August 11, 2016
The NFL preseason will officially kickoff tonight with six games on the schedule. That is good news for the league after the Hall of Fame game was cancelled on Sunday.
Tonight is the first preseason game for the New Orleans Saints after a season last year that ended with a 7-9 record and the team missing the playoffs. New Orleans had to watch division rival, Carolina Panthers, reach the Super Bowl.
New Orleans will start the preseason on the road against the New England Patriots. Both teams have spent some time this week holding joint practices before tonight’s game.
While waiting for the game to kickoff tonight, here are five things to watch when both teams take the field.
The Saints backup quarterback job:
New Orleans starting quarterback Drew Brees more than likely won’t play more than four series. It wouldn’t be surprising if he is done after just one series, with this being the first preseason game.
That means the bulk of the work will go to backups Luke McCown and Garrett Grayson. McCown was the man behind Brees’ last season and wasn’t terrible in the spot work he got when the quarterback was out with an injury.
While McCown wasn’t horrible last season, he wasn’t nearly the player Brees is when he is healthy. He looks to have the backup job locked down, but it would be nice if he had a good showing this preseason.
Grayson, on the other hand, is entering his second year after the Saints drafted him in the third round of the 2015 draft with the 75th overall pick. He showed some nice things last preseason, but was nowhere near ready to be backup or looked to be the heir apparent to Brees.
Grayson’s growth will be one of the major things to watch this preseason. He should start to push McCown for the backup job before this season ends.
If he doesn’t show growth as a quarterback as the preseason progresses, then the Saints might have to use another draft pick this spring. It would work out best for New Orleans if Grayson developed to be the next quarterback after Brees’ time with the Saints is done.
The Patriots look to start Jimmy Garoppolo over Tom Brady:
Since Brady is suspended for the first four games of the season, it makes a ton of sense for the Patriots to start the third-year quarterback. Garoppolo was drafted to be the next quarterback after Brady retires.
As he enters his third season in the NFL, it is time for Garoppolo to show he can play. He also might be auditioning for a new job elsewhere.
This game loses some luster, as only one of the two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks will see the field tonight, and limited action as well.
Will the defense improve over 2015?
The New Orleans defense was terrible last season. If this year’s team is going to make the playoffs, it would help if the defense improves.
Several players are worth watching tonight.
One of the biggest players to watch is first-round draft pick Sheldon Rankins. Drafted with the 12th overall pick, Rankins is supposed to improve the pass rush and stop the run. The defensive tackle also picked off Brady during practice this week.
While checking out Rankins, also see how defensive tackle Nick Farley does with the Saints. New Orleans signed Farley during the offseason, and the former Auburn University star has yet to live up to his play in college football.
New Orleans signed linebacker James Laurinaitis, who the Rams cut. He should be able to help this team.
The Saints will also get a long look at young secondary players P.J. Williams, Ken Crawley and De’Vante Harris. Both Crawley and Harris are undrafted rookie free agents.
All the new pieces and returning players on defense need to show that the unit has improved.
Saints rookies:
Rankins has already been mentioned and will get the bulk of the spotlight this preseason. He is just one of five picks the Saints made in the 2016 draft.
New Orleans drafted a pair of players from Ohio State University in wide receiver Michael Thomas and safety Vonn Bell. Both were taken in the second round and should make an impact early in their careers.
Rankin, Thomas and Bell are the three players who should see the field early out of this draft class. All three need to pan out if this team is going to turn around and reach the postseason.
Other rookies are fourth-round pick David Onyemata, defensive tackle, out of Manitoba and seventh-round pick Daniel Lasco, running back, out of the University of California at Berkeley. Onyemata and Lasco should be special-team players if they make the team.
Mississippi ties:
Both teams have players with ties to Mississippi.
The Patriots have several players who have ties to our state. Running back LeGarrette Blount played at East Mississippi Community College before heading onto the University of Oregon.
Kicker Stephen Gostkowski was a star at Madison Central High School before heading to the University of Memphis. Cornerback Malcolm Butler was a star at Vicksburg High School before he went to the University of West Alabama.
Former University of Southern Mississippi linebacker Jamie Collins is a star on the New England defense. Running back Brandon Bolden was a star at the University of Mississippi before coming to New England.
New Orleans brings back guard Kaleb Eulls, who started at Mississippi State University, for his second year. The Saints also have a pair of former Rebels in safety Jamarca Sanford and defensive back Trae Elston.
Tonight’s game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Catch it on WDBD, or channel 40 in Jackson.
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