5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

WHO HELPED THEMSELVES

Running back Alvin Kamara
The rookie running back from Tennessee validated his strong training camp by leading all rushers with 35 yards on four carries with a long of 22 yards. Kamara has flashed his solid receiving skills throughout camp, but Thursday night was a chance to show he can carry the ball in the regular offense, as well.

http://image.nola.com/home/nola-medi...f15a71652a.jpg

Receiver-return specialist Tommylee Lewis
The diminutive speedster from Northern Illinois had the highlight of the game. His diving 32-yard catch in single coverage against Darius Hillary was a thing of beauty and set up the Saints for what should have been the go-ahead score, but they stalled in the red zone. With return specialists like Ted Ginn Jr. and Kamara on the roster, Lewis needs to show he can contribute as a receiver to make the roster and he did that tonight with a game-high 128 receiving yards and 10 receptions with a touchdown.

WHO HURT THEMSELVES

Running back Travaris Cadet
The veteran running back is in the fight of his life to make the roster. The Saints gave him a lot of opportunities (six carries for 16 yards; one catch for 11 yards) to show his value, but there wasn’t a whole lot there for him. There’s a reason he was in the game late in the third quarter.

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Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

I didn't get to watch the game. But it looks like Tommylee the Flea was impressive. Good to hear. Kamara had a nice stat line. Watched some highlights.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Lee looked great!

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Maybe I was half asleep when Nassib was under center but how did he hurt his chances tonight? I thought he was a bright spot. Passes were crisp and he has solid pocket presence. Didn't appear to become rattled after protection broke down.

TommyLee is not the biggest guy on the field but all dawg. I'd be surprised if he doesn't make the team.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Safety Erik Harris - why is he at FS? SS i can see. Never understood this move. Then again I have always said the saints had way too many SS and some are being played as FS. Harris is one.

Cornerback Damian Swann - On the outside? he was always best inside and off the line. So I am not would not panic.

How about those LT? LMAO If Khalif Barnes and Bryce Harris starting the season at LT will make for a long night for any QB on the field.

Onyemata is looking really good. He has made some huge strides

Al-Quadin Muhammad did catch my eye more than once

Marcus Williams looked alright out there.

Ted Ginn Jr. drops the ball Ted Ginn Jr. drops the ball Ted Ginn Jr. drops the ball

Biggest take away? Saints will be in the market in 2018 for DB and OL upgrades ?

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

I thought kikaha flashed too, which was nice to see.

Something that really gets under my skin is defensive secondary being cluless seemingly all the time. It's like they aren't aware of game situations...

You can't leave cushions bigger than you can reasonably close quickly, and you can't let anyone behind you if you've got no help. CMON man

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Haha pretty much

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Good.....
Nassib looked good.
Kamara , Lasxo and Victor all looked good.
Lewis catches everything.
Coleman looks good.
Vaccaro made plays.
Lutz is for real.
Anzalone, Bell, Muhammad, Williams, and M. Williams all flashed.

Bad.....
Harris is not good.
Grayson holds on to the ball too long.
It's good to see Swann and Kikaha out there, but they're just average at best. Swann too slow. Kikaha not big and strong enough. Easily engulfed.
The LB's over all were just pedestrian.
Anthony is just a down hill guy. Thinking and covering are not his strong suits.
The TE's were basically invisible.

Ugly.....
Another don't give a crap preseason loss. You have to try and win the games. It's an attitude that's been lacking under Payton.
Harris and Tom are not NFL O-Lineman.
Hands of stone Ginn. His days should be numbered.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Side note - I like what I saw from P.J. & Rafael Bush ... really solid tacklers & IIRC Vonn Bell blew up a WR early in the game.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

TG Jr. has always dropped footballs. Always. At 32, he is what he is.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

if tommy lee keeps putting up numbers as a no4 or 5; i'm sorry ted ginn but time to retire the hell with your speed its all for not man u can't grab a ball against the worst team in the freakin league, but u always made the saints look bad? just blows me away.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Tommy Lee Lewis should make the team over Ginn

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Situational awareness. To me, this seemed to be what frustrated Payton the most in his post-game presser.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

I watched the second half. Thanks to whomever it was that posted the link in the live game chat.

Looks like I saw the same things everyone else already posted...

Grayson didn't look like a professional quarterback. It looked like he was playing scared. Not sure what the author saw but Nassib looked poised, the offensive line didn't give him much help. Cadet didn't seem to have any urgency in his runs and if last night were the deciding factor, shouldn't make the team. Tommy Lee might be more than just a fan favorite. He could really turn into something if given the chance. Coleman held on to two passes that he would've dropped in the last couple seasons.

Defensive line looked good in the second half but the DBs looked dazed and confused. Harris may have played himself out of job. Linebackers in the second half were too aggressive and were easily fooled into overplaying their positions. Swann looked SLOW out there.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

We need an upgrade at O-line from Barnes. Move Peat to LT and solidify the line.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

No way Cadet makes it past final cut

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Blitz got us burned a few times. Pressure up front didn't look all that good considering all the hype in training camp. The secondary, I'm not even going there, yet, with Vaccarro the so called leader of the group. O-line play was no where near what it should or can be but I got faith they get their act together. Really kind of hard to judge the qb.'s because of line play with the O starters being out. I thought Gregg Williams played his D unit vanilla but was smart even then. I guess we can just chalk it up to preseason, hopefully anyway.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

I agree. As much as I liked him. He is not lost in a way crowded backfield and he can't see to find himself on ST's. Lasco at least can do that.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Its not just the numbers it is also the way he hustles on every play. His athletism shows more than the ones who played last night and the way he found a way to get open and find a window so the QB could get it to him was pretty awesome. I would like to see him running with the 1's and Brees.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Didn't like this signing; liked trading of Cooks even less????????

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Agree with everything except Kikaha. Give the guy a break ffs. A tenth of a second longer and he sacks Osweiler. He has heart and a motor. It was the first game action for quite some time since he got hurt. I think a rotation of him and Okafor is pretty solid.

And I also am on the fence with Anthony. But is it his fault he has the expectation of him that he does. IMO it is obvious he was not a first round talent and more of a third round. I think having him as depth is pretty good and I just hope that at some point, the light bulb turns on for him while he is playing for us. Its happened before. Players struggle for the first few yrs and then something clicks and they turn all pro. I can hope for that at least lol.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Where did Anthony have any blown coverages?

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Idk what game some of you were watching unless you have some PRE-conceived biases which it seems.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Sound byte from Kenny V after P/S game #1. Noticeably frustrated and I can't blame him.

Vaccaro: 'We need to win these preseason games'

Winning in pre season matters ...

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

I don't blame him either, we had no attitude or desire. Grayson looked like crap, we couldn't move the ball at all for a long period of the game.

How many consecutive preseason games have we lost now?

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

This is why I did not want him. So keep an eye on our next speed WR Corey Fuller in the next 3 games. I really believe as the drops coinue and the season wears on he will become the man.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

IMO it starts at the top. The plays called are not great plays. Go for it on 4th down for a td and you call a jet sweep? C'mon. You wanna know why we don't win pre season games? Just look at the coach. there is your answer.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

He didn't. He was clearly better than Grayson. Just like Crawley didn't help himself. It's a Duncan piece, so...

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Crawley played great except on one play where he missed the press and the wr got over the top of him and caught a pass that could've been a td if he kept both feet in bound. One PI called on him was stupid and the other one was necessary( he took the fade away and the pass was a comeback route) He was still in their with tight coverage just too soon but showed great reaction.


Bell, I perceive him to becoming a ballhawk but he more like a thumper. His read and reaction look to be up to par.

Vacarro did it all, great coverage and diagnosis the plays. Contract year, this guy look to be looking at a lot of film on his opponents

P. J. Williams, played great. No hesitation in his tackling after that brutal concussion. Still I'll like to see his head far away from those knees.

Devante Harris played great, would've like to seen more attempts at him.

Bad

Swann too slow to be guessing wrong. No recover speed at all. The wr was actually slowing down to wait on the ball and still had a yard or two separation when the ball got there

E Harris no excuse as the last line of defense letting a reciever get over the top. Special teams is no guarantee

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

I disagree; Kikaha kept getting held(only 1 was flagged)... That's the only way they could keep him out the backfield...

Anthony, T'eo, and Anzalone all had their moments... T'eo and Anzalone were good in coverage...

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Garrett Grayson didnt play as bad as you all made it seem

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

And Anthony our LB played well

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Good Look:

1. Hau'oli Kikiha - He looked great coming off the edge on passing downs. He doesn't have the speed and quickness I desire from an EDGE rusher, but he's relentless and somehow seems to still apply pressure.

2. A.J. Klein - I kept my eyes on him the entire time he was on the field. He's excellent in coverage and diagnosing plays. I watched him shade the receiver up the seam then come down to make the tackle on the checkdown before he could get the first. That's exactly the kind of plays we need from that position.

3. P.J. Williams - He's shedding blocks. He's in good position during coverage. He's a willing and capable tackler. He's long and athletic. I'm excited to see him get more experience and I expect him to start this year barring injury.

4. Kenny Vacarro - His motor is high. He looks inspired and reminds me of his rookie season. He's diagnosing plays and cutting through traffic to make the tackle. Hopefully he keeps it up.

5. Alvin Kamara - The film speaks for itself. Patience. Vision. Burst. Strength. Versatility. Great pick.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

We all know Cadet was done when they draft Kamara. Lewis becomes our 4th receiver and kick returner. Nassib could be the guy Grayson can't but I still think we have one on our roster or we need to draft one next year. Lots of QBS next year. Loewen is a great surprise as is Crawley. We all knew Lutz was no Clutz. Harris is better and so is Swann. This is just the 1st pre-season game. I hope the team doesn't look at us posting in preseason because the team would go 2-20 every year!

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Maybe Lewis will beat him out?:confused:

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

Anything is possible. What I do appreciate about Coach Payton is that he respects players who are gamers (see DStallworth who was cut in favor of The Great M Colston). TLL is making the most of his snaps ... when the lights come on, he has performed.

Ginn better turn it up a notch or run the risk of dropping down the WR roster and/ or subsequently cut. There is also Fuller who coaches must evaluate.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

I'll rewatch the game when I have a chance; maybe I confused Crawley with someone else, but I could swear I saw him out of place and getting beat often.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

I would cut bait with Hill. Can't block. Always injured. Harbor looks much more solid.

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

In a vacuum, maybe.

But when you consider he's been under Payton and Brees for 2 seasons and 3 camps, and a guy off the street comes in and looks better than him, well...

Re: 5 Saints who helped, and 5 who hurt themselves vs. Cleveland
 

T'eo in coverage? I have some serious questions here. I saw why the saints run him off the field on passing downs. I see a two down LB that may have issues in coverage. maybe too much of an old school MLB skill set for todays NFL. but new system so lets wait and see.