The preseason question every year: Exactly how many New Orleans Saints starters will take the field?
Based on what Dennis Allen said Monday, the answer is a majority of them, including new quarterback Derek Carr. The Saints host the Chiefs at noon Sunday at the Caesars Superdome.
“I’m planning on playing starting players in the first preseason game and then we’ll get to where we’re at in the second and the third,” Allen said.
It's all a preseason equation that's had to be rethought in recent years with the schedule going from 4 games to 3, and an extra game added to the regular season starting in 2021. There's now an open week between the final preseason game and Week 1 of the regular season.
There is some element involved of reps being highly valuable as you incorporate a new quarterback, Allen said, but that's far from the only reason you'd want to get players out there for live reps.
"I think it’s more about, it’s a new season, it’s a new group, and I want to see our guys play," Allen said.
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The total number of reps is a completely different question, and the head coach was a bit noncommital to anything beyond Sunday. That could be due in part to the Saints being scheduled for joint practices on the road in Week 2 of the preseason with the L.A. Chargers, then another set of joint practices against the Texans at the team facility in Metairie.
In the end, regardless of who starts, a lot of the preseason story will focus on rookies and fringe roster battles. There will be a dose of Jameis Winston as the backup, then a long look at rookie Jake Haener for the first time.
“All these rookies, I’m curious to see how they handle a game," I’ve never seen any of them in a live game situation, where I’m there in the building watching them play. So I’m anxious to see how all these guys respond on the sideline. How do they respond to a good play? How do they respond to a bad play? And Jake’s no different than any of the other rookies.”
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