I'm anxious to see if any young receivers will step up and separate himself from the herd. Somebody to help take the pressure off Thomas is a big need. Also replacing Mark Ingram is crucial. Without somebody to fill that role would make it necessary to overutilize Alvin Kamara.
That's Latavius Murray's job, but I'm afraid he's going to be a step back from Ingram, especially in short yardage. An undrafted rookie I'm eager to see is Devine Ozigbo from Nebraska. Similar build, similar style to Ingram.
I think that Jared Cook at TE will be able to really give the offense another reliable pass catcher. But someone at the WR position will need to help out. Cyril Grayson has to prove he can catch a pass and if so, he could really help out taking the top off the defense with Ginn.
Cook is why they didn't go after a WR in free agency, plus, they're still pretty high on Smith, Carr and Kirkwood. Smith, they say, really has the playbook down now. I think Grayson is really suprising some people in camp, but its way too early to speculate on what he can do with it. Another thing I'll be very interested to see in pre-season is if he can have an impact on special teams. That's his ticket onto the roster for now.
Some thoughts on the preseason opener last night: Teddy Bridgewater looks like an NFL starter again....Taysom HIll also looked awfully good. Latavius Murray looks like a running back in a wide receiver's body. He's really too tall, and runs too high, but he runs hard. Still waiting for someone to prove they can compliment Thomas at WR. Erik McCoy looks like the real deal at center. I don't see anyone taking the job from him. I like what I saw from Hendrickson, or whatever his name is...the 3rd year DE that lined up opposite Davenport. No sacks, but he caused two holding penalties in the first quarter. Sherels didn't play at all on special teams, and that often mean Payton has his mind made up that the job is his. But Devonte Harris may give him second thoughts. That kid has major wheels. He may also spell bad news for Cyril Grayson, but I like the way he performed. In addition to the good kick return and catch, he should have been praised for the block he threw at the goal line on Arnold's touchdown. Craig Robertson is still the most underrated player on the roster.
Still early I guess, but seems like he is doing well. https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/...-a9bc-f7a39d28ae96.html?utm_source=reddit.com Payton liked what he saw out of Gustin after reviewing the tape of the first preseason game. “He plays with great effort,” Payton said. “He has length. He’s younger and the snaps he is receiving are invaluable. He’s someone that can pressure the quarterback. He has got long arms. It makes it difficult to block. He’s developing and he has a ways to go.”
Thoughts after today's game with the Bolts: Very disappointed in Teddy, until Payton came out in his post game presser and said he was ill, and shouldn't have even played as long as he did. That said, I think Taysom is making a big push to be the primary backup, and not just a gadget in the tool box. He looks more and more confident in his reads and his throws, and even with the opponent knowing what a threat he is to run, he still runs very effectively. Two turnovers inside the 5-yard line truly sucks, and what's worse is that the 2 guys responsible for the TOs are battling to be the 3rd running back. Washington, Ozigbo and Rogers have all made plays, but none has stood out yet. Ozigbo, as a rookie, obviously has the smallest margin for error. Bridgewater's problems made it impossible to evaluate the receivers while he was in the game, and Hill mostly played with backups. After all the hype we've heard about Emmanuel Butler, he had 0 catches with a drop, and on a perfectly thrown ball, too. Lil'jordan Humphries, I think, is making a push. Huge target with good hands, doesn't appear very quick, but he gets open. I don't think he's got a shot, but it was nice to see Travin Dural make a couple of catches. There has GOT to be a place on the roster for Deonte' Harris. He is absolute electricity on punt returns, moreso than Bush or even Sproles in their days. Hendrickson continues to make plays on the end, as does Kaden Ellis at linebacker. And I'm getting more and more impressed with Vonn Bell. He looks ready to take a step up.
Post game thoughts after the Jets game: I know a lot of people will say we're in big trouble if Brees gets hurt. I won't disagree, but any evaluation of Bridgewater or Hill has to take into account that neither has played even 1 play behind what the projected starting line. Armstead hasn't played at all except for the one series last night (with Brees), and if he goes out, either Ramczyk is switching sides or Peat is moving over. TB or TH have had camp bodies covering their blind side through the whole preseason. Continuing the Bridgewater vs Hill thought, the nola media rolls its eyes at anyone who suggests Hill is winning that battle. I roll my eyes at the people who suggest we're looking for the next Brees. They've become spoiled by 12 years of Brees and have forgotten how rare it is that such a talent comes along. The question should not be, is either of them the next Brees, but, is either of them a legit starting NFL QB? I think they both are, and while I acknowledge that I've only seen them in the games, and no practice, the offense just looks better with HIll behind center to me. In the battle for the 3rd running back spot, Washington and Ozigbo both run the ball very well, different styles, but effective. But in this offense, running backs have to be able to catch the ball, and that's a huge liability for Washington. No accident that Deonte Harris got a lot of snaps at WR last night. He's done all he can to win the return specialist's job, but he has to be able to contribute somewhere else as well. That deep out he caught, I think late in the 1st half, may have sewn up his roster spot.
nola.com reporting that the Saints are expected to activate Sheldon Rankins off the PUP list. Doesn't say when he'll be back (he was at least partially involved in practice today), but it indicates that they do expect him to be ready sooner rather than later.
