Saints preseason woes are a huge concern

Jun 16, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Coby Fleener (82) waits to start a drill with the tight ends during the final day of minicamp at the New Orleans Saints Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 16, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Coby Fleener (82) waits to start a drill with the tight ends during the final day of minicamp at the New Orleans Saints Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Saints are lucky that the preseason games mean absolutely nothing, because they’ve been playing like a tanking team that’s hoping to secure the top pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.


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For the third-straight week, nobody on the team impressed, except for Michael Thomas two weeks ago. Drew Brees can’t even play well in the preseason, completing just nine passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. The constant three-and-outs could be an indication that there’s plenty wrong with this group.

Once again, the defense has shown signs of being in for a long season. For example, they gave up 31 completions for 342 yards and three touchdowns to the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks. They allowed a respectable 75 rushing yards, but that’s virtually meaningless when you’re not stopping the passing game.

The Saints were supposed to be showing more talent and improvement, but none of the newcomers or new coaches have shown differences. Any time the starters are out, they’re being lit up like Christmas trees–and those don’t happen until December. This team is playing with zero confidence or pride in the preseason, but you’re expecting it to suddenly get better when their opponents are motivated to win more? And when the starters are playing full-time?

Maybe the Saints are just playing poorly in the preseason and could, for all we know, be a very dangerous squad come playoff time. But right now, they look absolutely dreadful. If they look like this in preseason, it’s hard to think they can be great in the regular season. Time will tell how they turn things around in two weeks.

 

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