Football is back!! While the regular season is still weeks away, preseason games have already begun and are ready to give fans a glimpse of what is to come this season. The Saints have their first preseason tilt Friday, August 9th at 8 PM EST in the Superdome versus the Minnesota Vikings.

With positional battles piping hot and players itching for just a couple plays to prove themselves, preseason football is a different time of the season. Let’s preview the Saints preseason opener.

Familiar Foe

The Saints and Vikings participated in a Sunday night showdown during Week 8 of last season. New Orleans would win the affair by a score of 30-20. Supported by a reliable defensive performance and the leg of Wil Lutz, the offense did not need to do much in this victory.

Drew Brees threw for just 120 yards and one touchdown while also surrendering his first interception of the season. Running back Alvin Kamara did score twice, one receiving and one rushing touchdown, but neither he nor Mark Ingram broke 100 yards for the game. The offense gained just 270 yards on the day.

The defense was an entirely different story. The pass rush was disruptive sacking Vikings QB Kirk Cousins four times, two apiece from defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and rookie defensive end Marcus Davenport. The Saints were also able to hit Cousins a total of nine times throughout the game, continually providing pressure in the pocket.

The Saints defense would also secure two crucial turnovers which would help them put the game away for good. With just over a minute left in the second quarter with the ball at the Saints 18-yard line, Cousins found wide receiver Adam Thielen on a short pass. However, Thielen would fumble, and DB Marshon Lattimore scooped up the ball and returned it 54 yards before getting tackled by WR Laquon Treadwell.

After the play, Treadwell slammed his helmet on the ground and was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at the Minnesota 33, giving the Saints the ball at the Minnesota 18-yard line. Talk about swapping field position.

The Saints would lock up this victory reasonably quickly in the second half. On the Vikings second drive of the third quarter, Cousins attempted to find WR Stefon Diggs. However, due to miscommunication between the two on the route, cornerback P.J. Williams was able to intercept the pass and take it 45 yards to the house.

From a box score standard, it is not the prettiest win for the Saints. Both Thielen and Diggs passed 100 receiving yards, but in the end, the defense held. Bend but don’t break, the mark in the win column is all that matters.

New Saints face former squad

The Saints signed a few former-Vikings during this past offseason: RB Latavius Murray, C/G Nick Easton, and CB Marcus Sherels. All three of these players should see ample time on the field against their former team this Friday.

Murray, who filled in admirably for the Vikings during Dalvin Cook’s injuries, is the back up running back in New Orleans. However, do not expect the Saints to give Kamara a heavy workload on Friday. With a whole host of backs on the roster, Murray should get some uninterrupted playtime while the team tries to declutter the backfield.

Easton missed last season after being placed on injured reserve due to a bulging disc in his neck. He will undoubtedly see some playtime Friday as the Saints continue to iron out their plans for the offensive line. After Max Unger’s retirement early in the offseason, New Orleans wasted no time addressing the situation. The Saints signed Easton during free agency and drafted former Texas A&M Aggie Erik McCoy in the second round of the 2019 draft.

So far it looks as though McCoy is excelling in that battle, but Easton can be used along the line. The Saints offensive line rotation is solid but adding depth is never an issue, and there is still plenty of time for positional battles to be rectified.

What to Watch for

The battle for the center position in New Orleans will steal the show, but there are other pieces to keep an eye on as well. First and foremost is the depth at wide receiver. Michael Thomas is a $20 million man, Ted Ginn Jr. is coming back from injury, but what else is on this Saints roster? Tre’Quan Smith flashed potential last season but can he make the jump to consistent contributor? The same goes for Keith Kirkwood.

The Saints chose to stand pat in free agency on the wide receiver front but did sign some undrafted rookies who have impressed early. Emmanuel Butler, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, and second-year receiver Simmie Cobbs have shown what they can do in practice, but can their early signs translate to an NFL game?

One position battle that will surprise some throughout the preseason is at defensive end. Cameron Jordan is far and away the number one guy on the line, but behind him, things get a bit murky. Marcus Davenport had a respectable rookie season. However, for the number of assets the Saints used to acquire him in the 2018 draft, they are going to need him to produce more, is he up to the task?

Behind Davenport is Trey Hendrickson and former New York Giants defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. Both Edwards and Hendrickson should be able to find a supporting role in the pass rush.

Overall, the preseason is fun. While many jobs are already locked in the NFL, there is still a good amount up for grabs. It does not matter if you were a first-round pick or an undrafted rookie if you deserve the starting spot, you will get it.