New Orleans’ retooled offensive line faced a difficult task Sunday against an elite Dallas Cowboys pass rush. However, the unit played superbly, allowing a sack, six pressures and one tackle for loss in the Saints’ 44-19 blowout win.
With three new starters, including first-round rookie LT Taliese Fuaga, the line has looked elite in New Orleans’ two wins.
QB Derek Carr has been sacked just twice, totaling two yards lost. His lone sack Sunday came early in the fourth quarter when Carr rolled out on a bootleg and scampered out of bounds.
Per Next Gen Stats, Carr has faced the NFL’s third-highest blitz rate through two weeks. However, the 11-year veteran has been pressured at the fifth-lowest rate (23.8%).
The unit hasn’t just delivered elite protection for its QB. Of RB Alvin Kamara’s 20 carries against the Cowboys, 45% came with eight or more defenders in the box. Yet Kamara averaged 2.1 yards before contact on those carries.
No video can capture the impact of the offensive line better than that of guard Cesar Ruiz running nearly stride for stride with Kamara 57 yards down the field on his second touchdown.
