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jeanpierre

BY NICK UNDERHILL | NUNDERHILL@THEADVOCATE.COM AUG 17, 2018 - 11:45 PM

Start with the good.


The New Orleans Saints defense looked much better than it did a week ago. The group was organized, generated pressure and got off the field on third down on each of the first two drives it defended during Friday night's 20-15 preseason home loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

It was about as good as you could ask for from the first-team defense.

One of the big takeaways from the performance is that defensive end Trey Hendrickson has probably flown under the radar too much in training camp. He was consistently in the backfield against Arizona and made a good play to get off the field on the Cardinals' second drive, blowing up tight end Ricky Seals-Jones and dropping Cardinals running back David Johnson for a 1-yard loss on third down.

Hendrickson had a similarly strong performance against Jacksonville. Right now, it looks like the Saints could have a decent rotation of defensive ends if Alex Okafor, who suffered an injury in practice Wednesday, gets healthy. It will be even better if rookie Marcus Davenport gets healthy and up to speed, but he remains out of action.

But the bad? The bad was probably as bad as it can be. Reserve quarterback Taysom Hill was as hyped as any player on the team, and he just didn’t look the part Friday night.

That didn't look like a quarterback who could develop into an eventual starter. He seemed like a guy who struggled with the moment. This might be an overreaction to the moment, of course, but the first impression was really bad.

Two fumbled snaps on play-action fakes. Two interceptions, one of which was Hill's fault. That isn’t good enough. That doesn’t look like a guy who you could trust to come in as Drew Brees' backup. Hill needs to do a lot of improving. The inclination was to focus on the good things he did against Jacksonville, but perhaps that was the wrong approach.

Williams starts well
Running back Jonathan Williams was rewarded for his performance in the preseason opener against the Jaguars by working some with the first-team offense against the Cardinals. He responded with two good carries while running behind the starting offensive line.

His first one gained 7 yards, and then he came back to pick up 19 on his next carry after breaking a pair of tackles on his way down the field. Things didn’t go as well once he was behind the second offensive line, and it looked like Williams missed a blitz pickup during the second quarter.

Mark Ingram still looked like the most dynamic back on the field. He picked up a solid 32 yards on seven carries. Williams had a pair of solid carries. Does that set him ahead of the others? He probably maintained his spot in the pecking order. Still, it would be good to see him get a couple more touches with the starters next week against the Chargers during joint practices and the game.

Bunched up
The Saints had issues defending bunch formations last year, surrendering 22 catches on 25 targets for 187 yards. The same problem showed up when Arizona's Gabe Holmes caught a pass out of the look for a gain of 17.

But perhaps New Orleans deserves a pass on this one: Linebacker Manti Te’o was picked, which freed up the wide receiver to get open down the field. Other than that, the first-team defense appeared organized and didn’t have the same issues it experienced last week against Jacksonville when it blew a couple of coverages. Positive steps forward for the group.

Bad timing
Hopefully it isn’t bad for Devaroe Lawrence. He was pretty far down the radar before the Jacksonville game. Then he showed up with a pair of sacks last week. He came back in the first half against Arizona with a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage and then put a linenab on skates for a pressure right at the end of the second quarter.

Lawrence had just made another tackle before being knocked out of action in the third quarter. This looked like a guy climbing the depth chart. The hope has to be that he avoided significant injury.

Wide reviews
It was good to see Cam Meredith back in action for the Saints after he battled a minor injury last week. New Orleans is expecting him to be a significant piece of the offense. He's on the hook for one of Hill's interceptions. The ball hit Meredith square in the hands and then popped up for an interception. It was his only target of the game. Rookie Tre'Quan Smith, however, continues to impress. He made a 24-yard reception on an in route late in the first half, and then gained 17 yards on a crossing route. Smith has been the team's big-play guy this preseason.

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

dizzle88

Hendrickson played with fire, he looked much more comfortable and was in the backfield the majority of his playing time.

The roughing penalty they called on him was absolute BS, the QB hadn't even let go of the ball yet and lowered his head when he saw Hendrickson in his face.

Barry from MS

I'm good with Hendrickson playing opposite Cam. I saw him at least twice set the edge on run plays against the 1s & he made an unassisted tackle on one of them. Quick off the snap, too.

If Lawrence don't make the 53 he ain't gonna be on the PS for long...he's been lights out. Stallworth & Loewen are playing very well, too.

Still unimpressed with Klien, and Kikaha looks slow, slow, slow. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if Kikaha gets to watch this season from the couch.

st thomas

looks like kikatha's knee injuries in college and here have caught up with the record setting sack man out of wash. really hoped for the best of him, but if he gets the axe .he could fill a hole if needed.

jeanpierre

Hendrickson is playing like a guy out to prove he's not going to be a career backup but a legit starter; knew this when I scouted him last year...

Plus I'm sentimental about his selection as I won a free CD because of it...

WillMacKenzie

Anyone concerned about our front 7 getting bulldozed 5 yards into the endzone?

That play in particular bothered me

Rugby Saint II

Which one of these D-linemen is the camp gem? Where did all this depth come from? And can we sneak any of these players onto the practice Squad, or will they get poached? Decisions. Decisions. Decisions..........

Barry from MS

Hendrickson, with Lawrence right behind him.

This depth came from good coaching since Bill "I quit working after 2011" Johnson departed after 2016 season. We've drafted well up front, too, with Jordan, Hendrickson, Rankins, Onyemata & Davison all here via the draft and each have gained so much experience even being as young as they are. Drafted talent, no less, as all these except Davison picked before the 5th rd.

And I believe wholeheartedly that there will be a poaching going on for both our defense & offense P.S. players. Great problem to have, though. 3-4 years ago our defense cuts would be starting or playing a bunch of snaps.

"I'd far rather be happy than right any day" ~ Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
"Honor: if you need it defined, you don't have it" ~ Ron Swanson

AsylumGuido

That you did.

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