The New Orleans Saints jumped out to an early lead on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2, sprinting to a huge advantage on the way to a 44-19 win.
Apparently, that blowout win over the Carolina Panthers in the opener wasn’t a fluke.
New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak gets the credit.
Kubiak was the first major scheme change for the Saints in many years, a response by head coach Dennis Allen after the so-so showing last year and the high-pressure nature of this season.
Said new offense had Derek Carr looking elite in all phases, with former undrafted free agent Rashid Shaheed perhaps the biggest beneficiary.
Shaheed scored the team’s second touchdown on the day, a 70-yard link with Carr. ESPN’s Katherine Terrell provided an interesting note about the touchdown: “With his 70-yard receiving TD, Rashid Shaheed has scored 11 touchdowns in his career. The average distance of his 11 touchdowns -- 51.4 yards.”
A Shaheed breakout is a best-case scenario for the Saints, as that deep threat will force defenses to adjust and let Carr further pick and choose his spots in the medium and short areas of the field, too.
Plus, not long after that touchdown, Alvin Kamara took a screen pass 57 yards for a score. The star running back finished with 115 yards and three scores on the ground, plus two catches for 65 yards and a score through the air.
Opposing defenses will adjust over the coming weeks, sure. But right now? The arrival of Kubiak has names like Shaheed booming and the Saints looking hard to stop.
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