The Saints have opened the 2020 season 1-2 but a bright spot in the slow start has been running back Alvin Kamara’s performance.
Through three games he’s scored six touchdowns, matching his total from last season, and tallied an NFL-best 438 yards from scrimmage.
In Sunday night’s game against Green Bay, he also authored a spectacular play, when he broke several tackles before scoring 52-yard touchdown.
Saints coach Sean Payton said the team still has much to improve on offense, but he and Kamara’s teammates recognize that just how spectacular the running back has been to start the season.
“I think (Alvin) Kamara was outstanding in space,” Payton said of the former Tennessee standout’s play Sunday night. “The play he made on the long touchdown pass was remarkable. It was a great effort by him and a great effort by a few guys going downfield. (Erik) McCoy, I think Josh Hill (and some others) they get involved in in the play later on.”
Saints tackle Terron Armstead likened Kamara to a super hero Monday.
“Alvin is amazing and I've always spoken out about how I feel about AK,” Armstead said. “He's a special talent, generational talent. He's Black Panther-like. His balance is unreal. Just his anticipation and contact like the way he prepares his body to absorb contact. I've always been a big fan of his and for great reason."
Payton echoed Armstead and said Kamara’s physical balance is one trait that makes the former third-round pick, who the Saints gave a contract extension to just prior to the start of the season, special.
“He's got a skill set that can come off contact and stay very upright and that becomes challenging to tackle,” Payton said. “So there's a size or a strength element that's maybe undervalued with him."
