Things We Want to See In the First Saints Preseason Game

It's Sunday, and at noon we're going to be able to watch a full preseason game of Saints football. All of the things we've witnessed through nearly two weeks of training camp will be on public display when the team takes on the Chiefs. That's right. You can tune in on NFL Network for the game, catching the local broadcast team of Joel Meyers, Jon Stinchcomb, and Erin Summers handling the call for WVUE-FOX 8.

TRAINING CAMP RECAPS: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 11 | What We've Learned | Day 12 | Day 13 | Day 14

Needless to say, we're paying close attention to how the game unfolds for New Orleans. Here's some of the main things I'm looking for from this first preseason bout with Kansas City.

A Good Drive for Carr, Starting Offense

"When I've seen enough, I'll make a switch," Dennis Allen said regarding the outlook for Derek Carr and the starters.

We don't need to see a perfectly executed drive, but it would go a long way if the team gets into the end zone and can put points up on the board in their short work. We'd anticipate at least two series, depending on how things go. The last thing anyone wants to see is any key starter get hurt on either side of the ball, but given how porous things have been on offense the past couple of years for the Saints, it would be encouraging to see a sign of things to come.

Unsung Heroes and Practice Studs to Rise to the Occasion, Depth to Distance Themselves

We've highlighted several players in practice who have done a nice job in training camp, and now it's time for them to put it into existence during the game. My cloud of players at each position that I want to see something from on Sunday include:

Jake Haener, QB - He didn't exactly have a great day at camp the other day, but he's been a pleasant surprise in how he commands the offense. He clearly feels comfortable with things, and seeing him in real action will be fun, to say the least.
Lynn Bowden Jr., WR - I thought Keke Coutee was having a decent camp, especially bringing upside as a returner. However, the team released him to make room for Jaylon Smith. Between Bowden Jr. and Jontre Kirklin, they might be two to keep an eye on.
Kendre Miller, RB - Miller's going to have a pretty big opportunity to start the season with the Alvin Kamara suspension. Aside running, the intrigue is what he does in the passing game.
Jimmy Graham, TE - He's looked good. I fully expect him to get some type of catch or two that will give fans a chance to show some major love here. Based on Mickey Loomis' comments the other day, he's going to be in the full plan this year.
Storm Norton, OL - The offensive line has been hit with injuries, which is never good this early. With Landon Young being the latest to go down, eyes turn to a veteran who might find himself to be a lot more important.
Carl Granderson, DE - He's slimmed down some and has been a better asset in run support during practices. The job is up for grabs opposite of Cam Jordan, so a good showing from Granderson will help his stock.
Payton Turner, DE - Cheating here by putting two off the edge. He's done a nice job in camp, and it's not a mystery why. He's been available since Day 1 and playing with a ton of confidence. If he can be the player who the Saints believe he can be, then the pass rush will get a lot better.
Khalen Saunders, DT - It's too easy to put Bryan Bresee here, and yes, we all want to see what he and all the rookies do. However, I put Saunders on here because he and Nathan Shepherd look to be a huge part of the interior defensive line and a turnaround there. Saunders has slimmed down (with help from training camp), and is a lot more athletic than you would think for someone in the 315 to 318-pound range.
Nephi Sewell, LB - There's an incredible opportunity for Nephi Sewell to showcase himself here. Don't sleep on him.
Troy Pride, CB - He's been an interesting climber for a bit now. Call him a sleeper, if you will. We're not suggesting a final roster slot, but could easily be a priority for the practice squad right now.
Jordan Howden, S - You could honestly say every rookie you want to see in some capacity here, but if I had to list one that feels pretty important more than others, it's Howden. Given the fact that Marcus Maye could face a suspension to start the year and how Howden's been used so far, I'll take seeing him making plays and being a little more important to the picture.

Will the Position Battles Please Stand Up?

There's still a lot of questions to be asked for this Saints team at multiple positions. Here's a few of my biggest ones that need to get a little clearer from the first preseason game.

Who ends up distancing themselves for WR4-WR6?

With Rashid Shaheed and Tre'Quan Smith out, it's given ample opportunities for other receivers on the team to make their case for being the frontrunners for the final roster. Keith Kirkwood has done an excellent job in training camp thus far, and he's a veteran the Saints can trust. A.T. Perry and Bryan Edwards have come on as of late, and we're eager to see if they can keep it going. Everyone from vets to rookies and late adds will have a chance to showcase here.

Will we feel better about the linebacker depth?

Aside the offensive line, this has increasingly become one of my main concerns for the team. Zack Baun can provide nice support against the run, but he's been picked on in the passing game. D'Marco Jackson and Nephi Sewell are players who are on the rise, while we won't see anything from the recent addition of Jaylon Smith in this game. With Demario Davis out of the picture right now, it's a very sobering thought wondering what this team looks like if Pete Werner were to go down too.

Can we get answers on special teams?

I feel really good about where Wil Lutz and Blake Gillikin are at, and it'll be interesting to see how the reps are divvied up with Blake Grupe and Lou Hedley. Hedley is a little behind Gillikin at this point, and the same could be said for Grupe when it comes to Lutz. Both Grupe and Hedley need to show they can handle things in a game setting, and it might make things a little more interesting if they do it.

We'll have plenty from the game, so be sure to stay tuned to Saints News Network for much more. Keep up with all the action with me and Ross Jackson on X, formerly Twitter.