5 Things That Actually Mattered In The Saints Preseason Win Over The Chiefs

Jamie UK • August 14, 2023

There's a lot to overact too in the preseason, with players excelling against third and fourth-stringers with very little scheme past the first drives. However, if you look closely enough there are some tangible nuggets that are worth the time and energy to write about them, so here’s what I saw.


Derek Carr And The Starting Offense Looked Good


If Carr had come out and been underwhelming, would it have meant the sky was falling? No but does it help that he didn’t do that? Good lord it does. Carr manned the offense for 1 drive and that was all we needed to see. 

 

The starting offense looked excellent as they marched 85 yards in 12 plays. Carr hit 4 different WRs and navigated the pocket extremely well, he avoided the rush on a couple of occasions by subtly moving in the pocket and still delivering an accurate pass. Carr’s pocket movement in this game was elite and if that continues it will be such a big improvement for this team in an area not everyone thinks about.

 

There already looks to be strong chemistry between Carr and Juwan Johnson. Johnson had 2 catches for 29 yards on the drive, with 1 of those catches coming on third down, a down I expect this combination to shine this season.

 

On first watch the O-line looked to hold up pretty well, Carr was pressured a couple of times which as mentioned he managed well, one AK run was dropped for a loss. The Chiefs were blitzing which you don’t always see in the preseason so that could have had something to do with the pressures rather than individual players getting beat. 

 

I did notice even on the broadcast view that Penning MOVING people in the run game though which is encouraging, will be interesting with further review to see how he held up in pass protection, either way, it was good to see Penning getting extended snaps. 

Not to be forgotten Mike Thomas got in on action catching a low 16-yard pass from Carr (the lowness looked to be on purpose) after an un-Thomas-like camp it’s important to see him make plays in a game. 

 

AK’s Burst And Usage Was Spot On

 

You thought I’d forgotten him, didn’t you? Nope just felt AK deserved his own section. Kamara had 5 touches for 35 yards on the drive and look great.

 

His infamous burst and cat-like agility looked to be back straight away as he bounced through contact and juked his way to a 12-yard gain on his first carry. 

 

Crucially though and another reason Kamara needed his own section. His usage, the fact that Carmichael made a concerted effort on the first drive to give him 5 touches and crucially two catches is important. for the Saints to get the best out of Kamara he can’t just be pounded up the middle 15 times a game, he needs to be moved all around the formation and given the ball in space. On this drive, he caught a pass in the flats and Saints fans should rejoice all around the world, a screen pass was thrown to AK, and would you believe it? It worked.

 

Much more of this please Pete Carmichael JR.!! 

 

The Starting Defense Looked Stout 

 

Ordinarily, your starting defense giving up zero points and stuffing a 4th and short to force a turnover on downs in the preseason isn’t as exciting as it sounds because it may well have been against backups. Not today, the Saints' defense did this against Patrick Mahomes and the starting Chiefs offense. 

 

Granted it was only for one drive so some excitement needs to be tempered but what we saw was very encouraging. The re-built d-line looked stout, especially Khalen Saunders who flashed especially against the run and Pete Werner still looked like an all-pro in waiting, especially blowing up the 4th and short TE Sneak.

The Saints starters stayed in for one more drive and stifled the Chiefs' backups (as they should have) with Marcus Maye showing why he could be a real difference-maker this season with a nice pass break-up on third down. Feels like Maye sometimes flies under the radar, now in his second season in the system and hopefully with better health he feels like a player who could take this defense up a level this year. 

 

The WR room looks set

 

At this stage, the WR room looks set the only question that remains is how many are the Saints going to keep, 5 or 6? Keith Kirkwood worked with the starters as the 3rd WR which signifies the team’s confidence in him.  He caught the TD from Carr to cap off the first drive and he’s also been excellent in camp.

 

My only pause with Kirkwood is could he have been playing the Tre’Quan Smith role? i.e., on the field as the vet WR for blocking etc… So when Smith comes back does that make Kirkwood more of a practice squad player rather than a player that makes the 53? Time will tell as we wait to see when Smith returns and if Kirkwood’s form continues, but he definitely seems to be the Vet WR making the team over Bryan Edwards and James Washington at this stage.

 

More importantly, after a slow start in the off-season programmes, A.T. Perry showed why a lot of people called him one of the steals of the draft when the Saints drafted him in the 6th round in April. Perry looked every bit his steal status catching all 6 of his targets for 70 yards and a touchdown. Yes, some of these were against backups but his 29-yard touchdown was against 2022 1st round CB Trent McDuffie who played well last season and is expected to be a starter for the Chiefs.

 

Does this mean A.T. Perry is the next coming of Marques Colston? No, not yet, but there have been many WRs especially UDFAs and late-round selections who have been electric in camp and been not existent in games before eventually fizzling out (I always think of Emmanuel Butler from a few years ago). Perry being the opposite gives me confidence that he could be a contributor for this team, and I think he almost assured himself a spot on the 53 with this performance.


 

Wait… What? A Turnover?

The Saints defense ranked 31st in the league last season in turnovers forcing 14 turnovers all of last season, they averaged 23.7 takeaways over the 7 seasons prior and never had under 21 in a single season. Forcing turnovers at times can come down to luck as much as skill but HC Dennis Allen has made forcing more turnovers a focal point of the offseason. So, it’s great to see that they are already forcing them in the first game of the year, Alontae Taylor tipped a pass that was intercepted by Ugo Amadi. There were three elements in this play that if they are not present the interception doesn’t happen. It started up front Bryan Bresee bullied two blockers and drove them back to the QB forcing the throw, Taylor had great coverage on the play and had the awareness to get his hands on the ball which tipped it up in the air where Amadi was stood in the perfect spot to make the pick. Hopefully, this is a sign that the bounces are coming back the Saints way and we could see some more turnover luck this year.

 


Make sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @SaintsReportUK, for much more Saints content and discussion throughout the 2023 season and beyond.

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Why Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton RoyalWhy Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton Royal

By Auston Taylor • July 8, 2026
 LSU has made it clear that five-star wide receiver Easton Royal remains one of its top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class. Although Royal is currently committed to Texas, LSU has continued to recruit him aggressively. Based on recent recruiting events and public reporting, one factor that could strengthen the Tigers' position is the presence of quarterback commit Peyton "Pop" Houston. While no outcome is guaranteed in recruiting, Houston's relationship with Royal has become one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding LSU's 2027 class. According to recruiting coverage from The Opening and reports from And The Valley Shook, Houston and Royal showcased noticeable chemistry while competing together on the national stage. Houston also drew attention by winning the event's longest throw competition with a reported 67-yard throw, further reinforcing why many evaluators consider him one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. In my view, Houston has the potential to become much more than another highly rated offensive commitment. Elite quarterbacks often become magnets for other top recruits, and early signs suggest Houston could have that kind of influence on LSU's 2027 recruiting class. Why Houston Matters in Royal's Recruitment Quarterback and wide receiver relationships have become one of the most influential factors in modern recruiting. Elite receivers aren't simply choosing a school—they're choosing an offense, a coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, the quarterback who will help maximize their abilities. If Royal ultimately views Houston as LSU's quarterback of the future, it gives the Tigers another compelling selling point. Rather than asking Royal to imagine what the offense could become, LSU can point to chemistry that has already been displayed during national recruiting events. That doesn't guarantee a commitment flip, but it does provide LSU with something tangible that few recruiting pitches can offer: an established connection between two elite prospects. LSU's History Shows Why This Matters LSU's greatest offensive seasons have consistently featured elite quarterbacks throwing to elite receivers. During the Tigers' historic 2019 National Championship season, Joe Burrow captured the Heisman Trophy while throwing to arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. That offense rewrote NCAA record books and remains the standard for modern college football offenses. A few years later, history repeated itself. Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy while benefiting from one of the nation's most explosive receiving duos in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels' remarkable development was certainly his own, but LSU's elite receiving talent allowed the offense to reach another level. The lesson is clear: great quarterbacks elevate receivers, but elite receivers also help quarterbacks reach championship-level production. That history gives LSU a compelling message for recruits considering Baton Rouge. Peyton "Pop" Houston's Development Houston's rise as one of Louisiana's premier quarterback prospects is backed by more than recruiting rankings. Evaluators consistently praise his arm strength, touch, ability to extend plays outside the pocket, and willingness to attack defenses vertically. His continued development at Evangel Christian Academy has made him one of the foundation pieces of LSU's 2027 recruiting class. The Bigger Picture If LSU eventually pairs Peyton Houston with Easton Royal, it would represent much more than another recruiting victory. It would signal that LSU landed a quarterback capable of attracting elite talent around him while adding a receiver willing to build alongside that vision. Programs that consistently compete for championships often see recruiting momentum build this way. Elite quarterbacks attract receivers. Elite receivers attract additional offensive talent. Once that cycle begins, recruiting classes can quickly become special. None of this guarantees that Easton Royal will flip his commitment. Texas remains in a strong position, and recruiting decisions can change for countless reasons. However, Houston's emergence gives LSU something every elite program hopes to have: a quarterback capable of becoming the centerpiece of an entire recruiting class. LSU has already witnessed what happens when championship-caliber quarterbacks are paired with elite receivers. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. If Peyton "Pop" Houston eventually helps bring Easton Royal to Baton Rouge, it could become one of the defining recruiting stories of LSU's 2027 class—and perhaps the first step toward building another explosive Tiger offense.

Tight End Room Outlook: Revamped and Ready To Roll

By Kaden Arkeder • July 4, 2026
The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.
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