What the Philadelphia Eagles used defensively to get New Orleans off track offensively, is what the Saints figure they'll see to some degree until they prove they can get back on track against it.
Including Sunday, when the Saints (2-1) play the Falcons (1-2) at noon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
New Orleans entered the game against the Eagles averaging 185.5 rushing yards and 4.9 yards per carry, the backbone of 47- and 44-point explosions in the first two games.
But the Eagles employed a 6-1 defensive alignment – three defensive linemen, two edge rushers and a linebacker on the edge – to wreak havoc against the Saints' offensive line, which lost Pro Bowl center Erik McCoy to a groin injury on the third play of the game's opening series.
The result: New Orleans ran for 89 yards on 29 carries and running back Alvin Kamara, who'd totaled 198 yards and four touchdowns on 35 carries (5.7 yards per carry) in the first two games, was limited to 87 yards on 26 carries (3.3 yards per attempt).
"It's a copycat league, any time we see something that gives us problems – offensively, defensively, in the kicking game – we can guarantee that at some point, we're going to see something similar to what we saw," Coach Dennis Allen said. "Whether Atlanta does it, I don't know. I would expect that at some point, we'll see a look like that.
"Part of the way Philly did it, those big guys inside make a huge difference when they're playing like they did in our game. Because they create a lot of one-on-one blocks doing stuff like that."
Eagles defensive tackles Jalen Carter (314 pounds) and Jordan Davis (336 pounds) combined for eight tackles (five solo), a sack for a 12-yard loss, three tackles for loss and two quarterback hits.
"I would say not everybody has got the ability to do it as well as they did," Allen said. "I wouldn't say that is something that's unique; I think there's a few teams that have done that. They had a good scheme and they had good players doing it."
If, or when, the Saints see the alignment Sunday they'll have to counter it without McCoy, who underwent surgery Wednesday to repair his injury, was placed on injured reserve and will miss at least the next four games.
Against the Eagles, left guard Lucas Patrick shifted to center and was replaced at left guard by Oli Udoh. Possibly subbing in for Ruiz – who played the entire game against the Eagles save one snap, due to an ankle injury – could be Landon Young, and if Patrick moves back to left guard, Shane Lemieux might make his debut at center after being signed to the active roster from the practice squad.
"We definitely have to be ready for it," quarterback Derek Carr said. "Definitely got to be ready for it, and the things that can come off of it.
"Our coaching staff has done a great job of being prepared and adjustments and all those kinds of things, that if a game just goes that way, how you adjust and how you do things, because (Falcons Coach) Raheem (Morris) has shown that in his past.
"So it's definitely something that you've got to prepare for, you've got to be ready for. We don't know what they'll do but it's definitely something you've got to be ready for."
Carr said though the Eagles were effective with the alignment, New Orleans saw areas where it could have been effective.
"You watch it, you see where we actually could have just executed better in certain situations – the communication, the execution on certain things," he said. "And then the coaches are like, if you guys could have done this, we could have done this and here's how we go forward.
"Hopefully, when you get into a good building like we have here, you're always trying to find answers. We have those answers and we have things that we're holding on to, and if a game presents itself like that, we go to those answers."
PRACTICE REPORT: Running back Alvin Kamara (hip/ribs) returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday, and cornerback Alontae Taylor (illness) returned as a full participant. Besides Ruiz, others who didn't practice were linebacker Demario Davis (hamstring) and receiver A.T. Perry (hamstring). Receiver Cedric Wilson (ankle), linebacker D'Marco Jackson (calf) and defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (calf) were limited. Young (foot) upgraded to full practice; Carr (left groin) and tight end Taysom Hill (chest) practiced full for the second straight day.
