Saints Nation: Saints @ Patriots!

You’ll see Drew Brees above just making sure Bill Belichick’s tummy feels ok after the torching embarassment the Patriots took last year. “Need some stawberry flavored Maalox coach, or maybe some anti depression meds?” is what Brees can be heard saying from an earshot away.

(Click “read more” on the right for my pregame thoughts on what to look for in the game tonight)

OK maybe not, but the two teams will face off in a rematch tonight, if you can call it that, in the opening preseason game for both ball clubs. The Saints will hold out Clint Ingram, Robert Meachem, Lynell Hamilton, Rod Harper and Darren Sharper for sure, and probably a few others. As always, the main objective is getting through these meaningless games with as little injuries as possible, especially to the starters. I could care less how the defense looks and I could care less if we win the game. I know as a fan it’s deflating to hear that, but preseason really means nothing. Half the guys making plays, if not more, will hardly get any snaps come the real season if they even make the team. I like to have

my fingers on the pulse of who makes the team, and what our backups look like – so I’m not going to pretend that I won’t watch the game with some interest, but my interest stops there. Let’s face it, we’re in deep trouble if star players start going down regardless of how good the guys behind them are. Preseason games where our offense wasn’t a known quantity were intruiging, but we all know what the offense can do now, so I’d prefer that they just stay clear of injury. As for defense, Gregg Williams isn’t going to throw any of his crazy looks at people anyway, so what’s the point in taking the performance of a vanilla defense with anything but a grain of salt?

Special teams coverage units will probably be the most important facet of tonight. Why? Because guys that make an impact there will actually make the team, and actually play on Sundays at that very role. You see Devery catch an 80 yard bomb, so what? You’ve already seen him do it. You see Adrian Arrington catch an 80 yard bomb, so what? He won’t see the field come the regular season unless the Saints get severely depleted at receiver. What’s really worth watching are the coverage units, where a guy can make or break his case for being on the team. It might not be sexy, but that’s what I’m watching for tonight – who does well on the special teams coverage units. And of course it’s the return of Saints football, and it this point I’m not picky, I’ll take just about anything. Enjoy the game tonight!