The Saints got back in the Caesars Superdome on Friday for what was effectively a dress rehearsal for a final audition.
We won't see Derek Carr on Sunday against the Texans, and "multiple" starters will join him out of uniform, Dennis Allen said, though he declined to give specifics. We already knew Demario Davis wouldn't be playing.
So that gives a chance for players like Shaq Davis to make a final impression and state their case for why the 53-man roster is where they should be. That said, there aren't a huge number of players I see as having a real chance to do that (which I broke down in detail in my latest roster projection). The S.C. State alum continues to flash impressive hands, catching four passes in team drills from Jake Haener. He was also utilized in some jet sweep action, and I'd honestly be surprised if that didn't appear at some point on Sunday (Ronald Curry will be calling the plays again).
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Here are the players I did not see in any capacity on Friday:
- TE Taysom Hill (oblique)
- WR Tre'Quan Smith (groin)
- WR Chris Olave (rest)
- CB Marshon Lattimore (knee)
- RB Kirk Merritt (undisclosed)
- RB Darrel Williams (groin)
- LB Ryan Connelly (knee)
- TE Jesse James (groin)
- OT Landon Young (knee)
- WR Lynn Bowden Jr. (groin)
Nothing particularly surprising as far as that list is concerned, though it's good to hear that Olave's absence was not injury related. We also saw Rashid Shaheed get in a bit more work as he ramps back up, though I wouldn't expect to see anything from him this weekend. I also wouldn't read anything in to Marshon's absence today as far a setback is concerned. Last time the Saints practiced in the Dome, it seemed anyone who was dealing with a nagging issue didn't make the trip and I'm guessing that's the deal again.
━━
PERRY VS DAVIS
One of the reasons I'm not a huge fan of posting stats from camp is the context is oftentimes more important than the result. In this case, there's a HIGHLY intriguing battle for positioning between Shaq Davis and A.T. Perry on the WR depth chart. It's possible that both guys make it, but I think it's far more likely that you keep one and try to stash the other on the practice squad.
The reason I bring this up is that I think they're very close to each other in terms of development and upside. I tend to lean toward Perry because he's the draft pick, but if you eliminated that and just graded production, I think the y're neck and neck. Where I think Shaq has shown a clear advantage, though, is in hand strength and his ability to secure the ball in difficult locations. I've seen Perry make some impressive plays, but too often there's a bobble even when the ball is secured. There's a difference there if you watch closely, with Davis often bringing in the ball with vice grips in traffic. On one rep Perry will be credited with a TD on what was an impressive play over Isaac Yiadom. But an instant after the ball was secured, it was knocked out clean. The ref in attendance called it a score, but ... I'm not so sure. I've seen that play called different many a time.
Regardless of that official's interpretation, it's not a good luck for a WR to be flying that close to the sun on the catch/drop conversation (just ask Chris Olave last season). All this is to say, not all completions/incompletions are created the same.
Related
━━
HAENER'S REPS
It's been interesting to see how the Saints have platooned their QB reps in these practices, particularly in terms of rookie Jake Haener. During the week of joint practices with the Chargers he didn't take a single rep of team drills, though he did play the entire second half. This week he's gotten back to trading off with Jameis Winston, and today he actually took the final drive in team with Winston on the sidelines.
I wouldn't read a ton into that beyond the fact that there's only so much time left to get him developmental reps before you get into season mode and the vast majority -- if not all -- of the reps go to Carr and Winston. The evaluation you're making now is more about next season than this one. Get all the information you can while you can.
━━
GRANDERSON IS A PEST
I think it's possible that we see a real emergence from Carl Granderson this season, and I'm choosing to view this as a positive for the DL rather than a concern with the OL (in the end it's probably a bit of both). He's been in the backfield constantly all camp, and that was the case again on Friday. He'd have had at least two sacks. Payton Turner has played well behind him, so you're in a situation where you force teams to either single Cam Jordan, or allow a whole lot of 1-on-1 matchups with a well-rested pass-rusher across from him. It's something you were never really able to take advantage of last season and I'm excited to see it play out. It wouldn't surprise me if Carl ends up with double-digit sacks this season.
Related
━━
UNBRACED
When I asked Kendre Miller after the Chargers game, he said the knee brace was something he'd just have to get used to. Well, earlier this week I saw him take it off before running gassers, and on Friday he wasn't wearing it at all. That's probably a good thing in terms of the health of that knee, but I'm still watching it closely. That said, he flashed the hands a few more times in this practice. I'm starting to think he might be a legitimate weapon in that part of the game.
━━
PICKS!
The defense had a strong day in general, but the most impressive part was how they finished. On Thursday it was Anthony Johnson closing out the day with an interception of Jameis Winston, with Alontae Taylor intercepting a Carr pass earlier in the session. On Friday the situation was 2-minute offense, down by 7. The Saints QBs had to put the ball up, so that vindicates the decision-making a bit. But both final drives ending in interceptions. The first was pulled down by Paulson Adebo on a Carr pass toward A.T. Perry (never really had much of a shot). The next was intercepted by Isaac Yiadom on a ball from Haener just shy of the end zone. I sure would love to see a defense that did more ball-hawking this year.
Related
