Jackson Free Press

The score never matters in the preseason but it is always good to get a win. It is even better to win on a night where the Saints were sloppy on offense and defense.

New Orleans was once again without Drew Brees. That doesn't matter unless he doesn't play in the third or fourth preseason game. Sure, Brees doesn't need a ton of preseason work but some action with a live defense being thrown at him is a good thing.

The Saints get to head to Indianapolis knowing they are 2-0 after their 31-24 win over the Tennessee Titans. That should be a good dress rehearsal game against the Colts who were in the playoffs last season.

Here are my quick thoughts on tonight's game.

Both offense and defense was sloppy

New Orleans started the game sloppy and it ended the game sloppy. The team piled up penalty yardage like they were trying to break a record.

Jimmy Graham had two 15 yard penalties himself after he dunked after his two touchdown grabs. Hopefully Graham was getting the dunking out of his system before the season starts. Sean Payton won't be happy if he does that in a game in the regular season.

After the first quarter the Saints had five penalties for 44 yards. They broke the hundred yard mark before halftime and ended up with 14 penalties 109 yards after the first 30 minutes.

The Saints had eight penalties for 68 yards over the third and fourth quarter. Overall, the Saints had 22 penalties for 177 yards. That doesn't even count all the penalties that were declined.

New Orleans must clean up this sloppy before the season starts. The Saints were lucky and good to win tonight with this type of penalty yards.

Saints defense forces five turnovers

I can count five reasons why the Saints did win tonight. That is five turnovers the defense forced tonight.

New Orleans almost had a turnover on the Titans first drive but it was overruled by replay. The Saints would allow Tennessee to score thanks to penalties and poor defense.

On a play were Cam Jordan missed a sack, a New Orleans defensive back missed an interception. That was two turnovers among a few others the Saints could have had on the night.

In the second quarter, New Orleans got a forced fumble from Kenny Vaccaro and Cam Jordan would get a strip sack to cause a fumble. When the Saints didn't get turnovers in the quarter the Titans got a touchdown and a field goal.

In the second half, New Orleans got a interception that ended up as fumble by Stanley Jean-Baptiste on a wild play. The Titans receiver bobbled the ball and popped it into the air right into the waiting hands of Jean-Baptiste.

Vinnie Sunseri got into the act with a interception in the fourth quarter. The final turnover came in the fourth quarter as well, when the Titans running back dropped the ball.

Even with all the penalties, it is tough to lose a game when you get five turnovers. These turnovers saved the Saints bacon tonight.

The hope for New Orleans fans is that this is what they will see in the regular season. The Saints need to force more turnovers this season.

Kenny Vaccaro is already a star

You already know about the Vaccaro forced fumbles. He also had a big hit on Tennessee backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst. It was Whitehurst's second play of the game and he didn't return after the Vaccaro hit.

All night, Vaccaro and Sunseri made big hits on Titans players. That is a combination to watch if the are on the field at the same time at some point this season.

Did Joe Morgan earn a wide receiver spot

Joe Morgan gave the Saints something tonight they need and really want this season. Morgan gave the Saints a receiver who can stretch the field and make a big play down field.

Morgan had two three catches for 108 yards. His first catch was for 52 yards and set up a touchdown. The second catch was for 44 yards but the Saints couldn't find the end zone that drive.

Finally Morgan had a 12 yard catch for a first down.

New Orleans needs a player like Morgan who has the speed to get deep. He is a player the coaches hoped would make plays in preseason games and make this team.

In a crowded wide receiver group, Morgan might have separated himself other players trying to make the team. One of the players he might have got a leg up on is Nick Toon. It was a slow night for Toon as he had just two targets and one catch for six yards.

Quiet night for Mark Ingram and Brandin Cooks

After being the stars of the first preseason game, both Mark Ingram and Bradin Cooks didn't do much tonight. Ingram only had five carries for 19 yards and Cooks had just one catch for 16 yards.

Cooks did have four targets during the game and he had a couple of near catches in traffic. Ingram had a 23 yard touchdown reception in which he made some great moves on his way to the end zone.

This is nothing to be worried about unless it persists through the rest of the preseason. Ingram is in a crowded backfield and the Saints want to get looks at other players. Cooks is a rookie who is still learning so games like this are to be expected.

Who is winning the backup quarterback battle?

Luke McCown got the start once more with Brees out. I hoped that Ryan Griffin would have gotten to work with the first team if he is going to get a chance to win the backup job.

Neither quarterback really got a leg up. McCown threw two touchdowns to Jimmy Graham. Griffin threw a touchdown to Ingram and to Seantavious Jones.

Two big reasons to like Griffin is that he is younger and he made both the deep throws to Morgan. To me it looks like Griffin has a stronger arm than McCown.

McCown does have more experience and is the safe choice to be the backup. Griffin will make big plays but also have some growing pains along the way.

It becomes what the Saints believe they need. A safe quarterback who can keep them a float if Brees goes down for a few games or a quarterback that could keep them a float and be used as trade bait if needed.

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