5 Takeaways from Saints' Preseason Week 2

Jason Watson Jr • August 23, 2023

Another preseason game is complete for the Saints’ 2023 campaign following a 22-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. The Saints will return to New Orleans with a 2-0 record with a lot to break down after the team showed flashes of success but plenty of immaturity. Let’s take a look at five things we learned in the past game:

Penalties Have got to be Cut Down

The Saints finished the game with 14 penalties found on offense, defense, and special teams, equating to an inexcusable 141 yards given up. The 14 infractions rank as the most by any team in a single game this preseason. While many of the starters did not participate in this one, it is still a troubling case Dennis Allen will look to address with his group.

How Many Receivers Will the Saints Keep?

Between the first two weeks of the preseason, the Saints have had several young guys make plays from the receiving core who are battling for roster spots. Shaquan Davis and former LSU Tiger Jontre Kirklin both hauled in 3 receptions against the Chargers, each gaining 63 and 59 yards. Additionally, A.T. Perry’s six receptions, 70 yards, and one touchdown performance stood out from week 1. The younger players will complement nicely with veterans like Michael Thomas, Chis Olave, and Rashid Shaheed, all to make Derek Carr’s life easier.

Isaiah Foskey Struggling Early On

New Orleans drafted the Notre Dame defensive end in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft, making him the 40th player taken overall. The hope is for the rookie edge rusher to make an impact in the rotation and aid Cameron Jordan’s pressure on opposing quarterbacks. However, Foskey has not looked hot through training camps and practices. He has also failed to have an impactful performance in his preseason reps, only assisting on one tackle versus Los Angeles. There is still plenty of time in the young DE’s learning curve, but many are hopeful he can take off sooner rather than later.

A True Position Battle at Kicker

After finishing near dead last in field goal makes percentage (74.2%; 23/31) amongst those with 20+ attempts, Wil Lutz is facing some steep competition this offseason. Rookie kicker Blake Grupe came to camp to push Lutz toward his best; it has worked wonders. Against the Chargers, Allen had Grupe play the first half and Lutz the second. Grupe looked strong as he knocked through his two FG attempts and drove through the lone XP for the Saints. Lutz answered the call right back by going 3/3 in his FGA and had a long make of 51 yards. Lutz has performed well enough to keep his role but watch for Grupe to garner interest from other NFL clubs soon.

Wait. What? Another Turnover?

Yes, three of them, to be exact. After ranking 31st last season in forced takeaways, Dennis Allen has been vocal and harping on turnovers being a point of focus for the upcoming season. The Saints responded with one recovery off two forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions from Isaac Yiadom and Lonnie Johnson Jr. The defense shows intensity and tenacity in getting after the football, a promising sign of things to come in 2023.



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NOLA Gold's win over Seattle secures 3rd place in the Major League Rugby Eastern Conference standings

By Tina Howell • April 28, 2025
After a weather-delayed kickoff, loyal NOLA Gold fans were treated to a rollercoaster of a match that ended with a well-earned 44-36 victory over the Seattle Seawolves at the Shrine. This win moved NOLA Gold into 3rd place in the Major League Rugby Eastern Conference standings. Coach Danny Lee said of the team's response to the delay, “We just had to control the controllables. Once we told the boys the definitive time for kickoff, we had a plan ready to go. In terms of game plan, we had to be a little bit more direct, and we had to kick and adapt quickly.” NOLA Gold set the tone early, taking an initial 3-0 lead thanks to a steady penalty kick from Dorian Jones. Though Seattle answered quickly with a try to make it 7-3, the Gold launched into a dominant scoring stretch. Isaac Te Tamaki powered across the try line to ignite the offense, followed by back-to-back tries from the relentless Jonah Mau’u. Jones continued to add points from the tee, stretching the Gold’s lead to 27-7. Just before halftime, the Seawolves found a breakthrough and scored at the buzzer, narrowing the margin to 27-14. However, NOLA emerged from the locker room with purpose. Xavier Mignot wasted no time reestablishing momentum with a try that pushed the lead to 34-14. Seattle fought back with intensity, capitalizing on back-to-back tries to bring the score to 34-24. But NOLA responded with composure, as Jones added another penalty to keep the visitors at bay, 37-24. The closing stages of the match saw both teams exchanging blows. Seattle’s try was met by a decisive moment from Joe Taufete’e, who muscled through defenders for a critical score. Luke Campbell’s conversion extended the lead to 44-29. Though Seattle scored one final try at the buzzer, it wasn’t enough. With a final score of 44-36, NOLA Gold walked away with a crucial five-point win in front of a roaring home crowd and strengthens their postseason hopes with a firm grip on 3rd place in the East. Their next match will be on the road against the San Diego Legion on May 4th at 4:00 PM CT. For tickets and more details, please visit www.nolagoldrugby.com

10th annual Covington Antiques and Uniques Festival

By Tina Howell • April 24, 2025
The 10th annual Covington Antiques & Uniques Festival will be held this Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27, at the Covington Trailhead Museum. This two-day, juried festival features over 60 vendors offering an eclectic mix of antique furnishings, period collectibles, architectural salvage, and vintage-inspired fine crafts, as well as a live auction, car show, good food, music, and more. The Covington Heritage Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to preserve the city’s culture, character and community. Founded in 2015, the festival is coordinated with the support of the City’s Department of Cultural Arts and Events. As the festival grows and evolves each year, their goal remains the same- to offer a first-class juried event that reflects the unique charm and history of the city of Covington. The festival is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. For more details, please visit https://www.covingtonheritagefoundation.com/
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