Preseason football can be frustrating to watch. And drawing conclusions good or bad about a player or team in the preseason could be like finding fool’s gold. Sometimes players are put in situations that are tough to navigate with other players that likely won’t be on the roster in another couple of weeks.
With that said here are five takeaways from the Saints-Chargers preseason matchup.
We’re halfway through the preseason now
Man, I loathe preseason games but it’s a necessary evil. When you’ve seen the game played by the starters and the backups turn in a sloppy performance it reminds you just how good the starters are.
The starting defensive group looked crisp
Demario Davis was very active at linebacker. Safety Vonn Bell showed his improved pass defense in the first quarter knocking away Tyrod Taylor’s deep pass downfield intended for receiver Travis Benjamin. Rookie linebacker Kaden Ellis worked with the first unit, as Alex Anzalone has missed time with an undisclosed injury. The pass rush was also pretty solid, but not dominant.
Teddy Bridgewater did not play well as the starting QB
The numbers don’t lie. Bridgewater was 5-of-12 through the air for just 40 yards and an interception.
“He wasn’t accurate today,” said the Cajun Cannon Bobby Hebert. “I don’t know what the deal was. He’s human, he had a bad day. It happens.”
I was getting tweets from Saints fans suggesting that the Bridgewater experiment should be over. I couldn’t laugh any harder that I did at that notion.
Bridgewater still being evaluated
You can’t convince me that Teddy Bridgewater is a bust, just like you can’t convince me that he’s the guy that will eventually replace Drew Brees. The sample size of Bridgewater in a Saints uniform isn’t big enough to draw a conclusion either way. I would say that evaluation is still ongoing.
Taysom Hill is so fun to watch
He doesn’t look like he’s all that fast yet continues to outrun defenders. He doesn’t look to be all that strong but then shows off stiff arm like a big thumping running back.
I don’t know if Hill will ever be a franchise quarterback but he’ll play in this league for a good 10 years or more. He’s just that talented. He’s the epitome of a football player.
