Payton: Rules, crowd restrictions aid NFL’s scoring boost

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is a great offensive mind.

Does he see a trend with scoring be up overall in the NFL this season?

“I think from a game perspective, it’s been set up a little that way, rule-wise,” Payton said. “I guarantee you offensive holdings are down,” Payton said. “I think the health of the quarterback position in our league is a positive. What I mean by that is it seems like every other two or three years, where are the next good group of quarterbacks coming from?

“That position is coming into our league talented, just as much as it has been as it has been ever before. I think we’ve seen a gradual shift into more of an explosive passing type of game than the latter so I think there’s a handful of factors that go into that.”

Does the fact that offense are communicating better due to the lack of crowd noise play a factor in offenses being more productive this season?

“Fifty percent of our game, of the games played for each team, are typically played with noise or crowd noise so I think the visiting team is probably winning a little more than in normal years,” Payton said. “I would say that would have something to do with it as well.”

Terron Armstead has once again battled through injuries, missing a pair of games but still having an outstanding season. The left tackle has been selected for the Pro Bowl for a third time.

In his conference call with media Wednesday, Payton praised Armstead and said he was particularly good in last Sunday’s 52-33 win over Minnesota.

“When you look at the tape last week, it’s as good as he’s played in the running game as long as I can remember,” Payton said. “He finished some plays where guys were in the end zone or 10 yards down field. It was outstanding.”

Payton praised the depth of his offensive line, which has helped the team mitigate injuries to Andrus Peat, Nick Easton and Armstead.

Veteran wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is making plays down the field in recent weeks, a much needed element in the New Orleans attack with Michael Thomas and Tre’Quan Smith out injured. Sanders has five explosive receptions in his last three games.

“I think he’s got really good transition and hips,” Payton said. “The other thing is there’s a savvy about how he plays. He understands the holes and the seems. Sometimes, a two-high look is different than a single-high look or a quarters look. He’s someone that understands that and understands what to do with that in some of these shot plays. That is very quarterback-friendly and I think that’s something he reads and feels well.”