Complete Report Card Following the New Orleans Saints Week 2 Loss

Regular season or preseason, no team wants to lose a game, especially by two touchdowns. But it happens, and it's certainly better for it to happen in Week 2 of the preseason than any week in the regular season.

But those are not the only positives had by the Saints after Week 2. Of course, even with that being said, the Texans did also expose a few of the Saints' primary flaws. The question must be asked: Where does the team stand after two preseason games?

Passing Game : B+

Drew's giving the thumbs up because he knows the offense is starting to come around. It's been about three full weeks they've had together, meaning it's only about now you could even expect the guys to be anywhere close to the same page.

Of course, as quarterback he's responsible for the entire offense and its production. But in the preseason, the Super Bowl MVP would like to start feeling like he and his receivers are getting in sync and in rhythm. Well, Brees' completion percentage jumped as did his overall effectiveness in Week 2. 

No one is expecting he or the offense to be perfect right now, but certainly one hopes they are improving, and that appears to be taking place. That's all the coaches and fans can really ask for.

And that Joseph Morgan showed he can make things happen in the passing game as well only adds to his impressive resume this preseason. He's making quite a case for a roster spot.

Running Game: B-

The B- grade is only because Mark Ingram seems to be stepping up and making a realistic case for becoming the No. 1 back. I would've never thought that possible on draft day. But that's the good news.

The bad news is no one else is making a realistic case to even be the No. 2 back. It's almost as if Ingram has sabotaged the whole thing and caused all the other backs to give up. It's like they know they don't have a chance for the job, so they no longer care.

Of course, I don't really believe that's the case, but it seems like it is.

Offensive Line: B-

The offensive line for the Saints was inconsistent at best Saturday at Houston. Yeah, they opened up some nice holes for the backs, but they also gave up a key sack in the red zone, which led to a Drew Brees fumble.

So just like the rest of the team, they're a work in progress. And that's okay. It's okay to be a work in progress, so long as you're on the upswing.

Compared to Week 1 versus San Francisco, you'd have to say they were improved.

Defensive Line: B

It's hardly the end of the world, but the difference between this unit's production from Week 1 to Week 2 was quite shocking. While I did not expect the level of dominance the defensive line showed in Week 1, I thought they'd at least hold their own.

But the fact the Texans were able to do whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted is mostly a critique on the defensive line. It's their job to slowly create enough penetration in the backfield that the running game isn't effective, and then create enough pressure to throw off the timing of the passing game.

That's their only job, and on Saturday night, frankly—they failed. It's only one game; almost assuredly they will improve. But they better do it fast, as they'll be facing one of the league's best offenses in Week 1.

Add in the likely loss of high-prized free-agent acquisition Aubrauyo Frankln due to an MCL sprain, and the defensive line has a lot to figure out in a relatively short amount of time.

Linebackers: C

That Jabari Greer led the Saints defense in tackles is never a good sign. Neither is it that Will Herring led the linebacking corps with four tackles.

Those numbers combined probably tell you all you need to know about the production of the 'backers Saturday night. It doesn't mean they can't improve, but shows that drastic improvement is necessary.

Defensive Backs: B-

It's obviously comforting to know that Jabari Greer can tackle. And we know that Roman Harper and Malcolm Jenkins are going to wrap up as well.

But the fact that the Texans threw the ball all over the field isn't quite the sign Saints fans were hoping to get to know that the defense was well on its way to dominance in 2011.

As I've stated with the other units, it is a work in progress. But at what point does that just become an excuse?

I don't think the answer is after one game. But multiple games of similar performances certainly would be a cause for concern.

Let's just hope Week 3 versus the Raiders turns out much better, after a successful week of practices in Oxnard, CA.