What We Saw: Preseason Week 1 2018

Saints vs. Jaguars

New Orleans finished in the top ten in sacks and yards lost on sacks last season. In their preseason opener, the Saints tallied six sacks and nine QB hits against the Jags. Tayrone Elliott collected two and a half sacks and Taylor Stallworth added a sack and a fumble recovery. Brandon Tate (29.5 YPR) and Boston Scott (26 YPR) appear to viable options in the kick return game for the Saints. Look for New Orleans to be in the top ten D/ST this season.

The true spark plug for the Saints tonight was reserve quarterback Taysom Hill. The BYU-product lead the Saints in passing and rushing yards in his limited time on the field. Hill collected 124 total yards and one rushing touchdown. Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara combined to run for 34 yards on ten carries. Rookie Tre’Quan Smith led the Saints with four catches and 48 receiving yards. Drew Brees did not play in the preseason opener.

Blake Bortles took the first step tonight in proving that the Jaguars made the right decision this offseason when they signed him to a new three-year deal. Bortles went 6/9 in the air for 53 yards and ran for a touchdown against New Orleans. The four-year starter was solid in his lone drive tonight, but it was his backup Cody Kessler that stole the show from behind center. Kessler completed 14 of his 17 passing attempts for 139 yards and one score. After catching just over 52 percent of his targets in 2017, Dede Westbrook caught three of the team-high five passes that came his way tonight. Westbrook may not be a legitimate deep threat, but he will get more targets in his second year in Nathaniel Hackett’s system.

Leonard Fournette carried the ball five times for 24 yards. Fournette’s eight-yard carry early in the first quarter would be the longest rushing play the Jaguars would have tonight against the Saints’ defense.

-Trey Huntsman