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jeanpierre

BY NICK UNDERHILL | NUNDERHILL@THEADVOCATE.COM AUG 25, 2018 - 11:59 PM

CARSON, Calif. — 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 the 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.

“I feel like I have good chemistry with a lot of guys and I wish we can keep them all.”

It makes the next week of practices all the more interesting. Leading up to Saturday, it was easy to dismiss a miscommunication like the one between Brees and Meredith that led to an interception last week as something that would get cleaned up. The same goes for Ginn lining up wrong during a recent practice or Smith messing up his splits the previous game.

But at a certain point, the coaching staff has to start demanding more and repeat offenders have to be weeded out. This offense is all about timing. Quite often, Brees is throwing passes based on how the defense is playing something. If the receivers are not lined up correctly, those throws fall incomplete or worse.

That’s where trust comes into play. It probably hasn’t reached the point where any of the top four players have fallen that far out of favor, but time is almost up, and the issues must resolve quickly.

Whether or not Carr actually makes the team or someone loses snaps is up in the air. But this is much is clear: The Saints are expecting more from their receivers than they’re getting.

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

jeanpierre

The last two weeks, from my vantage point, Tre'Quan was passing Ted Ginn as the Z-receiver on the depth chart...

Ginn may end up being a cap savings move if he doesn't get lined up right and doesn't finish plays with max effort...

jeanpierre

Another reason to support the argument that Tre'Quan is passing Ginn on the chart...

Cruize

I would start Thomas, Smith and Carr. Ginn makes the squad. Let's end that conversation. He's too valuable overall. Meredith just isn't ready yet and after his injury, it's understandable. But, to me, that's five locks. TLL deserves a spot for his versatility. But, Scott can handle the return duties as the 4th RB. And I think he should be the returner. He looks natural and runs north/south. So, it's a numbers game for TLL. My guess is he gets cut.

ChrisXVI

I would not at all say that Ginn is safe. We’ve traded away Jimmy Graham, Darren Sproles and Brandin Cooks at the height of their success with us so it’s crazy to think we can’t move on from Ginn.

jeanpierre

Great perspective...

vpheughan

Trading players at the "Height" of their careers, remind you of any coach who wears a hoodie and doesn't say anything at his pressers?

Beastmode

Not reading through the cut and paste stuff but Cameron Meridith is buried deeep on the WR corp, which I stated very clearly would happen. Great on a garbage team but won't cut it here. He makes the team by default just like he become a WR in Chicago. He's not going to cut it unless we have a lead in the 4th. But I'm the devil.

Barry from MS

Cam became expendible when Tre'Quan exploded this TC. I mean, Meredith doesn't even have a catch in 3 preseason games. Carr is ahead of him as is TLL. Unless they're hiding him on purpose, Cam is bubbly.