So I finally figured out mid/late afternoon yesterday that this Titans preseason game is TODAY and not tomorrow. In my entire life as a Saints fan and career as a blogger, I’ve never gotten this close to kickoff having the wrong date in my head as to when the game was happening. It took reading tweets from the players saying things along the lines of “just arrived in Nashville, game tomorrow” for me to realize this. How did none of you correct me on this?!?! My apologies, but I think I deserve a pass considering I turn 30 this month, I have a 4 month old at home, and it’s still preseason. I guess the lack of sleep is really starting to melt my brain.
Anyway, on to the game – Saints @ Titans. Here’s my bullets on what to look for:
— Canfield is gone, so now we get to grab some popcorn and watch one final time the battle for #2. It’s Ramsey vs. Daniel. Should be interesting. Unless Daniel plays lights out, and Ramsey plays mediocre to bad, I think Ramsey has the #2 spot locked up. Daniel will try to make the Saints’ decision as hard as possible, though.
— The play in the defensive backfield is going to be very interesting to watch. Many of those same players will have tons of reps on special teams, too. One good tackle or play on special teams, on in the backfield could make or break a player. This is the last chance for guys like Leigh Torrence, Reggie Jones, Usama Young, Pierson Prioleau, Chris Reis and Chip Vaughn to state their case for why they belong in the final 53. Of the guys I just listed, my guess is two of them will likely be shown the door, but maybe three. Which ones will make the cut?
— Injuries. At this stage of the preseason, an injury puts you out for the beginning of the real season, which makes you susceptible to cuts as well. A guy like Reggie Jones, for example, may have a bigger chance of making the team with an injury ahead of him, moreso even than how well he plays in this game. One’s man’s misfortune is always another man’s opportunity in the NFL. Billy Miller’s achilles tear in the final preseason game last year paved the way for David Thomas to make the Saints’ roster. Keep an eye on who goes down, if anyone, because that’ll likely mean a job for someone else. Whether the replacement is internal, or gets picked up from elsewhere (like Thomas did), the need can arise quickly with our first regular season game a week away.
— Ladell Betts and DeShawn Wynn will both likely see lots of reps. The Saints kept four halfbacks last year, so if they decide to do the same those two players are battling out for that last spot. Right now Betts has a large advantage, but I’m assuming both players will get enough touches to determine which one is going to be more helpful to the team. If Wynn plays out of his mind, he may get a job coming out of nowhere.
— Rookies Al Woods and Jimmy Graham have both been complete flops up to this point in camp/preseason. This is their last opportunity to prove they belong on the squad.
— With the number of veterans the Saints have in the front four, they can’t keep everybody. Hargrove, Ayodele, Clancy, McCray, Wilkerson, Charleston and Pressley are all fighting to keep their job. Junior Galette and Al Woods face a tall task of challenging those players, and they’ll have to play big to get a roster spot. You’d have to assume that any big mistake from one of those veterans could do them in. The Saints can’t keep all of them.
Enjoy the game and GEAUX SAINTS! The preseason is ending which also means the start of the real season. We are now officially one week away from the Vikings showdown. I know I can’t wait!
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