Saints vs. Texans Preview: 4 Things To Watch from New Orleans' Perspective

Saturday night in Houston, the Saints will get their second opportunity to compete against another team in the 2011 preseason. While it's hardly as exciting as the regular season, most of us believe the players relish the opportunity to hit other guys than their teammates.

The Texans have become a regular exhibition opponent, but there's more at stake this year since the two will also face each other Week 3 of the regular season. This is almost assuredly the reason the two canceled their originally scheduled joint practices before the exhibition game.

And it is also why neither coach is going to employ much of their scheme, other than the very basic things. That in itself creates some interest—which team will go beyond vanilla even a little bit? But even more interesting is which team's base schemes will give them an advantage in this preview of the regular season matchup?

Here are four things to watch for from the Saints' perspective:

4. Can the Defense Continue Its Dominance?

Last week Will Smith, Roman Harper and seemingly every other defender were constantly in the face and around the legs of 49ers QBs Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick.

This caused the duo to rush many of their throws, thus making the job of the secondary very easy. The Niners didn't complete a ball over 15 yards in the air—because they simply didn't have time to develop those kinds of routes.

But the Texans have two things going for them—they've played a preseason game already, meaning their timing should be better than the Niners' was last Friday night. And the Texans, much like the Saints, have tremendous continuity among their offensive group. That in itself should give them some kind of advantage in dealing with the Saints' pressure packages and getting the ball down the field on the Saints' very good secondary.

Matt Schaub is definitely a QB that knows how to stretch the field, and even without Andre Johnson the Texans are loaded with offensive weapons. This will be a much tougher matchup than the Niners—who were employing a brand new system with only two weeks of practice.

3. Can the Offense Establish a Running Game?

In the Week 1 win versus San Francisco, the Saints were actually better running the football with the second-team offensive line and running backs. That may be due in part to the fact that they were playing against the 49ers' second-team defense.

But if that's true the Saints should be very worried because they aren't going to be facing too many second-team defenses this season. While the Texans are not exactly the Green Bay Packers yet on defense (good comparison since both run a 3-4 hybrid with lots of nickel defenses thrown in), their first-team unit should be better than the 49ers' was a week ago.

I expect Sean Payton to come in with a plan to get the running game—specifically Pierre Thomas—going from the first snap in Houston. We all know the Saints are better when they have a good running game, and it has to be a priority for Payton and Offensive Coordinator Pete Carmichael, Jr.  

An effective running game is the only way the passing game can operate at full efficiency. And a fully efficient passing game is the only chance the Saints have to be the team they should be—a Super Bowl contender.

So if Pierre can't get going (and I hate the thought of this), Mark Ingram may have to get the bulk of the carries until the offensive line can find its rhythm. We will see, but the running game really needs to get going!

2. Zach Strief vs. Charles Brown

Since Sean Payton has been the head man, Zach Strief has been the primary backup at both tackle spots. Now he has his chance to step up to the next level and start at right tackle.

That is my preference, given his experience and production when he has been called upon in the past. But Charles Brown is a kid the Saints took in the second round just one draft ago, thinking he'd eventually compete for the left tackle job—meaning right now his natural progression should include him starting at right tackle.

No matter who wins the competition, Strief's roster spot is secure as he would likely continue in the hybrid tight end/backup tackle role that he's filled the past two seasons.

Strief will likely have to deal with superstar pass rusher Mario Williams on at least a few downs—and perhaps Brown will as well. That will be a tremendous opportunity to really show what each guy has in them.

But ultimately the battle is going to come down to who best helps the Saints do what they most desperately need to do—run the ball!

1. Who Wins the Outside Linebacker Jobs?

In some ways it may not matter who starts at the two outside linebacker spots, since each player is going to play a lot—given the Saints' desires to use multiple defensive sub-packages. Nonetheless, the starter will see the bulk of the defensive snaps, assuming he's healthy.

At the weakside linebacker spot Jonathan Casillas and Scott Shanle are fighting for the starting job, while the strongside battle is primarily being fought by Will Herring and Jo-Lonn Dunbar. Though Martez Wilson and Nate Bussey are among a group that is also going to get some reps throughout the remainder of camp at those two spots.

The Texans' offense will present a unique opportunity for Sean Payton, Gregg Williams and Joe Vitt to evaluate the players they have at those positions, since the Texans are about as multiple and balanced as any offense in the entire league. For that reason, the Saints probably wish this were the third preseason game since that is the one where the starters generally play the most snaps.

But I think Saturday's game could be a unique opportunity to play all the competing outside linebackers at least to the end of the first half to see how they match up against the variety of sets and formation groups the Texans can throw at them.

The Texans will play at least three tight ends, and perhaps even four in a game, meaning the defense has to be ready for a lot of two and even three tight end sets. Very few offenses can offer that kind of variety, and for that reason the Texans are going to be a wonderful challenge for the Saints' outside linebackers.