It’s taken longer than they may have liked, but the New Orleans Saints offense has made some improvements over last year’s performance. And one of the big steps forward is annoyingly simple: getting the ball to their best players in scoring position.
Alvin Kamara has already matched his production in the red zone from the 2022 season after just five games in 2023. Last year when the offense got inside the opposing 20-yard line, Kamara totaled 20 rushing attempts and 7 receptions (on 11 targets) for a combined 79 yards, scoring three touchdowns. That’s over the course of 15 games.
This year, through just five games after returning from suspension, Kamara has already locked 18 carries and 6 catches (6 targets) for 80 yards from scrimmage — again scoring three touchdowns. Derek Carr is throwing a better football to Kamara than he got from Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston last year, and Pete Carmichael is clearly making a greater effort to keep Kamara involved when the goal line is in sight.
Maintaining that usage will be vital. Kamara is one of the league’s greatest scoring threats; his 75 career touchdowns scored trail just Travis Kelce (76), Ezekiel Elliott (82), Tyreek Hill (84), Derrick Henry (85), Jimmy Graham (86), Mike Evans (87), and Davante Adams (90) for the eighth-most among active players. Kamara and Kelce are tied for the most successful two-point conversions (5) among their peers, too.
So while we shouldn’t hope for many more games with 12 and 13 receptions from Kamara this season (both losses), the Saints absolutely should keep calling his number when they’re in the red zone. Kamara is a dangerous matchup for any linebacker when the field shrinks (and the defense’s margin for error with it) and he’s able to attack teams as a runner or receiver and use his unique athleticism to his advantage. There isn’t anyone who maintains their balance through contact better than Kamara in the NFL, and that’s a cheat code the Saints should continue to exploit.
