The New Orleans Saints squeaked out a win in their first preseason on a game-winning field goal from Charlie Smyth. The offense, in particular, was sloppy for the black and gold in their first real game action.
Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler both had some highlights, but the running game never found much traction. The first-team offense barely moved the ball in two drives. A.T. Perry solidified himself as a notable player on offense, though.
On the flip-side, the offensive line struggled mightily outside of a couple of players, and the Saints had nine penalties. A handful of those flags were mental mistakes pre-snap. Those have become too much of an occurrence under head coach Dennis Allen.
One veteran player was not pleased with the team's overall performance from a mental standpoint on Saturday.
Saints TE Foster Moreau frustrated after first preseason win
Clearly, Moreau did not feel like it was an outing worth celebrating, outside of Smyth's big-time field goal make for his first as a pro.
He's not wrong, either. New Orleans did not learn too much from the game, outside of what they've been suggesting all offseason.
They must be more consistent on the offensive line, and wide receiver depth is questionable, at best, as the roster currently stands.
In Week 2 of the preseason, New Orleans is probably hopeful that a few more players stand out as guys making a difference, particularly on offense. Expect some new looks at wideout and some changes on the OL in order to find the best fits for Klint Kubiak's unit to begin the 2024 regular season.
With a tough schedule to start, New Orleans cannot afford to take too long to get off the ground.
