Rating: (0 votes - average)

It looked done.

Maybe done is too strong of a word, but it was close. Until Saturday night, no one had ever considered the possibility that someone other than Michael Thomas, Cam Meredith, Ted Ginn Jr. or Tre’Quan Smith would lock down one of the top four receiver spots.

Then Saturday came, and Austin Carr was playing with ht first team against Los Angeles Chargers. It didn’t mean anything, right? Sometimes the coaching staff likes to do things as an experiment or to work a specific situation, sort of like running a draw play to Mark Ingram on third-and-7 like they did Saturday night.



“The depth chart is written in chalk,” coach Sean Payton said when asked if the battle at wide receiver is ongoing. “It’s not permanent ink.”

So, after talking a week ago about how the play at wide receiver has been underwhelming and lamenting the mistakes made by those players, Payton let the group know nothing is promised to any of them.

Does that mean that someone other than the presumed four will be at the top of the rotation? The fact this topic has come up after each of the last two games, it feels like this is now a little more serious than using the media as a motivational tactic. It seems like Payton and his staff really are evaluating all options.

Now, smart money says the presumed four guys figure out whatever they need to figure out and lock down the jobs, but this isn’t a good year to be slipping up at wide receiver (or, really, any number of positions). There is a lot of talent at the position and someone like Carr, who stuck around for a whole season despite not making any meaningful contributions, has been waiting all summer for an opportunity to show what he can do. When he got it, he stepped up and caught three passes for 38 yards.

In some regards, this group of receivers is deeper than most seasons. Drew Brees said after the game that he sees seven or eight players who deserve to make the team. At best, that number shouldn’t exceed six, and some years it has been as low as four.

And there is something to be said for experience, which is something Carr possesses and only helps his cause.

“I feel like there are some guys who have been in the system a little bit and maybe they have two years of practice squad experience under their belt or a year of playing in a limited role,” Brees said. “Bottom line is that they have a couple years in our system and they become more confident and have more of a comfort level, not just in the system but with me.

read more on The Advocate

Carr may have made the team tonight.

The Dude

Lewis is going to be hard to cut too. I can see Merideth not make the team.

Rugby Saint II

Meredith is being brought along slowly and Payton likes him. I believe he'll be fine. TLL is probably on his way out with Boston Scott filling the mighty mouse role. Austin Carr is making a strong case for a roster spot and is going to make cut downs super difficult at WR. 5 or 6?

K Major

Speaking of WR ... anyone notice that Keith Kirkwood didn't play against the Chargers? I don't believe he was injured.

Will the Saints try to stash him on the practice squad?

Beastmode

Either way we are better at WR than last year. Rest of the Division I don't see much improvement.

rezburna

The board is sleeping on Meredith. Watch him once he gets healthy.

K Major

Except me brother .

He's still warming up to game speed. His ACL/MCL tear was severe. Those Adrian Peterson type returns to beast mode in 10 months aren't normal.

You have to be patient with Meredith.

Beastmode

Meredith not doing himself any favors. He's buried deep right now. I could see him being relevant 3/4 into the season when teams have wrote him off.

rezburna

He was brought here to be a slot receiver. He’s meant to be a 3. He’s not buried behind anybody. Ginn isn’t a slot. Tre’Quan Smith could possibly do it, but he’s primarily being pushed to replace Ginn as the 2. Austin Carr is preseason hype. Meredith was brought in here for a specific role. His position in the offense is set. They’re just waiting for him to get healthy.

frydaddy

Agreed. I think Teddy G is in more danger of being the odd man out. Once Cam is healthy and settled in I think he'll be a clear upgrade from Snead. No disrespect to slick Willie, but he's not the matchup problem CM can be.