The day the New Orleans Saints begin their preseason slate against the Los Angeles Chargers also marks 28 days before they make their regular season debut versus the Arizona Cardinals. As we continue our countdown to the regular season, we take a look at newly acquired Julian Blackmon.
Blackmon has spent his entire career with the Indianapolis Colts, but landing on the Saints feels like divine timing. If there was anyone who would agree with that statement it would be defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who made it clear he's been trying to get Blackmon on his team for years.
Staley wasn't able to get it done as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. He tried again in his one-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers. Same result. Staley finally was able to grab Blackmon in his first year in New Orleans. This was only possible due to a late decision by Tyrann Mathieu to retire.
Julian Blackmon has made an instant impression at Saints training camp
Blackmon feels like the front runner to replace Mathieu, and it isn't just because Staley has been pursuing him for years. Reporters have raved about how fast Blackmon is grasping the defense quickly. The safety competition is beginning to feel like less of a competition and more like Blackmon's job to lose.
On the field, Blackmon gives the Saints a true free safety. He can parole the back end, while Justin Reid plays closer to the box in single high coverages. This is what many expected to see with the Reid-Mathieu duo, and Blackmon gives the Saints a seamless transition.
His ability to pull down interceptions doesn't hurt either. On yesterday's countdown, we took a look at Quincy Riley's ability to replace Paulson Adebo's interception production. Blackmon provides a similar ability in relation to Mathieu's departure. Blackmon has seven interceptions in the last two seasons, and the Saints need players like that due to the void left by their offseason departures.