The New Orleans Saints won't be displaying the game tape from their 27-13, preseason opening loss to the Chargers in any museums.
Still, there were high points, and there was invaluable information gained in the quarterback competition -- not to mention the first pick-6 and long TD of Tyler Shough's young career. So what all stood out?
It just doesn't feel right to talk about the QB battle in traditional "up and down" terms, so I'll just share 3 points here before getting into the standard 3 up, 3 down:
1. Neither Spencer Rattler nor Tyler Shough were particularly aggressive, but I did feel like the rookie took better advantage of his opportunities. Rattler played with the higher end of his own roster, but also played against a slightly higher-caliber defensive group. Still, it was Shough who took shots downfield. Both guys navigated pressure and used their legs well, and it even seemed like Rattler was trying to prove a point with some of the hits he was taking on runs up the middle. There's definitely an element of fun involved when a QB just absolutely goes all-in, but I'd recommend he raises his standard for when the QB should be accepting big contact. Rattler finished the day 7-11 for 53 yards, while adding a team-high 22 yards rushing. He also lost a fumble. Shough went 15-22 for 165 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT.
2. My biggest criticism for Spencer over the past two years is that there's too many empty calories -- way too many drives where the offense stacks multiple first downs and comes away with zero points. This game was a bit of a flashback to Rattler's start against the Chargers a year ago. On Sunday it even included a drive that started at the plus-17 and ended on a failed 4th down run at the goal line. A run game would've helped both QBs on this day, as would the top WR options. Adding Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed makes everything seem easier. It's tough to win games when you can't finish off more drives with points, even if it's 3.
3. I don't think the plan for Tyler Shough was to start his NFL career with a 2-minute drill, but he certainly handled it well. There was obviously an ugly moment with a pick 6. The Chargers DB was sitting on the underneath route the whole way and jumped it. I see that as a rookie lesson more than anything else. NFL DBs make that play and I'm not sure many college DBs would. It's the type of lesson young players have to live through and remember, because you have to learn and not allow it to happen again. Shough then did exactly what Kellen Moore has talked about and bounced back with a long TD to Mason Tipton on the next series. Tipton was so open on the double move because of how the Chargers DBs were playing underneath routes.
If the season started today I'm still rolling with Rattler, but I did see a rookie QB today that I think could survive if I needed him to. There's still a bit too much holding the ball in Shough's game, the best example coming on the third quarter sack that dinged up the rookie's right knee. We didn't see much designed run game today, and I expect throughout the season that'll be something used at a much higher frequency to held the QBs settle in. What I said going into this game was that this meant more for Tyler Shough because he needed to make the case with something tangible that he should be in serious consideration to start in Week 1. Let's call this opening arguments, and they were, at the very least, thought-provoking.
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THREE UP
Diggs & Rumph
Preseason games mean different things for different people, but for a lot of players down the roster it's nothing more than an opportunity to catch the attention of the coaching staff. Two guys who I think did that today were Fadil Diggs and Chris Rumph, both of whom flashed the athleticism and range necessary to succeed in Brandon Staley's scheme.
There was one sequence in the second quarter where the rookie Diggs chased down a run to the edge of the field, then got into the backfield for a sack of Trey Lance on the next play. Chris Rumph came up big with a third down sack of Lance in the third quarter. Noted, keep it rolling.
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Yiadom's battles
One thing that became clear when Isaac Yiadom was here before: Opposing teams were going to target him, and he was up to the challenge.
It takes a special kind of player to take that level of disrespect and get better because of it, and early returns were good in this one. Granted this was against Taylor Heinicke and the Chargers' backups, but there was a play early in this game that showcased Ike's ability to fight (legally), be physical and break up passes. In this case it was a PBU on third down that forced a punt. Ike finished with 3 tackles and a pass defensed and came out of the game early, a sign of a player with an established role.
Not everything went great for the Saints in the game, but they held Heinicke and Trey Lance to 8-19 passing (42.1%) for 63 yards in the air. That's a bright spot.
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Celly for Celli
Torricelli Simpkins III. Not exactly a household name, and not a guy the Saints necessarily anticipated giving such a heavy workload. But with Erik McCoy inactive and backup Will Clapp going down early with an injury, he's the guy who had to step up and well, I'll let Kellen Moore break it down:
“[He was] awesome. For him to hop in there that quickly and essentially play the whole game at center," Moore said. "I mean, your first game in the NFL, preseason football and then you get thrown in there just like that. His response was phenomenal, I thought he did an incredible job.”
Assuming Clapp's injury isn't a long-term issue I think it's a longshot for the third-string center to make the roster, but teams will always want to have an emergency replacement available. Any UDFA that arrives in camp should view a practice squad spot as a win, and I see this performance as one that almost guarantees he'll be sticking around during the season.
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Honorable mentions
Mason Tipton was a camp hero a year ago, so much so that he made the roster without even showing it in a preseason game. That's not the case this year, and he put down an impressive double move to toast the chargers DB in coverage for the highlight of camp. Gold star. ... Khristian Boyd was another player with a nice moment, even if they overturned his safety on a sketchy rule interpretation. He's firmly in the running to be the backup nose tackle behind Davon Godchaux. ... Isaiah Stalbird's speed feels like a difference-maker at the linebacker position, multiple times in camp we've seen him make plays where the QB seemed to underestimate his range, and he was able to notch a TFL today on a similarly fast move upfield. He also made a special teams tackle like a heat-seeking missile. I've said it before, the Saints linebacker room is in a very, very good place. ... One kick in a preseason game isn't going to erase the struggles we've seen during camp, but it was nice to see Charlie Smyth knock through a 50-yarder late in the game like it was a PAT. Seriously, the ball might've been good from 70. Just a reminder of how incredible that leg can be and why the Saints went into this offseason talking about a kicker battle in the first place.
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THREE DOWN
Where ya at?
There's a point where we have to just call it what it is: There's a defensive player on the Saints who played the whole game and his name doesn't appear in the stat sheet. No tackles, no sacks, no QB hits. His name is Isaiah Foskey.
Now, he was involved in the game, but it was too often in a negative way. There were multiple instances where he got sucked inside on a run play that bounced outside of him. This is an oversimplification, but when you're playing outside linebacker, I really need you to handle the outside runs.
It's just tough, and in a game where we saw young players like Chris Rumph and Fadil Diggs making an impact, there just wasn't much to be seen from the 2023 second round pick, and that label feels like the only thing that's making his potential spot on the roster a conversation at all.
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Burn-down
The Saints came into camp talking about two kicker battles, but it sure feels like the only one left is punter. That's true to the extent that the Saints, being shut out at the time, opted for a punt from the plus-40 rather than a 58-yard field goal attempt. It's because the team sees more value/need in establishing the punter than the placekicker.
If you'd asked me going into the game I'd have told you James Burnip had the edge, but Sunday's results told a different story. Here's the breakdown:
Burnip
- From LAC 49: 38 yards to LAC 11, muffed and recovered by Treyton Welch at LAC 17
- From LAC 40: 25 yards to LAC 15 (fair catch)
- From NO 48: 38 yards to LAC 24 (fair catch)
Kai Kroeger
- From NO 45: 39 yards to LAC 16 (fair catch)
- From NO 26: 52 yards to LAC 22 (muffed and recovered by Nyheim Miller-Hines)
- From NO 29: 48 yards to LAC 23 (returned to to 30)
While neither guy was pinning anyone deep, I'm a lot more inclined to like Kroeger's day because of his field-flipping ability. Burnip didn't really get a chance to do that and I'm not giving up on him yet, but you'd certainly have hoped for a better day.
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Health
The Saints had been notably healthy to this point in camp, but the injuries came early and often in this game. We saw three players carted to the locker room (Trevor Penning, Will Clapp and Bub Means) all with apparent lower body issues that Moore declined to expound upon after the game.
Newly signed TE Mason Pline also went back to the locker room with what appeared to be a shoulder issue, and Tyler Shough came up hobbled after a third quarter sack. Shough said the defender, Daiyan Henley, landed on the rookie QB's leg and he was dealing with a bruise. Shough had a hefty wrap and ice on his leg after the game, that'll be something to watch, for sure.
The biggest concern would be for Penning, obviously, since the Saints are definitely counting on him to start at left guard from Day 1. He's acclimating to a new position and needs all the reps he can get. If any of the others miss time there are obvious options to fill in.
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A few more
Dillon Radunz has versatility, but I have a hard time seeing his a legit tackle backup. He got burned so quickly on one play that Rattler had no idea the defender was bearing down for a strip sack. I like Radunz as interior line depth, not so much on the outside. Radunz also had holding and illegal formation penalties. ... I'm not going to say I'm down on Vernon Broughton, moreso that I just haven't seen a ton from him at this point, and that's disappointing for a third-round pick. He'll make the roster because of draft investment alone, but I expected more.
