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What We Learned From the Saints On Sunday

Despite all the crazy happenings leading up to the game, the Saints played it and gave us a lot of learnings from Sunday.

John Hendrix

What We Learned From the Saints On Sunday
What We Learned From the Saints On Sunday /
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LOS ANGELES -- Somehow, a preseason game got played on Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium. We had an earthquake during pre-game to go along with the rain being dumped by Tropical Storm Hilary. The Chargers threatened late, but the Saints were able to hold on for a 22-17 win. Here's our notes, observations and what we learned from the game.

ATTENDANCE

Dennis Allen rested a lot of starters on Sunday. Derek Carr, Marcus Maye, Chris Olave, Michael Thomas, Pete Werner, Marshon Lattimore, Tyrann Mathieu, Alvin Kamara, Demario Davis, Ryan Ramczyk, James Hurst, Andrus Peat, Erik McCoy, Jimmy Graham, Juwan Johnson, Nathan Shepherd, Cam Jordan, and Carl Granderson were among those not suited up for action.

It was revealed before the broadcast that Jimmy Graham was in a good spot, but recovering and still a 'little shaken up' from the incident. Players who did not practice during the week like Cesar Ruiz, Taysom Hill, and Rashid Shaheed were in attendance on the sidelines.

1ST QUARTER THOUGHTS AND NOTES

  • Zack Baun had a nice rep on the opening defensive series getting a pass breakup when Easton Stick tried rolling right.
  • Jaylon Smith had a handful of plays that were nice to see, as he built upon his two good days of joint practices. He had a big hit, good run stop, and a pass breakup.
  • Trevor Penning started strong with some good run-blocking for Kendre Miller and also had good pass protection, but on the team's last possession of the quarter, he whiffed on a run play.
  • Tanoh Kpassagnon was kicked inside on a 3rd Down rush with Isaiah Foskey on the left side. I recall him talking about that in training camp that the plan was to have their best pass-rush look on the field, which could see him flip inside some.
  • Ugo Amadi had a 17-yard punt return, as he rotated with Lynn Bowden Jr. That type of versatility is going to help him make this roster.
  • Calvin Throckmorton went into the injury tent and ended up leaving the field late in the quarter. Tommy Kraemer replaced him. The Saints cannot catch a break in the injury department on the offensive line.
  • Great execution on the coffin corner punt by Lou Hedley with Lonnie Johnson Jr. downing the punt. Hedley had a rough first punt, but his next two were good.
  • Malcolm Roach showed off his run defense by making a nice inside stop after getting in the backfield. 

2ND QUARTER THOUGHTS AND NOTES

  • Kpassagnon had another pass breakup at the line of scrimmage. That was a real problem for the defensive line last year, so it's good to see these in back-to-back weeks.
  • Payton Turner had an outstanding rep rushing Easton Stick that led to a sack-fumble that was recovered by Bryan Bresee. We have talked about Turner and how he's been doing well in camp. This is a very encouraging sign.
  • Malcolm Roach once again had another strong run stop. He really is playing a strong level and is having a very underrated camp.
  • That was a beautiful hookup between Jameis Winston and Kendre Miller on the wheel route for a 27-yard gain. It's crazy to think that he was feared to be out longer from the injury last week. Lewis Kidd had a strong rep in pass protection on the play.
  • Miller capped off the scoring drive by getting into the end zone on a 7-yard touchdown run.
  • Roach and Khalen Saunders plugged up the interior on a running play, something we hope to see more of. Run defense was a sore spot last year, and the team getting more athletic there should only help.
  • That was a tough pass interference penalty to take on Troy Pride to help setup the Chargers field goal attempt.
  • Saunders showed off his freak athleticism chasing after Easton Stick to help force an incompletion after Payton Turner originally provided the pressure.
  • Very ugly sequence on the offensive drive that saw them back up on consecutive plays. On one play, the Saints had an ineligible receiver down field and holding called against Lewis Kidd. They followed that up with a false start by Storm Norton. By this point, the team had 7 penalties for 86 yards. That's not going to cut it.
  • Malcolm Roach was having himself a game, making another run stop that was more than noticeable.
  • Bryan Bresee was able to help draw a false start on the Chargers, their first penalty of the game.
  • Lucas Krull made a heck of a catch on a 3rd-and-8 play for a 16-yard gain via Winston. It was one of those 'How did he catch that?' type of plays.
  • Isaac Yiadom had the second takeaway of the day for the Saints, as he picked off a pass that probably shouldn't have been thrown by Easton Stick. However, it counts, and Yiadom also had a nice 19-yard return.
  • Another holding call backed up the Saints from the 15 to the 25-yard-line, this time it was Tommy Kraemer.
  • Kendre Miller displayed a nice job of blitz pickup on a 3rd Down passing play. That's the type of stuff the Saints will need early in the season without Alvin Kamara.
  • Blake Grupe hit his 35-yard field goal to help cash in some points off the turnover. He might be on someone else's roster in Week 1 if he doesn't win the kicking job.
  • Another pass tip at the line of scrimmage, this time by Bryan Bresee.
  • On the Easton Stick 6-yard touchdown run, it looked like Isaiah Foskey bit pretty hard on the play fake.
  • Shaq Davis made an insane catch of 42 yards that helped the Saints get a field goal before the half. He had his eyes on it the whole way, but my notes simply said, "What!?".

3RD QUARTER THOUGHTS AND NOTES

  • Jake Haener's first pass play was a thing of beauty. It looked like he was going to throw the ball away, but instead he bought time and connected deep down the field with Jontre Kirklin for a 55-yard gain.
  • Haener got the Saints to the 2-yard-line after a nice hookup to Ellis Merriweather out of the backfield on a 4th-and-3 conversion.
  • Haener took a nice shot on a pass play that drew a roughing the passer call. He ended up having to go to the sideline to get checked out for a concussion, which put Jameis Winston back in. Haener did return, however.
  • Lucas Krull had a great opportunity to make two contested catches that he really needed to make. That's a tough one for him in a crowded tight end room.
  • The Saints had two touchdowns nullified by offensive pass interference, both committed by Bryan Edwards. For someone on the rise, that's not a good look.
  • Wil Lutz ended up coming in to convert a 33-yard field goal to help extend the Saints lead.
  • Lonnie Johnson Jr. got hurt on the team's first defensive possession. He went to the medical tent and stayed in there for several minutes before rejoining the team on the sideline. It appeared to be his arm/shoulder.
  • Ryan Connelly made two great plays in a row, first sacking Easton Stick and then making a tremendous open field tackle with authority on Stone Smartt. He had a good game against the Chiefs last week, and he could end up being the new Andrew Dowell.
  • Good defensive stance for the Saints to stop them on a 4th-and-6. Dennis Allen has said that feels like a takeaway to him, so it's back-to-back weeks the Saints have held strong.
  • Blake Gillikin handled the first punt in the quarter, and Jordan Howden had really nice kick coverage to stop the returner in his tracks.
  • Couple of nice run defense plays by D'Marco Jackson.
  • Ellis Merriweather had another good hookup out of the backfield to help the Saints convert a 3rd-and-4. 
  • Jake Haener missed a wide open Bryan Edwards deep left before a big hookup to Shaq Davis. Hopefully those connections will get better with time.
  • Speaking of Davis, he made another contested catch to pick up 18 and convert a 3rd-and-7. These are encouraging signs.

4TH QUARTER THOUGHTS AND NOTES 

  • Wil Lutz converted a 51-yard field goal with relative ease to extend the lead to 19-10. He's still the frontrunner for the job.
  • Smoke Monday was in good positioning to force a pass breakup early in the quarter when the ball hit him in the shoulder.
  • Niko Lalos in on two big plays for the Saints defense, with the first being a tackle for loss on a 3rd-and-1 play with help from Jack Heflin. He followed that up with a sack on 4th-and-3 to give the team back the ball on downs.
  • Jontre Kirklin had a nice individual effort on the end around to pickup a first down.
  • Weird sequence before Wil Lutz kicked a 34-yard field goal to put the team up 22-10. The Chargers thought they had too many players on the field, and the guy that ran off was actually the 11th player, but he was offsides. I don't think I've ever seen that.
  • Jack Heflin is getting some nice pressure inside. On the contrary, it's a little concerning not seeing Isaiah Foskey getting more push. 
  • Niko Lalos had a nice pass breakup at the line late in the game. He followed that up with back-to-back sacks. Overall, it's pretty safe to say that he had a pretty strong game.
  • Lonnie Johnson Jr. sealed the game for the Saints with a pick, but it was aided largely in part by a Ty Summers pressure/hit.

BIG PLAYS

Kendre Miller gets into the end zone via rushing touchdown.

Great catch by Lucas Krull.

Pick and a nice return for Isaac Yiadom.

Shaq Davis caught this.

Jake Haener to Jontre Kirklin for 55.

Shaq Davis for 18, making a really nice contested catch.

Published
John Hendrix
JOHN HENDRIX

I officially started covering the New Orleans Saints & other NFL topics in 2011. My work has been featured on various outlets over the years. I worked closely with Skyhorse Publishing in Fall 2018 to update the book, Tales From the New Orleans Saints Sidelines, which filled in all Saints material from the 2013-2017 seasons. Prior to joining Saints News Network, I served as the Managing Editor of SB Nation's Canal Street Chronicles for 3.5 years, and before that with FanSided's Who Dat Dish as the Managing Editor for several years. I have also had experiences of being a freelance Saints reporter for The Sun Herald in Biloxi, MS and a contributing writer for WDSU, a local NBC TV station in New Orleans. I have appeared on a vast amount of TV and Radio shows, both nationally and locally. For tips, comments, or suggestions, please contact me at johnhendrix@saintsnews.net

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