Some Good, Some Not-So-Good In Saints Pre-Season Opener

At the end of the day, it is only the first pre-season game for the Saints. 

New Orleans faced the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday night and came out with a win.

While we are still a stretch away from the regular season opener, some of the same troubles that plagued the Saints in 2008 made appearences against the Bengals.

Some reasons for optimism:  Drew Brees and Jeremy Shockey appear to be in sync. The defense got two big turnovers early on and held the Bengals to only one touchdown.   

Brees-to-Shockey dominated the Saints' first scoring drive with the duo accounting for 61 yards of an 80-yard drive including a big 42-yard catch and run and a 22-yard touchdown strike.  Brees looked to already be in mid-season form.

If Shockey can stay healthy, he gives an explosive Saints' passing game yet another weapon for opposing defensive coordinators to deal with. 

On the defensive side, New Orleans came up with three turnovers and two long returns deep into Bengals territory, although neither resulted in points.  Saints Rookie Linebacker Jonathan Casillas also intercepted a Jordan Palmer pass late in the 4th quarter. 

In 2008, the Saints finished 22nd in the NFL in turnover Margin with a minus four... A huge stat for a team that finished 8-8.

New defensive coordinator Greg Williams has stressed the importance of turnovers and big plays to his troops since his arrival in the off-season.  On that front, so far, so good.  Williams' defense kept Cincinnati off of the scoreboard until the 11 second mark of the second quarter.

And now for the less-than good:

The Saints' running game showed no indication that it would be an improvement over last season.  The team total of 86 yards on 30 carries made for an unimpressive 2.8 yards per carry with a long of 9 yards. 

Last season the Saints struggled in short yardage and goal line situations and no longer have Deuce McAllister to rely on.  That ineffectiveness was a major factor in at least two road losses in 2008. 

The Saints also came away empty on two red zone possessions.  Kicker Garret Hartley went wide left on a 20-yard field goal attempt after Jonathan Vilma set them up at the Bengals six yard line with a fumble recovery and 47-yard return.

In the 4th quarter, Lynell Hamilton put damper on his somewhat impressive night by fumbling the ball away at the Cincy one yard line.

Defensively, the big play bit the Saints again as it so often did last season.  Oft-maligned cornerback Jason David struggled against Chad Ochocinco and Chris Henry, giving up big gains and the Bengals' only score of the game.

But good coverage must go hand-in-hand with a consistent pass rush.  The starting defensive unit rarely got close to the Carson Palmer or J.T. O'Sullivan... Not a good sign for a unit that won't have starting defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant for the first four games of the 2009 regular season. 

Inconsistent running game, big play vulnerability and a suspect pass rush. A familiar batch of worries for Saints fans. 

But it is just one pre-season game. Many of the schemes, both offensively and defensively, are labeled "vanilla." 

The Saints will need some more effective flavors come the regular season.