Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

Ah yes, the 2nd game of preseason brings another NFL football season closer. This time the Saints lose a close one to the 49ers 16-10 at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Derek Carr and the 1st string offense pulled together a huge, gritty drive that culminated in touchdown in the 2nd quarter. The Saints defense had some key stops and plays.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

Penning i still atrocious as a passblocker. Everything I saw before we drafted him is still true, narrow base, plays too high, leans in to blocks.. He drops back way to fast and by that I mean he gives up ground to keep the defender in front of him but by doing so shrinks the pocket more than he needs to.
He looks like a guard trying to play tackle.


The seemingly wierd thing thou is that he is athletic. He can move and has some real athleticism. He looked really good in the running game and would be an asset there. I would try him on the inside and see if he could make a Carl Nicks type of transition.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

I know it's pre season but why didn't we try to win. Was it possible to stop the clock and get another possession? I don't care if it was just for 1 play. I remember when we actually had a true competitive coach.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

We $#ck, just not bad enough to do a total tear down and rebuild, but just good enough to stay moderately $#cky for a long long time.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

Carr may be our best passer, but in moving to a more modern offense designed to confuse defenses but with an old school veteran qb who may be too old to learn new tricks and a bit confused by the modern offense himself, we may not get the full benefit. Sometimes later in a career its easier to fine tune the details than reinvent yourself, and as the body starts to slow and lose its edge its the mind refining those details that holds things up or even improves them. But when an aging athlete is asked to reinvent themselves to adopt a more modern system, they may perform better than in obsolete system, but never quite reach their prime years again. Ultimately a mild improvement on offense not a major improvement may be the most likely for Carr if the offensive system is improved but he does not totally click with it but is still our best passer. He may be as talented as Purdy but unable to channel Purdy in a new gen offense.

Penning did not have as bad of a day, but the problem with Penning may be consistency. I am sure that for over 2 years in the pros and before that in workouts and college tape he was flashing potential and highlights that got coaches excited. We may win games on his good days, but we may change QBs for the rest of the season on his bad days, and hoping each good day is a turning point may be a fools errand. Ultimately the team will have to decide, not just can Penning have good/serviceable days, but can he have enough of them to worth it. If Carr’s 55-65% good days and Pennings 30-40% good days only match up on 25% of days, it could be a rough season the other 75% of days.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

Since preseason games dont deeply matter, and end with the 3rd-4th string in the game, I dont really mind not giving your all on last minute moves to win a preseason game. Ultimately in every preseason game the home team is the harlem globetrotters and the road team is the washington generals, especially in the 4th quarter. Players are there to impress but if the game is close in the 4th what good does a road win by a narrow margin really let your learn if you have to show your hand and go out of your way to get it. A big win may be slightly more encouraging than a big loss but ultimately in any close preseason game what you learn about the team as a whole is a wash.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

We're three years into Project Penning. His footwork and his base is awful against the bull rush! Stands up way too high to counter that initial push and ends up recovering from backwards momentum. If, as his coaches have said, he doesn't have a head to commit his practice to muscle memory at this point, he's a backup at best.

Just imagine if Bosa got loose on him. :biggun:

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

I really liked the way Kubiak used Hill. He's a more dynamic version of the Niners' Juszczyk. He's bulked way up from his QB playing days and should be able to handle the load.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

Anyone heard about the injury to Kool-Aid?

I hope its not that foot again.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

Well... the Saints lost that one convincingly. :beatnik:

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

... now the rest of the league knows how to defend against it. :beatnik:

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

I get that but it's just an attitude thing in my opinion and plus it gives the young QBs experience with the game on the line. Not a very big deal because it's pre season. Idk maybe I'm thinking that because I just don't want DA as our head coach. I think I'm liking the new OC though and I have confidence in our defense as long as the offense can avoid 3 and outs and leaving our defense on the field for 75 percent of the game.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

-Young is a beast.
-The whole defense competes.
-Jackson and Orji looked good at LB.
-The run game looked good.
-The OLine was competitive. I really like UDFA Hergel.
-Good to see Means.
-Hill is just fun to watch.
-CB Ford-Dement with the ball skills off the street.

-The young, backup QB's looked exactly like what they are right now.
-Kool-Aid getting injured is a setback.
-Nothing dynamic in the return game.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

Wonder why they don't move him to guard, then?

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

They may. Who knows? I believe that's really up to Kubiak and the new staff now.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

Hard to say but it might be that the coaches that see him in practise every day see a slow improvement. Or just prestige, them don't wanting to admit to being wrong about the player.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

It's a whole new staff working with the o-line now. I doubt they are tied to any previous commitment to the player. Perhaps they know how short the supply is across the league for tackles at any level of expertise and want to give it their best shot.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

All I've seen so far, Danno. Says it isn't the foot, but the knee and not anything major.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

Like you said, Kubiak’s plan is to keep em guessing with the (melting) vanilla…
It’s so tricky, fans have no idea, Derek Carr has no idea, Dennis Allen has no idea, but by the time the playoffs roll around, we’ll all get an idea.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

If he's getting fork-lifted by 260 lbs DEs, think about what a 330-lb DT would do to Penning.

He will either improve @ tackle or have a seat on the bench.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

One preseason 95 or so yard touchdown drive; does not a Superbowl team or playoff contender make. Several of these type drives, during regular season do. let's not get overly optimistic. With that, and a little reality, the Saint's better do it. ya know, NIKE "Just Do It" :beatnik:

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

P. Turner didn’t record a sack but he was almost unblock-able.
He was getting that cardio in chasing Dobbs around.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

Preseason, bah humbug. It's always nice to see guys get there time, if only for a series or two, especially if it's someone you know, or if they went to a local school. You can't gauge what the season will be by these sh*ttee games, you just want players to escape unhurt. Most will flipping burgers or bagging groceries in another week or two. What i liked about the game was the New Orleans Saints print on the back of the helmet, which was tastefully done. Our colors are killer, but nothing stood out in the game, kinda liked the Mims kid, verdict is out on the kick off. Our backup QB's looked lost.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

McKinstry's injury is a knee. Never good. Let's hope it's minor and he can recover this season.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

I still have the same concerns ...

Collectively, the OL group appears to be the weakest link on this team. Most of us already know that that "pressure" would have been a lot different with Bosa & Hargrave out there rushing the QB.

The question is, how well will Carr perform if the OL is just "decent". A couple of his throws were off the mark & behind Olave. This is what I mean when I say he has trouble "throwing receivers open".

Clowney, Parsons, Jalen Carter, Sweat, Chris Jones, Judon (twice) are real problems on the upcoming schedule.

But I digress ...

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

If you hoped to see improvement in Week 2, you got it.

Key players missing on both sides but I'd say this game as a whole was much better than week 1.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

Point taken on elite pass rushers. However, an effective run game negates pass rush.

Carr has timing to work out. No question. Some of his throws last night were straight up poor.

I'm with you, there are legitimate threats to our offensive line. I'm encouraged by what I saw last night. Nowhere near a complete unit but a step forward.

2 more games to go before we find out for sure. :bng:

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

Less than 2 seconds protection on most dropbacks/shotgun regardless of the QB. SOOOO many blocking assignments whiffed, even on runs. D is legit. No coach can make up for the lack of talent/able bodies on the OL. I fear we will likely go through all 4 qbs this season.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

I'm convinced the downfall of this team will be the O-line, not QB.
Carr is forced to throw too early on nearly every passing down.
Haener and Rattler were running for their lives more often than not.
Just my 2 cents

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

They have said it was nothing major and he should be fine.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

Let's not forget we didn't have Fuaga in at left tackle.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

So “O-Line seems to be an issue”… Haven’t we been saying that for some time now? Just like we knew that when Drew (GOD BLESS HIM) was in decline, we would have to do better than scoop up Raider Curbside Trash… and just like when Sean Payton was packing his bags, we would have to do more than give a nod to the absolute DUD that is Dennis Allen… but our front office AINT interested in winning championships. So here we are in another “Iffy at best” Season… This has become Saints Culture. Shame.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

A rookie.

Who played three years at Right Tackle.

Now starting Left Tackle with a revolving door immediately to his right shoulder.

I'm not so optimistic there either...

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers
 

This is the result of our getting spoiled with Brees whom could speed read defenses. His arm/body gave out toward the end. Of the three QBs we have, Haener is probably the fastest reader, then Rattler, then Carr.... then our former QB Jameis.

Carr tends to force it in sometimes ill advised, or he won't throw the WR open or in a manner that will allow the receiver to get lots of YAC. Haener did good in the first outing on a long ball, but missed a wide open throw a couple of times in game two. Rattler looked rattled in game 2.

This is the reality of the current Saints team.

Re: Observations from Saints preseason loss to the 49ers