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As the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers get ready to clash in an exhibition contest on Friady night, fans of both teams wonder about so much for their favorite teams. The regular season is approaching as this will be the third preseason game yet questions still remain about what is to come for 2010.

It may only be a preseason game, but there is a lot at stake for plenty of players when the teams hit the Superdome field and try to outduel the other. Sadly this contest won't have the excitement and luster that it normally would because it isn't during the regular season, but that's not to say it isn't important. You know that a game between both teams in week nine or twelve would really draw a lot of attention and rightfully so. It may have been years ago, but no Saints or Chargers fan will ever forget the injury suffered by Drew Brees that forever changed the futures of both teams.

Never the less, New Orleans and San Diego have a lot to look forward to this year and some pondering is going on in the minds of fans everywhere whether they're clad in black and gold or white and blue. Therefore, San Diego Chargers' Examiner Dave Thomas asked me five questions about the Saints and their upcoming season as the defending Super Bowl champions. I then in turn threw five questions his way to see if the Chargers are ready to take the next step into the upper echelon of the league and drive deeper into the playoffs.

Check out my answers to his questions over in Dave's article.

Here are his answers.

Danny Cox: What affect will the holdouts of Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill have on the offense?

Dave Thomas: I think the Chargers are much more impacted with the loss of McNeill than they are Jackson. Despite Jackson's talents at wide receiver, guys like Malcom Floyd, Legedue Naanee and Buster Davis are capable of bettering their games, plus you have an All-Pro tight end in Antonio Gates. Jackson's off the field issues have also not sat well with GM A.J. Smith. With McNeill out, however, the Chargers have a bigger hole to fill. San Diego brought in veteran Tra Thomas as an insurance policy, but he has since announced his retirement due to surgery. Protecting the blind side for QB Philip Rivers is going to be something that will continue to be an issue should McNeill not return.

DC: Even though his production had tapered off some, what will the loss of LaDainian Tomlinson do to the Chargers?

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