We’ll preview the season and I’ll tell you what I think about that next week, but hey I’m not going to tailor the excitement right now, we could be in Kansas city or Cleveland or a number of other teams where the football this preseason had been down right awful. So enjoy fleur de lis faithful.
Okay so this week what’s hot, well we know the starters won’t play very long, “Probably very minimal with the starters, maybe give them a series if that,” said Saints head coach Sean Payton this week.
Running back Reggie Bush may play. “I am confident he’s gotten plenty of work in the practices, but I’d like to see him get some work in this game, maybe a quarter if it’s possible,” Payton says. Bush has been nursing a calf strain. “We’ll just see where he’s at and if not we just got to be judicious as we bring him back in.”
The fourth preseason game is mainly for those handfuls of players hoping to do all they can to earn a roster spot.
It’s pretty clear where the quote unquote battles will be. Let’s start on offense.
Running back: Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell are your keepers. Will the team keep a fourth tailback? Lynell Hamilton is a favorite of Payton citing that he loves the way Hamilton has pushed for a roster spot. “I like the way he runs. He plays hard. He’s working hard. I don’t know that there’s a player that’s worked harder in the offseason than Lynell Hamilton has.”
P.J. Hill and Herb Donaldson are competing at this point to see who will be on the practice squad I believe.
Wide receiver: Specifically the fifth wide out is up for grabs. Skyler Green, Courtney Roby, rod Harper and Adrian Arrington all are battling for it. Green, Roby and Harper contribute on special team via kick returning, Arrington doesn’t but is the truest receiver of the lot. Arrington hurt his hammy in Oakland, injuries have hurt his chances all offseason. The edge right now goes to Harper, although Payton hints at a possible sixth spot and likes Arrington
Defensively I don’t see many surprises come cut day, the secondary really being the only battle. Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter are your starters at the cornerback position. Malcolm Jenkins and Randall Gay follow as immediate back-ups. Leigh Torrence and Danny Gorrer could be battling for a spot. At safety, Roman Harper and Darren Shaper start, with Usama Young safely backing them up and then it’s between Pierson Prioleau a Gregg Williams guy. Chris Reis and rookie Chip Vaugh also are in the mix. I think Vaugh goes to IR however due to a knee injury early in training camp and I like Reis to stay.
The linebacker battle is between Jonathan Casillias and Anthony waters as one or neither of them may stay. Troy Evan, Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Marvin Mitchell are safe.
Cuts have to be made by sat evening so we’ll know for sure then, and then thankfully the regular season kicks off at home against Detroit Sunday September 13
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