When the New Orleans Saints host the Green Bay Packers in Jacksonville this week to open their 2021 season, there are more potential storylines than you'll know what to do with.
It's a new quarterback era. It's a new era of post-disaster Saints resilience. It's a new chapter in the Saints' saga of discovering undrafted gems.
So how do we pare that all down? It's difficult, but I'll do my best. Scroll below for the top 3 things I'm looking for in the Saints' season-opener at TIAA Bank Field.
IT'S JAMEIS' TIME
Saints QB Jameis WinstonUSAT Images
Whatever your opinion is of Jameis Winston the quarterback, there's no denying the long and impressive road he's taken to become the Saints' starter. Much like Teddy Bridgewater before him, Winston went from being a first-round pick and entrenched starter to holding a clipboard on the sidelines for a full season behind Drew Brees and with no guarantee of the job down the road.
Sure, Winston got in a few games ... but it was Taysom Hill that drew the starting duties with Brees sidelined. So before we dive into to any strategic or statistical elements, take a moment to consider just how important this moment is for him, regardless of the outcome.
Winston has spoken often and openly about the experience. He appears to be a player that's learned from the experience. His words and actions have all shown a player that's humble, that's identified where he needs to improve in both decision-making and execution, and one that could potentially lead the Saints into a new quarterback-era with confidence (and wins). On Sunday We find out if that impression is accurate.
Does Winston stay calm in the pocket? Does he command the offense? Does he thread the needle on big-play opportunities? More importantly, does he know when to cut his losses and live to play another down?
Practice and preseason can only tell you so much. Sunday is when the real answers start.
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WHAT'S THE WEAK LINK?
Saints CB Paulson Adebo (29)USAT Images
One thing that makes great quarterbacks great is the ability not only identify the weak links in a team's defense, but also to hammer on them until they break.
The Saints have two links that could potentially snap if Aaron Rodgers and Co. manage to put enough strain on them: CB2 and IDL.
That second outside cornerback spot for the Saints could be problematic. Ken Crawley earned the starting reps in camp across from Marshon Lattimore and played well, but has missed practice all week and appears unlikely to suit up. The Saints also swung a trade for Bradley Roby of the Houston Texans, but he'll be unavailable until Week 2 due to a suspension.
That leaves the Saints limited for options in that spot. If Crawley can't go, you're likely left with the option of starting Paulson Adebo on the outside in his first career game, or veteran Desmond Trufant, who joined the team just days before kickoff. Another emergency option could be PJ Williams, who began his career at cornerback before transitioning primarily to safety the last two seasons.
I've heard our own Bobby Hebert say this enough times by now to know it's almost certainly the same mindset Rodgers will have in this one: Why throw at Lattimore when I can pick on ... whoever that is over there?
But that's only half of the equation. The Saints also have serious question on the interior defensive line. While they drafted Adebo and swung a trade at cornerback, they've done little to bulk up after the departures of Sheldon Rankins and Malcom Brown in free agency. They'll also be without David Onyemata for six games.
Can the combination of young UDFAs Shy Tuttle, Malcolm Roach, Christian Ringo and recently signed Montravius Adams hold the rope on the inside? They'll get tested. If they don't pass that test and linebackers have to step up to stop runs between the tackles it could make for a long day.
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IS CALLAWAY REALLY FOR REAL?
Saints WR Marquez Callaway (1)USAT Images
One day as the Saints worked on special team drills during camp practice, I found myself watching Marquez Callaway instead. The young receiver was well away from the action. He could've had his hands on his hips and waited for his turn patiently. He didn't.
What he did instead was mime catch balls that were thrown on the opposite side of the field. Any time the ball flew into his vicinity he went where it was to make the catch. If he spotted a teammate with a ball, he'd set up in the corner of the end zone and practice catches over the shoulder.
The kid just lives and breathes catching the football. It truly is remarkable when you see it in person. And what we've seen all offseason is a 23-year-old, undrafted player that for a variety of reasons has risen to be the clear No. 1 option in this Saints passing attack. Callaway's mesmerizing performances in the preseason were only a confirmation of what anyone watching him already knew to be the case. The kid is a star in the making.
But even with that assessment, is he really ready to take on all that pressure in what will be just his eight pro game played? We'll find out on Saturday when he, most likely, gets shadowed by Packers' star corner Jaire Alexander, one of the more under-the-radar star defenders in the game. If Callaway can hit the ground running (again) in one of the most difficult matchups he'll draw all year, it'll be time to blow the horn because the Callaway hype train will have fully left the station.
Me personally? I've been buckled into my seat on that train for a while now. I'm very much looking forward to the ride.
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LAGNIAPPE: It hasn't been that long since the Saints played a game at TIAA Bank Field, and that edition had a lot of similarities to what we'll see on Sunday. The Saints didn't have Drew Brees (Bridgewater drew the start) and knew they'd have to rely on solid defense to win the day. They did that easily. ... That visit also marked the game Alvin Kamara damaged his knee, an injury that limited him the rest of the way. Again it's Kamara and the defense, but this time it's the Packers on the other sideline. Hopefully this time it feels more like a home away from home.
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Follow Jeff Nowak on Twitter @Jeff_Nowak or contact him by email at jeffrey.nowak@audacy.com
