TAMPA, Fla. — They fully recognize that if they fail to pack their physicality for their business trip to the birthplace of jazz, they could get punked.
It has happened before. Prior to that redemptive playoff victory last season in a barren Superdome, the Bucs’ offensive line — and the offense in general — was mostly eviscerated by the Saints in a pair of embarrassing regular-season defeats. In those two games alone, Tom Brady was sacked six times and intercepted five.
“Obviously, we had our struggles with them over the years and were kind of able to rectify that last year during the playoffs,” tight end Cameron Brate said. “But it’s a new season.”
Albeit with the same challenge. The Saints (4-2) still ooze physicality, allowing the NFL’s third-fewest rushing yards per game (80.8). They still fluster quarterbacks, surrendering the league’s third-lowest completion percentage (59.9). Their nine interceptions rank fifth.
“Sometimes you feel like when you play less-experienced guys, there’s things you can get away with,” quarterback Tom Brady said. “But not these guys.”
That said, Brady will enter the Superdome on Sunday undeterred, and mostly unscathed. His ensemble of protection — led by the offensive line — is playing the best football of his 27-game Tampa tenure.
“Our line has done a great job all year,” he said Thursday.
Complemented by its tight ends and physical tailback Leonard Fournette, the line is coming off arguably its best performance of the season. In Sunday’s 38-3 rout of Chicago, Brady wasn’t sacked and was hit only once. He hasn’t been sacked the last two games, and the nine he has sustained this season are the third-fewest in the NFL.
“As an offensive line, it always helps that Tom gets the ball out, though,” left guard Ali Marpet said.
Yet the run blocking has been equally sturdy, with the Bucs averaging 131 yards on the ground their last four games, including 182 on Sunday.
“You don’t run for (182) yards and not have a hell of a job up front,” Bucs coach Bruce Arians said.
No sense over-thinking the reasons for this evolution. The same starting five has been employed in 19 of the last 23 regular-season games, with three linemen — right guard Alex Cappa, center Ryan Jensen and right tackle Tristan Wirfs — playing all 23. Additionally, the primary tight ends and tailbacks are the same; familiarity breeds clairvoyance.
“I think there’s a healthy level of communication,” Marpet said, “which goes a long way.”
So too, does the Brady influence.
Fournette has spoken at length about the hourlong sessions each Friday (implemented about three weeks ago) in which Brady collaborates with his backs and blockers in an effort to hone the run game.
“The first couple weeks we were all right, but we weren’t where we wanted to be,” Fournette said. “So we spend an hour after work every Friday going over the runs for the whole week, seeing what we liked or what we were good at, and which runs we dislike. We try to work up from there and get better.”
The refinement doesn’t stop there. Brate said during defensive portions of practice, Brady is presiding over “blitz walk-throughs” to ensure he and his protection are on the same page.
“We started doing that toward the end of the season last year, and we’ve kind of kept that going this year, and I think that’s paid huge dividends,” Brate added. “As long as we’re all on the same page, we’ve got great players, we’re going to be able to move the ball and protect the quarterback.
“I think that was a big change for us, and that was spearheaded by Tom.”
Now, more French Quarter physicality looms, against a team that has won the last five regular-season meetings against Tampa Bay. The Bucs know some surliness must complement their cohesion Sunday.
In that regard, they also seem on the same page.
“With the Saints it’s always a physical game,” Marpet said. “Honestly, it makes it more exciting, a lot more energy. But yeah, it’s always an intense game against them.”
