Let's start with this simple fact: NFL preseason games are hard to watch.
In the first seven possessions of Saturday night's 16-14 New Orleans win at Arizona, the Saints and Cardinals ran 32 plays for a grand total of 41 yards – that's 1.3 yards per play – with four penalties.
And here's the thing, the Saints are running a lot of fun stuff in their California camp.
We saw none of that in Arizona.
To call the Saints offense "vanilla" is an insult to vanilla.
Vanilla is one of the world's most loved spices and I think what the Saints ran was closer to an unflavored gelatin offense.
But there were still things to learn.
We start our 'Four Takeaways" with the guy who led the game-winning drive.
4) Rattle & Hum
Spencer Rattler started camp slowly, but has played better and better as practices have worn on.
You could say the same thing about Jake Haener, but I think Rattler probably has the bigger upside. Rattler has NFL ability to at least be a solid backup.
And this was a good start.
Now, his numbers Saturday (9/17, 70 yards, 1 rushing TD) were terrible and that quarterback rating (63.4) would be the worst of any starter in the NFL. but with the game on the line, Rattler got the Saints in position for the game-winning field goal.
And their Irish backup kicker Charlie Smyth hit it.
Rattler's cool under pressure. At the end of the game – even in a game that doesn't count – means something, although Rattler and fellow backup Haener will only play this season if Derek Carr gets hurt.
3) 17 and rising...
But at No. 3, a guy who could earn some real playing time this season – wideout A.T. Perry
Perry had more yards from scrimmage than anybody in the game. He was not good for the first two weeks of camp, but he's now got some momentum.
And remember, most of his production last season came in the final six games.
Saturday's performance was exactly what he needed.
2) O-line questions linger
At No. 2, the questions on the Saints offensive line remain questions.
These are your five starters for now.
Three spots are solid.
Two question marks.
These three are the three you don't need to worry about.
Rookie left tackle Taliese Fuaga is gonna be fine.
These are the two concerning spots – Trevor Penning and Lucas Patrick.
Each played 22 official snaps over four possessions which produced zero points.
Patrick played nine snaps at left guard and 13 at center.
He was better at guard.
Beaten badly up the middle on one play in the Saints' third possession, but he did some good things. Overall, I'd say he was OK.
Penning struggled on a half dozen of his 22 snaps.
I would describe it as not horrible, but certainly not good.
It's the same thing we saw in camp.
He's extremely inconsistent.
Will he be the starter in the opener?
I think it could still go either way.
1) Saints 'D' is key
And at No. 1, Willie Gay and the defense are the keys to the Saints success.
Saturday, Gay showed what we've seen in camp – a dynamic playmaker who gives Dennis Allen interesting personnel options.
So does Chase Young, who looks like a great addition, and Bryan Bresee showed flashes Saturday. I think he takes a major step forward.
On Arizona's first three possessions, they did not get a first down.
I know Desmond Ridder is not a quality NFL quarterback, but the defensive effort from the Saints frontline guys was excellent and it must be excellent for the Saints to win because the offense is likely gonna take a while.
It sure looks like winning with defense is gonna have to be the Saints formula, and that's my '4 Takeaways' from the preseason opener in Phoenix.
The Saints travel to San Francisco to face the 49ers in preseason game No. 2 on Sunday.
