Another week, another set of complex challenges facing the New Orleans Saints. That's just how it is this season.
A week after hosting a "home" game in Jacksonville and debuting its first new starting quarterback in 15 years, they head to face the Panthers with more key starters gone to injured reserve and eight position coaches absent due to COVID-19 protocols.
Things went about as well as possible in a beatdown of the Packers, but will cracks start to show in Carolina?
THE GAME
Saints (1-0) at Panthers (1-0)
When: Noon, Sunday, Sept. 20
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
TV: FOX
LISTEN: WWL AM-870; FM-105.3
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Here are the three things I'll be watching for in Week 2:
MARQUEZ CALLAWAY'S DAY?
While everything seemed to go right for the Saints last week in Jacksonville, there was one key player that had a bit of a failure to launch.
Wide receiver Marquez Callaway was the darling of camp and lit the preseason on fire with a two-touchdown performance, but he wasn't much of a factor in Week 1 with just one catch for 14 yards on a pair of targets.
It'd be fair to wonder if maybe the usage was a sign that Callaway was just a preseason star, but it's more likely a product of a very unusual game script in this one. For one thing: The Saints only had to throw the ball 21 times in the entire game, with just 6 balls targeting wide receivers. It’s tough to have much impact under those circumstances.
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One good sign is that the target that eluded Callaway was downfield in the end zone. Jameis Winston had a few other chances to push the ball downfield, but the safer decision is typically the correct one in a blowout.
It's fair to assume the Saints receivers will have more than six targets a game to work with in most weeks, and Carolina is where I'd expect that to start. For Callaway specifically, the two best games of his career to this point have also come against the Panthers.
In Week 17 of last season he pulled in a jump ball over Donte Jackson, likely his top highlight from the 2020 season.
In the teams' Week 7 matchup and without Michael Thomas or Emmanuel Sanders he easily led the wide receivers with 8 catches on 10 targets to help secure a 27-24 win.
I'd be willing to lay a hefty wager that the Callaway I watched throughout camp was no mirage. With a comfortable matchup and opportunity ahead, he's the X-factor I'll be watching the closest.
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COACHING SPREAD THIN?
Watching an NFL broadcast, it can be easy to forget just how many coaches are busy around the field and up in the booth. An NFL sideline is a well-oiled machine. Take pieces out and things could get clunky.
The absence of some coaches is more significant than others, of course. The late news that offensive line coach Brendan Nugent cleared COVID protocols was a positive break, for example. In a game without the Saints' traditional starting center in Erik McCoy, missing that positional coach definitely wouldn't help.
That's not the case for 8 others, including defensive line coach and assistant head coach Ryan Neilsen, who was a late scratch due to COVID. Their duties will be split among the rest of the staff.
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It's worth saying that the Saints have talented coaches up and down the roster capable of stepping in and picking up the slack. Zach Strief rejoined the team as an assistant offensive line coach this season and has drawn rave reviews from players. Jermon Bushrod joined the team this season as a pro scouting assistant and stepped in this week as a tight ends coach with Dan Roushar absent.
But it's certainly worth watching. Does the run game look as sharp with Joel Thomas absent? How about the WR group without Curtis Johnson?
It won't be used as an excuse if things go haywire at points on Sunday, but it could still be the reason.
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DOES CMC GET 'THE MARSHALL FAULK TREATMENT?'
The Saints haven't faced Panthers superstar Christian McCaffrey since 2019 due to injuries, but rest assured they've spent a good bit of time game planning for him this week.
But how might the Saints slow him down with a banged up defensive group? WWL Radio color analyst Deuce McAllister calls it the 'Marshall Faulk treatment,' referring to the Hall of Fame former Rams running back.
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He'd expect to see a committee of defenders, a combination of linebackers, safeties and nickelbacks shifting primary coverage responsibilities throughout the game. And yes, chip the man all day as he comes out of the backfield.
"I am not allowing McCaffrey to just run free and feel comfortable," McAllister said. "You've gotta hit him. You've got to get up under his shoulderpads."
The Saints successfully slowed down a similarly talented running back in Aaron Jones last week. Can they do it again?
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Follow Jeff Nowak on Twitter @Jeff_Nowak or contact him by email at jeffrey.nowak@audacy.com