The New York Giants have a tough task ahead as they face off against a high powered New Orleans Saints offense. Featuring star running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Michael Thomas, the Giants will have their hands full on the defensive side of the ball.
Kamara has started the 2018 season off just as he finished 2017, on fire. He’s amassed 430 all-purpose yards and has three touchdowns to go along with it. He’s an extreme threat out of the backfield and offers immense value in the passing game. Stopping him will be the Giants’ greatest task to date.
How can the New York Giants contain Kamara in week 4?
Stopping the second-year back is nearly impossible, as he’s simply too dynamic and skillful. Containing him might be more manageable, as the Giants have some solid coverage guys that might be able to match up to some degree.
We can expect defensive coordinator James Bettcher to have a spy on Kamara at all times – safety Landon Collins will be very active in this game. The Saints often like to split Kamara out wide, similar to how Saquon Barkley was utilized last week. His speed and agility combined provide a daunting task for any cornerback or linebacker.
Pretty sure Alvin Kamara could be an All-Pro Slot WR if he wanted to.
The fact he made that catch in stride and auto-turns upfield past the 1st down marker is elite.#NOvsATL pic.twitter.com/78zMzNKq4p
— Donny Moore (@Donny_Moore) September 23, 2018
This clip gives an idea of just how dangerous Kamara is in the pass game. You don’t ordinarily see a running back make this type of grab, in stride, headed straight for the sideline. On this play he starts out of the slot, which poses a serious threat in the flat with linebackers in coverage.
One of the more offensive approaches to stopping Kamara will be for the Giants to use the clock to their advantage. The Saints are a very momentum based team who can get into rhythm quickly. The Giants’ offense must keep the ball for as long as possible and utilize the run game to run out the clock and pick up timely first downs. They must also score early to throw the first punch and gain an advantage.
This will be a very tactical game for Shurmur and Bettcher, and they must adapt to the new looks the Saints will throw at them on every drive.