Preseason football is a strange thing, because I sure came away from this week's loss feeling a lot better than I did after last week's win.
That was in large part due to a long touchdown drive that should help dull some of the sharp takes around this offense, at least for the time being. The Saints came out on the short end of a 16-10 result out in Santa Clara, but that's far from the most important thing.
With all that in mind, here's my three up and three down as the California camp officially comes to an end.
THREE UP
First team offense
Look, I'm certainly not sold on this group after one long touchdown drive. But if I had the entire group on my three down last week, it's only fair to include them here after they did exactly what I asked.
Not every series on offense is going to end in points. When you're only playing two or three of them in a preseason game, those opportunities get magnified. Derek Carr's offense got three chances in this game, and the first two didn't go as designed. All three started in a backed up situation, and the first got behind the chains quickly with a false start by Foster Moreau. The offense actually gained 13 yards, but they needed 15. Punt.
The next drive started at the 6. That's a tough situation. Three plays. Punt.
After the defense forced a third three and out, that's when we got one of the more impressive drives we've seen in a while. In the end it was 16 plays, 96 yards and a touchdown. The Saints ran the ball effectively and kept things alive with three fourth down conversions, including the final one where Taysom Hill bowled into the end zone from the 1-yard line. The OL held up well enough and Carr navigated the pressure he saw and got the ball out quickly. When you consider that Landon Young was starting at left tackle, it's really hard to be too critical. Trevor Penning wasn't perfect and I'll have to confirm on tape, but it sure felt like he took positive steps in this game and in chatting with him in the locker room afterward, it sure sounded like he felt the same.
My biggest criticism is in small execution details. I think Carr is still dialing in the timing a bit with his receivers. We're still seeing balls a tick off or behind pass-catchers, and that should improve with reps. I also feel like there were opportunities for big plays in the run game that a more explosive back might have gotten to, but that's what Alvin Kamara is for (he didn't play). Jamaal Williams did what I need him to do. He ran hard. He punished tacklers. In the end he averaged 6.2 yards a rush, largely on the strength of his 15-yard gain on that scoring drive. He finished with 32 yards on 5 carries. Carr was 7-9 for 47 yards.
The point of the preseason is to round into form, and I feel a lot better about the first-team offense this week than I did after the preseason opener.
Anfernee Orji
What was most impressive about the Saints defense's performance in the first half wasn't just the pressure they put on Brock Purdy, who ended his game 2-6 for 11 yards and probably should've had an interception in there as well -- but it was whom they did it without.
The Saints' pass rush put on another impressive display, but I've grown to expect that at this point. That group has a chance to be special. But how about the fact that they shut down the 49ers without either starting outside cornerback (Paulson Adebo and Marshon Lattimore) and two starting linebackers (Pete Werner and Demario Davis). Instead we saw another week of Anfernee Orji flying around the field and making several key plays.
Orji finished the day as the team leader in tackles with 8 (7 solo). He also added a TFL and two passes defensed. Orji is an elite athlete and has obvious special teams upside. When I put out my updated roster projection this week, no question he'll be on it.
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Rico Payton
Look, at a certain point you just have to go make a play, and that's what Rico Payton did.
I wouldn't say he's had the best camp at the DB position. He's been targeted a lot, and I'd say he's also learned a lot. He's showed out each of the past two weeks on the outside with a bevy of targets sent his way. He had one really impressive rep late in the game down the sideline where he blanketed the receiver and broke up a pass. My only critique is that he might've had an interception if he'd gotten his head around, but that development should come.
Remember, Rico Payton is coming to the NFL from Division-II Pittsburgh State. There was always going to be a learning curve. But the way he competes is impressive and the skillset is clear. This roster will be a tough nut to crack at the cornerback position, but quality depth is quality depth and it feels like he's making a strong push to be kept around.
HONORABLE MENTION
There weren't a ton of kicking opportunities, but Blake Grupe knocked through what felt like a VERY important kick in terms of retaining his job over the new guy in Charlie Smyth. Managing some pretty strong winds on the day, Grupe was pure from 52 yards. Consistency was always going to be what felt like his best attribute in terms of getting another year in that role and he's shown that thus far. ... Will Harris logged a pair of tackles on a day when none of the trio competing for that starting strong safety job really did a ton to stand out. That said, it's telling that he got first run today and I thought he showed as well as anyone without any notable flubs, which can't be said of Johnathan Abram or Jordan Howden. ... Bryan Bresee seems to have supplanted Khalen Saunders for early down work. That's a good look from the 2023 first round pick. Saunders will still be a more traditional run downs player, but I like the idea that Bresee can get on the field for the more neutral situations.
THREE DOWN
Backup QBs
It wasn't a banner day for either of the two QBs vying for the backup job, but this was also one of the first times this offseason I felt like was watching a rookie play. Spencer Rattler got his run with the 2s, and it's important to note that his offensive line did him no favors. On one play we saw one of the worst snaps I've seen from a professional, and that basically cost a drive. But there were also some off-target throws and sketchy decisions.
The roughest moment came on a play where the young QB seemed to get a bit antsy in the pocket and seemed like he wanted to scramble. He couldn't escape and got taken down in the backfield. The ball was stripped and went for a turnover. He finished the day 4-8 for 27 yards and a QB rating of 57.8. He did engineer a 9-play drive, aided by a pair of 49ers penalties, to set up Grupe's long field goal. My biggest critique of Spencer to this point is he looks to scramble too quickly at times. He needs to trust his feet more in the pocket. I understand that the protection wasn't good, but look around at the best QBs in the NFL and watch how they create extra time with their legs and run as a last resort. I need to see more of that. I think it'll come with time and reps, but it will take time.
Haener also didn't have a banner performance, taking over midway through the third quarter. On his first drive he threw a pass that sitting here I can't tell you who it was targeting, but it should've come down in the hands of the defender who was the closest to it. He had a near fumble himself that was overturned on review.
Haener's best drive of the day was his final one, taking over with 7:02 remaining and going 73 yards in 15 plays but ultimately turning the ball over on downs at the 22.
Both quarterbacks generated six total first downs, though Haener only got a pair of drives to close out the game, compared to Rattler's four.
I'm still not ready to declare a winner of the backup competition, and neither exactly stamped their case, but I'd say Haener inched a bit further ahead. I don't expect to see starters next week, so that'll likely be where we get the final answer.
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Punters/returners
This was a big oof, at least on the Saints' side. It's never a good feeling when you walk away thinking the best option at punter might be to claim the 49ers' backup when he's inevitably cut at the end of camp.
For the Saints, Lou Hedley and Matt Hayball combined to kick five times. Here's how that went.
Hedley
- From NO 25 to SF 38 (no return), 37 net
- From NO 44 to SF 20 (no return), 36 net
- From SF 43 to EZ (touchback), 23 net
Hayball
- From NO 9 to SF 45 (13 yard return), 33 net
- From NO 15 to SF 35 (6 yard return), 44 net
For perspective, here's what Pressley Harvin III did for the 49ers.
Harvin
- From SF 41 to NO 9 (8 yard return), 42 net
- From SF 38 to NO 6 (no return), 56 net
- From NO 40 to NO 5 (no return), 35 net
- From SF 46 to NO 8 (no return), 46 net
The Saints were pinned inside their own 20 on all four of those kicks. They failed to that one time in their own right. In Hedley's defense that has been something he's traditionally excelled at. This was an off day.
Harvin's numbers are also helped by Cedrick Wilson opting not to field three of those kicks, which his head coach said after the game was probably not the right call on a few of them.
Definitely not a banner day for that facet of Saints special teams.
The Dobbs-fense
If I was any team in the NFL who had to face the Saints the upcoming week, I'd just go ahead and trade for Josh Dobbs, because it sure seems like he grows superhuman abilities whenever they show up.
The passtronaught dominated the Saints defense when they met last year in Minnesota, and it was the same thing today. Dobbs finished the day 12-21 for 133 yards. He was also the 49ers' leading rushing with 25 yards on his three carries, including a touchdown on a 4th down play at the end of the first half when he ran through a tackle from Jordan Howden in the backfield.
The Saints have struggled to contain mobile QBs, but Dobbs brings that to a new level. On one play he spun away from Isiaiah Foskey who seemed to have him dead to rights. Later he did the same thing to Payton Turner in the backfield. It's inexplicable and remarkable.
I expect the Saints to be better against mobile QBs this season, at least with the first unit ... as long as they don't have to see Josh.
Related
ONE MORE: I'm certainly not going to hold Sincere Haynesworth's injury against him, but it was a rough showing after Erik McCoy went out of the game. Several snaps just seemed off, including one that basically rolled back to the QB from Shane Lemieux.
Fortunately for the Saints they have McCoy ... and probably some better options that they just didn't showcase on Sunday. Cesar Ruiz can kick over to center in a pinch as he's done in the past. Lucas Patrick is also listed on the depth chart as the backup center, but he's getting his reps at guard and that's the smart move. Either way that was an ugly showing and probably factored into some of the struggles at the QB position.