Posts Tagged New Orleans Saints

Live Game Grades Intro

Follow below for how specific New Orleans Saints players perform versus the Jacksonville Jaguars in Friday’s preseason Week 2 game. Grades are real-time.

Final grades are not an average, but my take on how each player performed.

After each quarter, I’ll update the grades for the following positions as a whole: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, defensive line, linebacker and defensive back. I’ll also hand out quarterly grades for the entire special teams unit.

Check out each section for live, in-game reaction.

Quarterbacks

Q1: B
Q2: A
Q3: B
Q4: A
OVERALL: B+

Believe it or not, Chase Daniel overshadowed Drew Brees in Friday’s 27-24 loss to Jacksonville. Brees is definitely the starter and there’s no way that changes without a major injury, but Daniel showed he’s a more-than-capable backup.

Running Backs

Q1: B
Q2: B
Q3: A-
Q4: A
OVERALL: B+

The big story Friday was the battle between Travaris Cadet and Chris Ivory. Cadet is making a case that he’s a more valuable fourth running back than Ivory.

It’ll be some time before the Saints make their decision.

Ivory carried the ball 10 times for 43 yards and Cadet got three carried for 28 yards. Cadet also had five catches for 62 yards and a touchdown.

Wide Receivers

Q1: C
Q2: A
Q3: A
Q4: B
OVERALL: B

Of the Saints’ 26 receptions Friday, 14 went to running backs or tight ends. The wide receivers weren’t a huge part of the attack against Jacksonville.

When called upon, Joseph Morgan shined and could have inched his way up the depth chart a bit.

Tight Ends

Q1: C
Q2: N/A
Q3: B+
Q4: B
OVERALL: B-

Michael Higgins made five catches Friday, all in the second half. He was a favorite target for Daniel after Brees left the game.

The first-team offense made two attempts to get Jimmy Graham involved, but both passes were knocked down.

Offensive Line

Q1: B
Q2: D
Q3: B
Q4: B
OVERALL: B-

The offensive line gave Chase Daniel all the time in the world for his first touchdown pass of the game. Daniel hit Morgan on a 53-yard bomb to tie the game at 17.

The unit also was tasked with heavy run blocking so the coaching staff could examine the battle at running back between Cadet and Ivory. The line opened holes for both backs, especially in the middle.

Defensive Line

Q1: C
Q2: C
Q3: B-
Q4: B
OVERALL: C+

The front four had an up-and-down game to say the least. At times the pass rush was great. But also at times, mental mistakes were made that hurt the team.

The biggest takeaway was poor run defense. The Jaguars ran for 170 yards, many through gaping holes in the defensive line.

Linebackers

Q1: D
Q2: B
Q3: B
Q4: C
OVERALL: C+

The second- and third-team linebackers did a better job than the starters and had few mistakes and missed tackles.

The player of the unit was Jonathan Casillas who had three tackles and was a force in the middle.

Defensive Backs

Q1: D
Q2: C-
Q3: B
Q4: C
OVERALL: C-

Elbert Mack had a great game, as he fights to move up the depth chart, but the secondary will be haunted for letting the Jaguars drive the field late to take the lead and eventually win the game.

Penalties hurt late in the game, while missed tackles hurt early.

Special Teams

Q1: C-
Q2: D
Q3: B
Q4: B
OVERALL: C

The kickers were perfect on the night, hitting a field goal and three extra points. Thomas Morstead landed two of his four punts inside the 20-yard line but didn’t have a great per punt average.

Travaris Cadet averaged 28.3 yards per return on kickoffs to further boost his worth for making the roster.

The Saints struggled in kick coverage and punt returns.

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