The Saints could have one of the most versatile and impactful backfields in the NFL but not just for the reasons you might think



The New Orleans Saints have always prided themselves on having some of the most versatile backfields in the NFL, from Reggie Bush to Pierre Thomas all the way to the present day with Alvin Kamara. However, this year the Saints have the opportunity to fill their backfield not just with RBs, but with players with other primary positions to give opposing defenses all kinds of headaches. How you ask? Let me break it down.

The Saints boast quite a bevvy of versatile RB options coming out of the backfield, Alvin Kamara has long been one of the best receiving backs in the league. Add to him Jamaal Williams who averages 38 receptions per season over his career and third-round rookie Kendre Miller, who has underrated receiving skills which he’s shown off so far in camp. Even fullback Adam Prentice caught a couple of touchdown passes from the backfield earlier in camp.

Having three backs who can be a threat in the passing game is great but not revolutionary, where it gets spicy is the threat a couple of other non-RBs who could add an explosive and creative element to an already-stacked Saints backfield. Already in camp, we’ve seen that the Saints might share my vision.

Rashid Shaheed

Rashid Shaheed’s first offensive play in a Saints uniform was 44-tard touchdown run. He's an elite returner, meaning is an ultra-dynamic player with the ball in his hands. Unfortunately, Shaheed was criminally underutilised last season, as we only saw him used on jet sweeps outside of his play as a receiver/returner. That looks like it could be about to change as during training camp on Saturday he lined up In the backfield. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQQvBc5XXGg

The options here are endless for how he could be used. He could run routes, your run-of-the-mill routes to the flat, texas routes or option routes (as Kamara has done so effectively) etc… But the Saints could get really creative, using him on your classic backfield screens, deep routes as lining up the backfield would likely give him a clean release which with his speed would be deadly. 

A final wrinkle is turning Shaheed into Tyreek Hill lite. This would involve Pete Carmichael delving into the Chiefs use of Hill in the backfield. During his time in KC Hill was at times game-breaking as a runner with his elite burst and agility. So far we’ve seen Shaheed have the type of speed and agility to be a huge success in this type of role.

Taysom Hill

It should come as no surprise who my second ‘non-RB’ is…. It's ‘Mr Perfect’ himself Taysom Hill. Hill has already shown his dominance in the run game. However, it’s mainly come when lined up as a QB and I'm not suggesting that should change, more that the Saints should just add to it. 

Lining Hill up in the backfield more often adds even more stress to opposing defenses than he already has during his Saints career, which is crazy to say considering he averages 5.5 yards per carry and has 32 touchdowns rushing and receiving combined. Yes, he could be a ball carrier or run routes as the other backfield options I've listed. But, where he adds extra stress is he can also throw and block. Imagine Carr pitches the ball to Hill he could battering ram his way through the defense or throw it over the top of the safeties crashing downhill to stop the run. 

Where Hill in the backfield gets more interesting though would be in 2 back sets. Pair him with any of the players I've mentioned and it becomes scary. Hill could rush, pass, run a route or crucially turn into a freakish lead blocking Fullback. Now, you've got a player when lined up in the backfield who could do any one of 4 things to be effective and if mixed up correctly the defense would have no idea which of those 4 things Hill is going to be doing on any given play. Add to all this a QB under center who is smart enough to even change Hill's role on a play-by-play basis depending on what he see’s, that should be an opportunity too good for the Saints to pass up on.

Fever dream- imagine pre-snap, Taysom Hill and Rashid Shaheed in the backfield, Alvin Kamara in the slot and Michael Thomas and Chirs Olave out wide. With Kamara, Taysom and Shaheed all being backfield and WR threats motioning them pre and post-snap to different positions at will, whos playing where? Who’s going to run the ball? Who’s running routes? Who knows, how do you defend that? Gladly I’m not an NFL DC just a crazy fan with too much time (clearly) to think about the endless possibilities this would provide the Saints offense. 

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