You’ve waited a long time for this moment and while you have to wait a while longer for real football, you at least get to see the Saints play a live game. Football season is upon us! The Saints visit the Ravens in Baltimore today for their first preseason game of 2015. As you’ve probably grown accustomed to by now, here’s my version of a “pregame” will five things I’ll be looking for:
1. No serious injuries.
Get used to it, this will be #1 as always for the duration of preseason. I don’t view it as a useless exercise, but man, it sure feels like a waste when you lose a critical player to injury in these relatively meaningless games. I’ve always said – if you’re going to lose a key guy, at least let it happen in the heat of the battle when things matter. Over the years I’ve seen so many of these bite the Saints. In 2013 the memory of Kenyon Coleman, Will Smith and some others I’m forgetting still haunt me. Or Billy Miller the year the Saints won the Super Bowl. Fortunately those are examples where the Saints were able to survive. But for each of those there’s devastating injuries that wreck your team’s chances. You hate to lose guys in preseason games. Just hope it’s no one critical to the Saints’ success.
2. How is the tackling?
The Saints, specifically against Ravens last season, were awful at tackling. While that wasn’t just privy to the Ravens game, it was an issue all season, playing them again will be a nice way to see some improvement. Hopefully. As if you needed your memory jogged, the Ravens rushed for 215 yards at 6.7 a pop last season against the Saints behind a monster performance from Justin Forsett. I still have nightmares from watching this. So while the Saints may face the Ravens starters for a couple series or maybe as much as a quarter, watching them tackle is something I’ll pay very close attention to. If the Saints can’t correct that dumpster fire of a defense from last year it’s going to be a very long season.
3. How does the Saints offensive line play – particularly the backups?
I have major concerns about the offensive line depth with Andrus Peat looking so shaky at camp. The whole point in drafting him to begin with was calming those concerns. I really wish La’El Collins would have been on the table at that point. I feel pretty good about the starters. Terron Armstead and Max Unger in particular look fantastic, Jahri Evans and Zach Strief are still solid, and left guard is a question mark. What about after that, though? Peat, Bryce Harris and Nick Becton give me no confidence at tackle and Senio Kelemete on the interior is the only guy I like. I’m hoping to see an impressive performance from someone that suggests the Saints might be able to absorb an injury along the offensive line for at least a limited period of time. Because let’s face it, every player on the Saints line besides Lelito has missed time due to injury in the last two seasons. Here’s to someone stepping up and putting our minds a little more at ease should someone go down. I’m still hoping Peat might be one that progresses quickly.
4. Is the defensive line going to stunt the improvement of the defense?
I think there’s no question a return to health combined with some nice additions in coverage and at linebacker will improve the Saints defense. But I do think the front four has gotten worse. The Saints lost their best sack master in Junior Galette, one of their best run plugs in Brodrick Bunkley, and their best subs in Tyrunn Walker and Glenn Foster. What have they done to replace them? Fossil Kevin Williams, 5th round pick Tyeler Davison and undrafted rookies. Yes we’re all excited about Bobby Richardson, and yes Williams and Davison look good so far, but by no means can you say with confidence this defensive line has improved. Simply put, the Saints didn’t do enough to retain and/or add talent at this position group. So I’m curious to see how they perform, how they hold up and if they can get by without being such a liability that they compromise improvement in other areas. This will be our first look at that. This topic is similar to #3 except I at least feel secure about what the Saints have prior to injury on the offensive line. I don’t feel secure about the defensive line if zero injuries secure. Can you imagine if Cam Jordan goes down?
5. Marcus Murphy on returns.
I’m a big fan of his after watching him in camp. And with Jalen Saunders out all week with an undisclosed injury, the working assumption is that Murphy will be given every chance to showcase his stuff in this game. The Saints could really use improvement in the starting field position domain and Murphy could help with his explosiveness. To make this team Murphy will need to come up with a big play in the kicking game.
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