Saints vs Patriots: Report Card for New England's Preseason Debut

Why should we keep score in the preseason? Quite simple: because the coaches do.

They use the preseason games as one of their most valuable tools in evaluating their rosters, and these games can be the difference between a roster spot and a pink slip.

I have no clue how the Patriots grade their talent and the performance of their players, so we'll just stick with a good standby: letter grades.

Here are letter grades indicating some of the most notable performances on the night.

Be sure to check back often, as these grades will change over the course of the game.

Quarterbacks

Tom Brady

Q1: B+ Q2: N/A Q3: N/A Q4: N/A Overall: B+

I'd put most of the offensive struggles on the line, which has struggled in all of camp and continued to struggle against the Saints. Brady got hit hard by two Saints defenders on a sack, and had the ball stripped. He went 4-for-7 for 30 yards on the night. He might have held the ball a little too long, but he's also used to getting much better protection than he got. He was pulled with minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Brian Hoyer

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

Again, some of the struggles here may have been on the offensive line, with Hoyer facing some pressure. He wasn't as accurate as we're used to seeing out of him, and didn't throw the ball down field very well, but even when he was both, when he put one right on wide receiver Britt Davis' shoulder, the pass was dropped. Davis made up for it later by catching a Hoyer touchdown pass from three yards out.

Hoyer showed solid fundamentals in the pocket, but he has to stop patting the ball right before he throws it. 

Ryan Mallett

Q1: N/A Q2: B- Q3: C+ QB: C+ Overall: C+

Mallett's first pass was ridiculously overthrown. He was praised for his strong arm coming out of college, but could really use to settle it down a little sometimes. That arm strength was his benefit on an intermediate sideline throw to wide receiver Jabar Gaffney. We also saw his slow release hurt him, as it allowed a defensive linemen to get his arms up and bat down a pass. 

Mallett also showed solid footwork, which has been a knock on him since he came into the NFL. He made a great throw on the run to Gaffney, and moved around in the pocket to buy more time on a throw to Julian Edelman.

Running Backs

Stevan Ridley

Q1: A Q2: N/A Q3: N/A Q4: N/A Overall: A+

Ridley ran the ball outside several times to start the game, showing the type of explosion the Patriots have lacked in their offensive backfield. He showed the ability to run right up the middle. They called Ridley's number time and time again. Looks like he could be the bell cow, if there is one, in New England.

Danny Woodhead

Q1: B+ Q2: N/A Q3: B+ Q4: N/A Overall: B+

Woodhead saw plenty of action on second and third downs. He caught three passes out of the backfield, two on designed screen plays. We've seen the Patriots practice screens, and they could be a bigger part of their offensive gameplan. Woodhead will be a big part of that, if that's the case, and he was a big part of it on Thursday night.

Shane Vereen

Q1: N/A Q2: N/A Q3: A Q4: B+ Overall: B+

The undrafted rookie Brandon Bolden got snaps and carries before Vereen ever saw the field. That didn't seem to bode well for Vereen's status on the totem pole in New England's backfield.

However, when Vereen finally got into the game, he made the most of his opportunity. He carried the ball with authority up the middle on a couple of occasions and caught a pass when he split out at wide receiver, adding a few more catches on screens and dump-offs out of the backfield over the course of the third quarter.

He showed the explosion that had the Patriots excited to take him in the second round, bouncing outside for a nice run and exploding when he hit the perimeter and got into open space.

Wide Receivers

Brandon Lloyd

Q1: B+ Q2: N/A Q3: N/A Q4: N/A Overall: B+

Lloyd failed to record a reception in the first quarter, but not entirely of his own fault. He dropped a pass on the sideline in tight coverage, had a deep pass batted down that didn't seem to go exactly where quarterback Tom Brady wanted it to go, and had a 17-yard reception called back for holding on tackle Nate Solder.

Julian Edelman

Q1: B Q2: B+ Q3: B+ Q4: 

Edelman was the team's primary punt returner, taking the first two punts. Brian Hoyer looked to Edelman at the end of the first quarter, but the receiver didn't get great separation on his route. He got the early looks out of the slot in the second quarter, and made a third-down reception that was a yard short of the marker.

With a solid catch-and-run on a pass over the middle from Mallett in the second quarter, Edelman showed why he can make an impact in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' scheme.

He made an awful decision to return an opening kickoff out of the end zone after he muffed the kick. He only got it out to the three-yard line. In the fourth quarter, he made up for it with a punt that rolled, scooping it up and running it back for a nice gain.

Offensive Line

Nate Solder

Q1: D-

The offensive line has struggled in camp, but Solder was seen as one of the strengths. Not in the first quarter on Thursday, though, as he gave up multiple pressures, including a strip sack, and was called twice for holding. He did look decent in run-blocking, opening up some holes for Ridley to break off some runs off left tackle.

Marcus Cannon

Q1: D-

Cannon wasn't much better than Solder, giving up a pressure of his own and being called once for a false start. He gave up pressure on all three quarterbacks. Like Solder, Cannon was decent run-blocking, but couldn't keep defenders off Brady in pass protection.

Defensive Ends

Chandler Jones

Q1: A+ Q2: A Q3: A Q4: N/A Overall: A

With two pressures on New England's first defensive drive, Jones flashed the pass-rushing potential we've seen throughout camp. He continued to do so throughout the first quarter, and forced two consecutive holding penalties on Saints left tackle Jermon Bushrod. He even chased down Saints quarterback Chase Daniel, bringing him down by the shoestrings as he tried to escape.

If all eyes were not on Jones entering the game, they were by the end of the first quarter. But perhaps the most impressive thing about his night was that he was still playing meaningful snaps into the third quarter. The Patriots have to be pleased with his energy and motor.

Rob Ninkovich

Q1: B+ Q2: B Q3: N/A Q4: N/A Overall: B

Ninkovich had a pressure on the Patriots' first defensive series. He played multiple spots, as was to be expected with him being a defensive end and a linebacker in the 4-3 defense, as well as an outside linebacker in the 3-4. We saw glimpses of both fronts on Thursday.

Trevor Scott

Q1: N/A Q2: N/A Q3: B Q4: A+ Overall: A

Scott wasn't heard from much in the first half, but made an impact in the third quarter by forcing a holding penalty and getting pressure on quarterback Luke McCown. He also logged a strip-sack toward the end of the game.

He wasn't looking too great in recent practices, so he should feel good to notch his performance tonight in the 'win' column.

Defensive Tackles

Kyle Love

Q1: B-

Love helped put pressure on Drew Brees on the Patriots opening defensive drive, but was moved off the ball on a couple of inside run plays. He blew up a running play in the backfield, getting right past a double-team in the process, and started getting more push up the middle in the first quarter. He was called for a holding penalty in the second quarter.

Love had an underrated 2011 campaign, and could be a big part of the defense if they run more of a 4-3.

Linebackers

Jerod Mayo

Q1: B+ Q2: A+ Q3: N/A Q4: N/A Overall: A

Mayo was in position to make multiple plays, as we've come to expect from the veteran linebacker. He made a key third-down stop on a short pass to running back Darren Sproles, and tipped a pass in the air in the second quarter which was picked off by Steve Gregory. It was a great night for the Patriots linebacker early on.

Dont'a Hightower

Q1: B+ Q2: B Q3: N/A Q4: N/A Overall: B

Hightower was in place for several plays in the first and second quarter, and played on the weakside in place of Jerod Mayo when the veteran linebacker left the game. He was subbed out of the game in some nickel packages in the second quarter.

Defensive Backs

Patrick Chung

Q1: C+ Q2: A+ Q3: N/A Q4: N/A Overall: B

Along with cornerback Sterling Moore, Chung was the other defender responsible for the big 3rd-and-22 completion. He had a pair of tackles, as well. He was seen communicating with the secondary, which is evidence of his veteran status on the position. He intercepted a pass in the second quarter, making a great read on the quarterback and cashing in on a poorly thrown ball.

Tavon Wilson

Q1: N/A Q2: B+ Q3: N/A Q4: N/A Overall: B+

Wilson was in position on a deep pass, and timed his jump on the ball just a split second too late, or else it would have been deflected. He was spotted on the kickoff coverage unit and kickoff return units; his ability to play on special teams can only help him get on the field more often.

Sterling Moore

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

Moore was part of the duo that gave up the 3rd-and-22, but was in position on a few plays in the second and third quarter, breaking up a pass and making the quick tackle on another pass to ensure no yards after catch.

He showed his physicality in run support by making a great stop at the line of scrimmage on a running play in his direction in the third quarter. He gave up a big pass interference penalty on the very next play, though.

He has shown good ball skills last season and in camp, so tonight was a rare "off" day for Moore.

Erik Frenz is the AFC East lead blogger for Bleacher Report. Be sure to follow Erik on Twitter and "like" the AFC East blog on Facebook to keep up with all the updates.