Preseason game number one for the New Orleans Saints went into the books on Sunday when they faced the Los Angeles Chargers. Many things stood out about the Black and Gold in their road exhibition matchup against the Bolts. These were a few examples that were worth highlighting:
QB BATTLE NEEDS TO END
Signs point to head coach Kellen Moore deciding on who will be the starting quarterback heading into week one. This was a three-man race to begin training camp, but it appears there is a clear choice: Tyler Shough.
Jake Haener had next to no playing time in Sunday’s preseason game, going in for two drives and nine total plays late in the fourth quarter. Haener wasn’t very productive as the game was well in hand for Los Angeles, and the third-year signal caller threw an ill-advised interception in his first possession.
Spencer Rattler was the starter in that game, supposedly having the leg up in the quarterback battle heading into the first exhibition game. The former South Carolina Gamecock was under center for five possessions, resulting in three punts, a turnover on downs after special teams recovered the ball 17 yards from the endzone, and Rattler coughed up the football on a strip sack. That turnover led to the first points of the game as the Chargers kicked a field goal from a short field.
Shough also had a turnover, throwing a pick-six early in the second half, yet was productive and put points on the board for New Orleans. In his first drive, Shough led the offense in a two-minute drill down the field, resulting in a 31-yard Blake Grupe field goal. And after throwing the interception, Shough connected with Mason Tipton for a 54-yard touchdown. The rookie’s final stat line was 165 yards, one touchdown, and a pick on 15/22 passing.
The offense ran more smoothly, put up points, and was more productive when the game was still competitive with Shough under center, compared to Rattler and Haener running the show.
SECONDARY SHOWED SOME PROMISE
There were many questions about the secondary heading into training camp. General Manager Mickey Loomis traded Marshon Lattimore ahead of the trade deadline last season, then let Paulson Adebo and Will Harris walk in free agency ahead of Tyrann Mathieu’s recent retirement. Four out of five starters from last year have departed, with the lone returner being nickel corner Alontae Taylor.
Loomis replaced that production with a tandem of veteran safeties in Justin Reid and Julian Blackmon. Second-year corner Kool-Aid McKinstry is expected to be the team’s top boundary man, with there being a competition on the opposite side between Isaac Yiadom and rookie Quincy Riley.
Against the Chargers, the Saints’ secondary stood strong throughout the contest. Los Angeles quarterbacks combined to complete under 50% of their passes, going 9/20 for 100 yards. Taylor Heinicke started for the Bolts and connected on just one of his five attempts, then Trey Lance played the majority of the game and completed just seven of 14 passes for 55 yards. Nearly half of the Chargers’ passing yards came with nearly two minutes left in the game when DJ Uiagalelei found Dalevon Campbell for a 49-yard gain to set up a late touchdown run by Raheim “Rocket” Sanders.
The secondary was a little shaky in the first few plays, leaving some receivers open. New Orleans was fortunate that Heinicke overthrew his receivers multiple times in the first couple of drives, leading to punts.
After a few plays, players began to lock in. Yiadom had a third-down pass breakup on rookie wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith on the opening possession, and Riley was money. The rookie cornerback locked down his side of the field, as the Charger quarterback rarely looked his way at all. Outside of the deep shot to Campbell late in the game, the longest air completion was to Brenden Rice for 12 yards.
FOSKEY HAS TO GO
It’s time to move on from Isaiah Foskey.
Through his first two years, Foskey has done nothing in a Saints uniform. In 27 career games played, the second-round pick has recorded 26 tackles, .5 sacks, and a pass deflection. His production in his NFL career has been minimal, and further proved that on Sunday.
In the preseason game against the Chargers, Foskey was on the field for 44 snaps (72% of defensive snaps). In those 44 snaps, Foskey did nothing, literally nothing. He didn’t show up on the stat sheet, meaning he didn’t record a stat. Not a single sack, tackle, or pressure on the quarterback.
Isaiah Foskey had a Tony Snell stat line in a preseason game against backups when he’s in his third season. A third season that’s a prove-it season with a brand new coaching staff in charge of determining who makes the final 53-man roster.
There’s an immense amount of competition along the defensive line and edge rusher/outside linebacker position. At this point, there is no longer a need to give Foskey any in-game snaps when you need to figure out who should make the roster among the other linemen.