Saints have to do more evaluation with fewer preseason games

METAIRIE – The NFL’s decision to reduce the number of preseason games came at a bad time for the New Orleans Saints.

The three-game schedule this season is better than the zero-game schedule because of COVID-19 last season. But it’s not as good as the four-game schedule that the NFL has ditched in order to accommodate an expansion of the regular-season schedule from 16 to 17 games.

The Saints, who open the preseason at 6 p.m. CDT Saturday in Baltimore, have far more starting positions up for grabs than they have had in recent seasons.

The more opportunities to see the competitors under game conditions against an opponent the better the data the coaches will have for evaluation.

So a 25 percent reduction in preseason game action puts a greater premium on the three games that are played.

“I think you’ll see us treat the preseason games like weeks one, two, and three (in the past) as opposed to treating them like weeks two, three, and four because when we get to the third preseason game, there’s another weekend prior to the start of the regular season,” Saints head coach Sean Payton said. “It removes snaps from a lot of the down-the-line players.

“When you’re playing in that fourth game you have a lot of guys playing for roster spots. That has to happen in three games now rather than four. We’ll know what areas we need to work on and most importantly, who we need to see more of.”

Of course the most important competition will be the one between Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill to succeed the retired Drew Brees at quarterback.

Payton hasn’t said which quarterback will start against the Ravens, but he did say that the two will get similar opportunities and the rotation will flip against Jacksonville on Aug. 23 in the Caesars Superdome.

“I know it’s preseason, but anytime you have an opportunity to go out and compete, you want to make the most of it,” Hill said. “I think anytime you can simulate a game and there are so many situations that will get put in, in those games, those are super-valuable reps.”

Winston said the biggest thing the Saints can accomplish Saturday night that they can’t accomplish in practice if to “beat another team.”

“Last year, we didn’t have a preseason so I’m excited for really, the guys who have been waiting on this moment,” Winston said. “I’ve been waiting on this moment to get back on the field and play. The biggest thing we can accomplish as a team is to see how we have improved so far in camp and get the chance to compete against a really great organization.”

But Payton and his staff have a lot more choices to make.

They also have to figure out who will succeed other starters and key contributors who left for a variety of reasons during the off-season, such as wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, tight ends Jared Cook and Josh Hill, defensive tackles Malcolm Brown and Sheldon Rankins, defensive end Trey Hendrickson, linebacker Alex Anzalone, cornerback Janoris Jenkins and punter Thomas Morstead.

The depth chart is further complicated by the temporary absence of a handful of other key players.

Star wide receiver Michael Thomas is out indefinitely after undergoing ankle surgery in June, kicker Wil Lutz is out indefinitely after undergoing core-muscle surgery this week and defensive tackle David Onyemata will miss the first six games for violating the NFL ban on performance-enhancing drugs.

Additionally, wide receiver/return specialist Deonte Harris and cornerback Marshon Lattimore could each be facing a multiple-game suspension to start the season because of unrelated off-season arrests.

Other minor injuries have cropped up in recent days that could keep a few players out of Saturday’s game, but they are expected back in the short term.

“There will be a few guys we won’t play,” Payton said. “We typically divide it into three phases. In phase one, it’ll be 18-22 snaps. In phase two, it may be a similar amount. Somewhere in that third quarter is when we’ll go to phase three.

“There will be some guys that play more than 18 snaps, but I do not want guys to see anywhere north of 29 snaps.”

Onyemata, Harris and Lattimore are all practicing and available for the preseason games, but Payton and his staff have to balance getting them ready for real or presumed belated starts to the season while also figuring out who can best replace them during their absences.

“These players will have a clear vision for how many plays they’ll receive, how long (they’ll play), what group they’re in,” Payton said. “That’s the first thing you want in a preseason game. We want organization, not clutter.

“We want 11 guys on the field, no substitution problems, no quarterback-center exchange problems. You want the fundamentals to be in place to get started in the right direction. As coaches, it’s giving clarity to that as best as we can.”

Here’s a rundown of what to look for from each group:

Quarterbacks
Payton said it’s possible that there won’t be enough snaps for all four quarterbacks to play Saturday.

Either Trevor Siemian or fourth-round draft choice Ian Book will take over in phase three, and the other likely will get an opportunity against the Jaguars.

Wide receivers
Tre’Quan Smith, the primary candidate to assume Thomas’ role as the top receiver, has been sidelined for more than a week due to a leg injury and likely won’t play against the Ravens. The absence of Thomas and Smith presents opportunities for a host of receivers to earn a spot at a position in transition.

Marquez Callaway has emerged as one of the group leaders and other youngsters such as Lil’Jordan Humphrey, seventh-round draft choice Kawaan Baker, Jake Lampman and Easop Winston Jr. can climb the depth chart with good performances Saturday.

More experienced players such as Ty Montgomery, Chris Hogan, Harris, and Tommylee Lewis are also in the mix, though Lewis left practice with a health issue Thursday.

Tight ends
Second-year player Adam Trautman is the presumed No. 1 tight end, though former wide receiver Juwan Johnson has been impressive as a pass catcher in training camp. Nick Vannett was signed as a free agent to provide blocking and pass-catching skills, and Garrett Griffin, Josh Pederson and Ethan Wold are proving additional competition.

“It’s important,” Johnson said of the opener. “It’s obviously going to be a good time too. This is my first preseason game. Last year we didn’t have any because of COVID. It’s going to be huge – just a chance to beat up on somebody other than our own teammates.”

Offensive line
The starting offensive line is set, but right guard Cesar Ruiz, last year’s top draft choice, warrants attention as he transitions into a starting role. A host of players, including holdovers James Hurst and Ethan Greenidge, former Brother Martin and LSU guard/center Will Clapp, former Tulane center Christian Montano, and rookie sixth-round draft choice Landon Young, are competing for the few backup spots.

Running backs
The running back spots are mostly set, but this will be an opportunity for former Falcons halfback Devonta Freeman to show whether he’s deserving of a roster spot behind Alvin Kamara and Latavius Freeman. Dwayne Washington, a special teams leader, has been the third halfback.

Alex Armah was signed as a veteran free agent to be the starting fullback, but Tony Jones Jr. has an opportunity to push for a roster spot. Stevie Scott III and Sutton Smith also are in the fullback mix.

Defensive line
The defensive line will be one of the more competitive spots as young tackles such as Baton Rouge native Malcom Roach, Shy Tuttle, Jalen Dalton and former Louisiana-Lafayette player Christian Ringo as well as young ends such as Marcus Davenport, Carl Granderson, former Kansas City Chief Tanoh Kpassagnon and rookie No. 1 draft choice Payton Turner carve out roles. Turner was nicked in practice this week and his availability for Saturday is unclear.

Linebackers
Linebackers such as recent draft choices Zach Baun, Pete Werner and Kaden Elliss as well as Chase Hansen, Noah Spence and Andrew Dowell, who has had a good camp, will have opportunities as Demario Davis figures to see limited action and recently re-signed Kwon Alexander of LSU eases his way back from Achilles surgery. Werner is nicked and might not be available Saturday.

Defensive backs
Cornerback will be one of the most closely watched positions as the Saints are still looking outside the organization for a potential replacement for former starter Janoris Jenkins, who was released in a salary-cap move during the off-season.

Payton said on the eve of training camp that the Saints needed to add a cornerback to the roster and he reiterated this week after veteran Patrick Robinson’s unexpected retirement on Tuesday, “It’s still a ‘must’ position to add.”

“We’ll keep working the rosters and there will be a cutdown,” Payton added. “In the meantime, we will keep developing the guys here.”

Robinson’s departure and the possible suspension of Lattimore leave a logjam at cornerback.

Ken Crawley most likely will join Lattimore in the starting lineup against the Ravens, but a host of others, including P.J. Williams, rookie third-round draft choice Paulson Adebo, Grant Haley, Bryce Thompson, former Rain’ Cajun Deuce Wallace and recently signed Adonis Alexander, Prince Amukamara and Brian Poole are in the mix.

The top three safeties are set with Malcolm Jenkins, Marcus Williams and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, but the Saints are looking for guys who can play multiple spots in the secondary.

Special teams
Lutz’s absence is the simplest since the Saints have signed Brett Maher as his replacement and he isn’t facing any competition for now.

Blake Gillikin and Nolan Cooney are competing to be the punter and the holder, and the special teams units will feature a revolving door as most of the players on the roster will be evaluated in part by their play on those units.

The Saints have to replace long-time special teams leaders in Justin Hardee, who signed with the New York Jets as a free agent, and Craig Robertson, who was not re-signed.

“Special teams will be split with a first- and second-half rotation,” Payton said.

NFL teams have to reduce their rosters from a maximum of 90 players to 85 by next Tuesday.