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The New Orleans Saints' first touchdown of Super Bowl XLIV was beautifully executed. A series of blocks fell perfectly into place, one after the other, dropping the Indianapolis Colts defenders like dominoes as tailback Pierre Thomas caught a screen pass and carved a path 16 yards into the end zone.

Michael DeMocker/The Times-Picayune
New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas dives into the end zone on a 16-yard touchdown reception in Super Bowl XLIV. The touchdown was the end-result of a perfectly choreographed and executed play with key blocks from each offensive lineman.
But that play -- "Fox 2 Double Go, Screen Right to Halfback" -- didn't develop precisely as it was drawn up. It required some instant recognition and reaction by the Saints' offensive line.

"On that particular play, we try to read off each other," said Saints center Jonathan Goodwin, who wound up being the first lineman up the field while right guard Jahri Evans needed a second to shed defensive tackle Dan Muir.
"We want Jahri to get out first. But if he doesn't, I've got to get out and try to pick up his block, " said Goodwin, who raced across the field to his right, about 2 yards in front of Thomas, then blew up linebacker Philip Wheeler with the kind of block that felt every bit as good to Goodwin as if he had scored the touchdown himself.
"It's definitely one I'll remember, " Goodwin said. "When I released, I see that I'm the first guy and there's no other linemen in front of me. So I'm trying to speed up, and I saw the guy coming downhill. I was trying to get my head across just so he couldn't close the screen down -- reduce the space for Pierre to run.
"I didn't realize until I saw the highlights how close Pierre was (behind me). But Pierre did a great job on screens for us last year. It's amazing what he can do in the open field."

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