Alex Smith: Smart And Accurate Or Captain Checkdown?

Play #3 – Under Center – 1 WR, 2 TE (Moeaki split out wide), 1 FB (lined up out in the slot), JC in backfield

Situation – 2nd and 8

Results – Screen pass to Charles for 8 yards and a first down

You can see in the photo above that the Saints coverage is similar to the first play in that they have dropped everybody but the front four back into coverage.  There are four visible defenders and three more out of view deep.  This has again left a lot of space past the line of scrimmage for Charles to run.  Smith could have taken a chance down field into coverage, but giving a wide open weapon like Charles the ball with space to work with is the right call.