Jameis Winston is competing to replace Drew Brees as the Saints' starter, and he pulled something straight out of the Brees playbook after going 9-of-10 passing: He talked at length about the one miss that still haunts him.
But while he analyzes how to turn that 90% completion rate into 100%, the two-touchdown performance was possibly the most definitive sign thus far to put him ahead in the quarterback battle with Taysom Hill.
“I think I’m really good on decisions. Like I said, I’ve gotta get better on accuracy," Winston said. "I’ve had some balls that I’d really like to have back that were incompletions for us. … I’ve just gotta continue to work and get better.”
One of the balls Winston will be happy to leave right where it landed also showed one of the things the young passer has on his predecessor. The first-quarter touchdown that eluded the reach of two Jaguars defenders and fell into the arms of Marquez Callaway for a touchdown traveled more than 53 yards in the air, the largest number on a completed pass by a Saints quarterback in five years, according to ESPN.
“I think [deep shots are] a great part of the rhythm of the game. Obviously completions are the only thing that matter. You want to try to stretch the field, but if you’re not completing it, it kind of messes up the rhythm of the game," Winston said after the 23-21 victory at the Caesars Superdome. "So, like I said, you can’t miss out on those opportunities when they’re there. Callaway made two incredible plays tonight when they were there, and that’s big. It turned out really huge in our favor.”
But even beyond that big play, it was leading the team out onto the field as the starter that really hit home for the No. 1 overall pick and Heisman winner that spent the 2020 season watching from the sidelines.
“I was just thankful," Winston said. "These opportunities don’t come too often."
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TAYSOM HILL: 'Control what you can control'
While all the hype went the way of Jameis Winston, it was Taysom Hill that led a pair of impressive scoring drives sandwiching halftime. The first came in the final minute, as Hill took over well into Saints territory and drove into range for an Aldrick Rosas field goal from 52 yards as time expired.
He was back at it in the third quarter, leading an 8-play, 72-yard drive capped off with a 13-yard jump ball touchdown to Lil'Jordan Humphrey. The score was the 6-foot-4 receiver’s second in as many preseason games and confirmed what his teammates have seen throughout training camp.
"I love throwing to LJ. I think he’s having a really good camp. I think he’s had a really good preseason. … LJ’s a guy that I trust, that I love throwing the ball to," Hill said. "He fights for you, a big target. I’m not surprised at the way that he played.”
The sharp finish helped put some shine back on an appearance that took a while to get in gear, with his first three series all quickly resulting in Blake Gillikin punts. But Hill says he's not going to get too caught up in how or when the team will ultimately make its decision on a starter. Coach Sean Payton also declined to set a timeline for such a decision, though reports have indicated the team would prefer to have their starter officially set before the final preseason game on Saturday.
"This goes back to what we’ve discussed all camp," Hill said. "You can only control what you can control, and that’s it.”
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MARQUEZ CALLAWAY: 'They throw it, we catch it'
Marquez Callaway only has 213 receiving yards in his NFL career. Seriously.
If that's hard to believe, it's probably because the undrafted second-year receiver is playing with the confidence of a veteran that's seen and done all this before, rather than a guy playing in his first-ever preseason.
The 23-year-old rolled up nearly half that total in the first quarter alone on Monday, catching five passes, two of which went for long touchdowns in impressive fashion.
Callaway made his first catch, a 43-yard score, over a pair of outstretched arms as he was falling to the ground and fouled. The defensive pass interference penalty was declined.
His second score was of the one-handed variety, yet another highlight for a player that looks primed for big-time responsibilities this year in the absence of Michael Thomas.
“Playing receiver, we’re getting paid to catch. That’s what we do: Run routes and catch," Callaway said. "So if we can touch it with our hands, then we’ve got to do what we can to come down with it.”
He said his phone was still buzzing with notifications, but he was taking advantage of the "do not disturb" function for the time being. He'd already called his parents, but still hadn't watched the highlights from his performance before speaking with the media.
"But I have a feeling I’ll be watching that tonight," Callaway said.
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Follow Jeff Nowak on Twitter @Jeff_Nowak or contact him by email at jeffrey.nowak@audacy.com