Let's start with the positive spin: Blake Grupe has had one of the best training camp and preseasons of any kicker in Saints history ... and maybe ever?
He knocked through three more kicks in the preseason finale, a 28-19 loss, to the Broncos and has still only missed one kick all camp, and that one came in the pouring rain. Those kicks were anything but gimmies, coming from 56, 49 and 48 yards. It's been a showing of remarkable consistency and one the Saints will be glad to have all year, said the Cajun Cannon Bobby Hebert in his postgame rant.
"If we would have the football banquet now, how can Blake Grupe not be the MVP? ... I don’t know if I've ever seen a kicker, and I’ve been around pro football Hall of Fame kickers, just playing with or watching even the great Morten Andersen, I don’t know if he ever just missed one kick in camp and tough kicks. You almost take it for granted that he’s going to make it."
Hear Bobby Hebert's full postgame rant in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
The Saints' record for made field goals in a season is 32, set by Wil Lutz in 2019. That's just shy of two made kicks per game. The way things are looking right now that number might be demolished. The Saints kicked four field goals in this game alone, the final one from 52 yards by Charlie Smyth.
And while it's nice to be able to get an early start on a bathroom break when Grupe lines up to kick, it's not a great sign that the Saints offense are relying on him as often as they are. The Saints offense has three touchdown drives to its credit across three preseason games, and none have come with the first-team offense.
"You’re getting points, but you know, you’ve got to turn some of those field goals into touchdowns," Hebert continued. "All of a sudden, boy, you have five opportunities to score and then you’ve got like 15 points or something, you cannot afford to have that, you’ve got to get touchdowns."
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There is some good news in that the Saints' defense came out strong and looked stout against the Broncos, forcing a 3 and out to start the game and then holding for a field goal of its own after the Broncos kept a drive alive on 4th down and drove the field. They also looked primed for another 3 and out until a sketchy penalty called on Demario Davis turned a 2nd and 20 into a new set of downs.
The interior unit stuffed the run and the pass rush got after Bo Nix. If the offense can put up a number, there's a good chance the defense can protect it. It's that first part that might prove to be a challenge.
“I think our defense is going to play tough and our scoring defense, somehow, how can we get in the 20s? I’d be real encouraged," Hebert said. "We need, let’s say two touchdowns and two field goals, so 20 points or 23. I think if we get around there we’ll have a chance, but, you know, you don’t see that consistency from the offense to be able to maintain that."
The biggest question still looming over the Saints is the one that's been present all offseason: Who will start at quarterback? Spencer Rattler took his turn with the 1s and looks to be the odds-on favorite to be the Week 1 starter. He moved the ball well on his first two drives of the game, but the first series fizzled after a Juwan Johnson holding penalty and the second after a ball left behind a wide-open Rashid Shaheed fell incomplete.
Shough entered the game midway through the second quarter and continued the trend of the second QB in the game finding the game's lone touchdown drive, an impressive, 12-play, 77-yard jaunt down the field that included some nifty footwork to extend a play and find Devin Neal on third down, then a zone read keeper for a rushing touchdown. Shough's day also included a sack-fumble that came immediately after a Quincy Riley interception.
In the end it was a game that wrapped up the onramp to a season featuring a lot of questions and low expectations. Can the Saints deliver?
“A kind of ho-hum game, we’re like, hey, bring on the regular season so we can get a little more excited," Hebert said. "I think it’s gonna be critical for us to go off to a 1-0 start ... because if not, it could snowball in a negative way in the other direction."
Next up: an open week, then a Week 1 date with the Cardinals on Sept. 7.