The New Orleans Saints had a disappointing performance against the Los Angeles Rams. Although a few players impressed and raised their stock, more are trending down.
Before we begin, being labelled as a “loser” doesn’t mean their season is over. After all, it’s only the preseason. However, it’s a sign that they must improve. Likewise, being a “winner” doesn’t guarantee a roster spot.
Despite that, it’s an excellent indication of a player's performance and how they’re trending. Here are the two winners and four losers from the Saints' second preseason game.
Moliki Matavao headlines the winners in his limited opportunities.
Moliki Matavao
Moliki Matavao has been forgotten about after a forgetful rookie year and quiet offseason. However, he was impressive and reeled in three catches for 34 yards against the Rams, including a spectacular contested catch down the sideline. He won’t contend with Juwan Johnson, Noah Fant, and Oscar Delp, but he’s a desirable practice squad player who could make the roster if Kellen Moore keeps four tight ends.
TJ Hall
TJ Hall won’t light up the stat sheet, but he had a solid day. The seventh-round pick tallied one pass deflection on Saturday and was arguably their best cornerback. The defensive back unit isn’t set in stone, meaning Hall could contend for a roster spot. He’s more likely to be a practice squad option, but this performance will open some eyes.
Saints quarterback battle may be the biggest low point of the game
Devin Neal
Devin Neal had a pristine opportunity to solidify himself as the third-string running back with Kendre Miller playing and Audric Estime missing time with injury. However, disaster struck when Neal suffered an unknown injury on his second carry of the day. The position battle isn’t over, but the odds are stacked against him, especially if he misses time.
QB battle
It’s important not to overreact, but Zach Wilson and Spencer Rattler struggled immensely. The backup quarterback battle was viewed positively before this week, with both Wilson and Rattler having a great offseason.
Sadly, that’s on hold after a putrid performance by both options. Neither one of them took advantage, meaning this battle is still 50/50, just with a bleaker outlook.
Kickers
The Saints have no clarity in their kicking battle after a disappointing performance from Tanner Brown, missing a 39-yard field goal, and no attempts from Charlie Smyth. The only takeaway from the position is that there are serious question marks present, which isn't surprising after an inconsistent offseason from both players.
Discipline
The Saints committed a staggering 12 penalties against the Rams. This was an issue in Kellen Moore’s first season, and it hasn’t shown any signs of improvement. They must stop the mass penalties for the offense to have any chance of success.
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