint this season – on seven carries. Additionally, he caught a career-high eight passes for 50 yards and completed a pass for 18 yards en route to being named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Hill also returned a kickoff 42 yards, New Orleans' longest kickoff return this season.
Coupled with Alvin Kamara (16 carries for 67 yards against Cleveland, and a team-leading 782 yards and six touchdowns on 183 carries this season), Hill and the Saints figure to test the Rams to see if there's more remaining from where the Eagles extracted.
New Orleans' 130.7 rushing yards per game is ninth most in the league.
"That was an emphasis for us going into the last two games, especially the Cleveland game, was win the line of scrimmage," Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi said. "We felt like it was a huge part of us having a chance in that game and we put the emphasis on it.
"I feel like our running game, throughout the whole season regardless of the mix and matching O-line and the different injuries and whatnot, I feel like that's been one of the things we've done most consistently. We want to be a little bit better, naturally, but that's been pretty good. It's got to stay consistent.
"It's no secret: If we can run the football, it opens up everything else. It opens up our play action, opens up our dropback, opens up everything. Anybody that can run the football gives you a chance to be multidimensional. It's important for us to continue to do that."
Rizzi said the emphasis has been more on what the Saints do well rather than what the Rams haven't.
"They've just been a little bit inconsistent there," he said. "The focus really is more on us than them. They've got a really athletic front, so getting on blocks and staying on blocks is going to be critical for us. And then, blocking on the second level."
THERE'S A CHANCE: Center Erik McCoy (groin) is listed as questionable and will be a game-time decision for Sunday's game. McCoy started the first three games, injured his groin in the third and had surgery and was placed on injured reserve, missed seven games, then returned against Cleveland. He suffered the new groin injury in the first half, left the game in the third quarter and did not return.
"We're going to put him through a workout (Saturday) and then probably pregame as well," Rizzi said. "When I say that he's day-to-day, he's the epitome of day-to-day. We're going to take him up to the game and see if we can get him ready. If not, we'll have a plan in place and go from there."
