SAINTS HEAD COACH DENNIS ALLEN

"There were a number of things, I thought in particularly offensively, that I thought we did. I thought we ran the ball well. Our red zone efficiency was really good when we were down in the red area. We were able to score touchdowns. We were better on third down, and yet, I still think we need to be better than we were in the game. Defensively, I do not think we were very good. We had one takeaway in the game, which was a positive. I thought we were better in the run game in the first half, and then in the second half, I do not think we did a very good job stopping the run. We kind of switched positions a little bit. We did not do a very good job defending the passing game and were not able to get much of a rush in the first half. Then, in the second half, I thought we did a little bit better of a job of getting a little bit of a rush and defending in the passing game didn't do a good enough job in the run game. I think we had a good training camp. I think we got a lot accomplished. I think we have some tough decisions to make over the next 48 hours or whatever the case may be. We will be turning our attention to doing that."

On the backup quarterback situation:

"I would say over the last week to 10 days, I feel like (Jake) Haener took a real big step forward in practice. I do not think we saw as much of that in the game. What are the reasons why? Whether it be routes or protections or misreads, whatever the case may be, I think we go back and we look at the tape and evaluate where that was. I thought Spencer (Rattler) did some nice things today. I thought he looked calm, poised, made some good throws, was able to extend some plays with his feet and get some first downs, tucking and running. I felt good about and feel good about the quarterback room."

On the game plan for the quarterback rotation:

"The plan going in was Jake in the first quarter, Spencer in the second quarter and really trying to two-fold get them with the second offensive line group where they were kind of playing with the same people and playing against a higher level of competition on the other side to try to make this thing a little bit more of a fair evaluation. The second half was designed to be Jake in the third quarter, Spencer in the fourth quarter. Then, when you started looking through play count, Spencer was at 27, 28 plays or something like that. Jake was at 15-18 plays. I kind of wanted to even out the play count a little bit."

On snap counts in the season across all three quarterbacks:

"That will be something we will have to navigate, if that's the case. I think to your point, being able to work with these young quarterbacks and develop these young quarterbacks, that's our job. That's what we have to be able to do. We have to figure out how we are going to be able to get that done."

On the emotions of making cuts:

"Here's the reality. The reality is you go from 90 guys on your roster, and you have to get all the way down to 53. That's always tough. Look, these guys worked extremely hard going all the way back to the beginning of the offseason program through the OTAs, minicamp, training camp, preseason games. These guys put their heart and soul into this - young guys, vet guys. It's always a tough deal. On the flip side, as you said, to see some of this hard work payoff is also just as gratifying as it is difficult on the other end."

On decisions about those on the bubble:

"I am not going to get into any type of potential personnel decisions. Those are things that we will have to look at over the next 48 hours and make those decisions."

(n the decision to have Blake Grupe handle all kicking duty:

"Charlie (Smyth) had a little bit of some groin tightness come up on Friday. I didn't want to really risk it too much in putting him out there and have him kick a bunch of kicks. I thought Blake (Grupe) responded to getting an opportunity and kicking the ball through the uprights. I thought he had a good day today."

On Khalen Saunders:

"Khalen Saunders is dealing with a calf injury."

On Isaiah Foskey's production:

"My overall view is I think he's taken a step forward, and yet, I think there are still some things that he's got to improve on. I think, there are some things that he could potentially help us with in the passing game some. I certainly see a vision for this guy helping us on special teams. I think you still have a young player that still needs to develop, but I think he's taken a step forward from where he was at this point last year."

On players who were drafted versus those who were undrafted and the investment:

"I think you come into it probably with a little bit of a leg up being that you were a draft choice. At the end of the day, we have to evaluate what we see. You have to be able to go out there and earn it. I guess probably if there was, using a baseball analogy, the ties goes to the runner. If you spent assets to go and draft a player and there hasn't been anything to truly create a separation, you probably get a little bit of the benefit being a draft choice. Really, the reality is, we've seen a lot of practices, a lot of game action, and we're going to base our evaluation on that."

On Trevor Penning:

"It is hard for me to comment too much. I do think, there were a few plays in there that I thought were an improvement. Without looking at it, the offensive line, defensive line, those are tougher evaluations just coming right off the field. Overall, I know this, I thought he played better than last week's game. I thought he improved this week in practice. I saw some good things tonight, too. I think there's some improvement."

On if challenging Penning had anything to do with his improvement:

"Probably a better question for him. You know what I mean? All I can tell you is I thought he played better in the game. I thought he had a good week of practice, and I thought he did some good things tonight.

On Samson Nacua's big field goal return:

"Score - that's what was going through my mind. Really it was, no blindside blocks, block above the waist, all of those things. You can't let an offensive lineman get you out of bounds, right? That is a play that rarely shows up in our game, but when you really think about it that is why we work that situation. The coverage unit's generally offensive lineman. Sometimes you might have a d-lineman, tight ends, those type of players. There are more skill players on the return team at that time, and it is a space game. That is not the game those guys are used to playing in. I thought their guy did a nice job of making the play and getting enough of him to get him out of bounds."

On the return:

"It was a lot. He needed just a little bit more juice at the end to get that block."

On if that play makes an big impact on roster evaluations:

'You're not going to look at that play and that play alone and say 'OK, we are going to base all our decisions on that play alone'. Yet, that's part of however many plays we've seen, that's just part of the evaluation. I think the positive thing about that was there was a lot of smart football that took place on that play. There was a competitive nature of the guys who were on that unit and trying to score. It think it certainly was an exciting play, that's for sure."

On offensive holding penalties negating two touchdowns:

"I think that's pretty obvious, right? You have two touchdowns, and now you don't have two touchdowns. That's frustrating. That's part of why we play preseason games. We're trying to iron some of those things out. It was unfortunate that happened in the game."

On Jacob Kibodi's performance:

"I thought (he) did a nice job. I thought he ran the ball well today. I thought he ran it physical. I thought he made the right reads. I thought he did some good stuff."

On Kibodi's overall improvement throughout camp:

"I think so. I think (Jacob) has run the ball pretty tough the last week of training camp and ran it hard in-game and was effective in the game. I think he's done some good things."

On Spencer Rattler's in-game improvements:

"(Rattler) has made some good conversions. He has made some nice throws. He's made some good reads. He converted some things with his feet. He was poised under pressure. Those are the things I thought he did in the game today that impressed me."

On the work plan next week:

"There's a little bit of both of that going on. Obviously, these next couple of days is all going to be about roster management. That's where our focus will be over the next couple of days. I think being able to get a little bit of recovery. This was a tough, physical camp, and it was intended to be that way. Part of this week will be about how do we refine some of the things we are doing, how do we get an initial jumpstart and get prepared for Carolina, and how do we get these guys back ready physically for the opening game?"

On using Taliese Fuaga:

"(Taliese) would have played (if all starters played)."

On Klint Kubiak being on the sideline instead of the booth:

"Ultimately, that will be my decision, but yes, there will be some conversations that will be had. What did I like? What did I not like? What did he like? What did he not like? What's best for our players? There are a lot of things that are going to go into that decision. We will communicate on that over the next week or so and figure out what we are going to do for the opening game. We might go one way in the opening game, and somewhere down the line, we might decide we need to do something different. Whatever we decide to do for Week One is just kind of a starting point."

Quarterback Spencer Rattler

On shifting in and out of the game:

"Just trying to keep your rhythm throughout the game, going quarter by quarter. I feel like as a group we did really well, I think we scored on (nearly) every drive. A couple touchdowns and some field goals, so as a group we converted on third down much better, and finished in the red zone, had more explosive plays. Ran the ball well, threw the ball down the field, and I thought it was a good, efficient game."

On touchdown to Equanimeous St. Brown:

"They zoned it out. The ball was not supposed to go there, but he ran a great route, I trusted him, I put it where I needed to, and he made ahead with a play. That is how we're taught, play the play, but when you go above X's and O's, you've got to improvise sometimes."

On being enough to be the No. 2 QB:

"I just put my best foot forward. I wanted to come out here and play well, play clean, protect the ball and lead our team to scores, controlling what I can. That's not up to me to decide, but just putting my best foot forward."

On growth through preseason games and training camp:

"I think tremendously. Obviously still a rookie, still learning. I definitely want a few plays back, a couple underthrown balls, but I feel like I've taken steps where I need to, and obviously I'm not anywhere near where I want to be, so continuing to strive for perfection every day."

On coming off the bench vs starting:

"I mean, you kind of just got to do what you got to do. It's really not a big deal to me, just whenever you step on the field put your best foot forward and go make plays. I love to be on the field as much as I can, but when we're out there we've got to execute."

On preparation and staying sharp:

"Just keeping your legs warm and having someone to throw with on the sideline. It's what I've done since youth football. My dad was always like, 'you need to throw on the sideline,' so if you see me do that, just know I'm getting loose."

On Jacob Kibodi's day:

"He had a great day. That's a guy that's been working his tail off all camp. I'm really close with Kibodi. I'm happy for him, happy he got two touchdowns today. He ran the ball really well, (pass) protected well, and was running through some people, so I'm happy for him."

On having Kubiak on the sideline vs up in the booth:

"I liked him on the sideline. I thought he called a great game. I thought he did a great job."

On having a productive run game:

"If you look at it, on first and second down, if we can be in second and manageable, third and short from those runs, then it's a lot easier to convert on third down. I feel like we didn't have too many third-and-longs today, and if we did, I feel like we converted at a pretty high rate. When we're in those third-and-manageables, because we're running the ball so well, it opens up quick game, play action, boots, QB runs, all that stuff. So if we can run the ball, it makes it a lot easier to get first downs."

On comfort in the offense and with the playbook:

"Very comfortable out there. I thought our operation was really clean. Up front, guys did a great job today, in the o-line, running backs, receivers made plays. Everybody did well as a group today. Our operation was great, our execution was great, and our communication was elite I thought."

On confidence in regular season game situation:

"I would never say I'm not confident. I'm always confident, but again, I'm going to sit in my role, do what I need to do, and keep learning and getting better."

On how to attack development this season:

"I just develop as much as I can, learn from the guys in the room. It starts with Derek (Carr), he's our guy, a great player, so staying in his ear and working with him and Jake (Haener) and our coaches, and just continuing to improve every day."

On transition from college to NFL:

"I think this is an awesome situation, to be behind somebody like Derek. He's a great guy, and again a great vet who's proven himself in this league. I was in a similar situation at Oklahoma when Jalen Hurts was the starter, so I'm very comfortable learning as much as I can and trying to help get guys better."

On playing in the Caesars Superdome:

"It was awesome. Great environment, fans are awesome, energy was high. You can feel it, it was great."

On the fans and becoming a local phenomenon:

"The fan base is awesome here, obviously. It kind of reminds me of South Carolina, just a loving fanbase. Not the biggest market, but they die for their players, which is an awesome feeling. I try my best to stay out of the way, social media and all the buzz and all that stuff. I just work here. I'm new, I'm a rookie. I'm just trying to get better, improve, and help the team."

Linebacker Anfernee Orji

"I feel like it was a great camp for me, and for the team as well. Just being able to grow as a player, I feel like I've been able to show my versatility being able to play Mike, Will and Sam in all of these games and practices, so I feel like I've done everything I could. Just going out there and trying to make plays. It's just fun to go out there and play ball again."

On mental shift jumping between Mike, Will and Sam:

"The biggest mental shift is just knowing which one I'm playing. There could be one play where I'm Mike, and then the next play I'm at Sam, and the next play I'm at Will. Just being able to know which one I'm in is the hardest part, but the moment I know, then my mind clicks. Then I know what to look for, know my keys, and I just go out there and play."

On biggest areas of growth:

"Mentally. I feel like it started throughout last season. Last season I was just hurt. I didn't make the 53, which was my own doing. Personally, I just didn't feel like I played well enough. Then throughout the regular season I didn't get activated. On the practice squad I just got to learn, got to improve, so I was always ready to be up if my name was ever called, and I just looked to improve. So right when the season ends, just boom, hit the ground running, it's work. Just keeping my trust in God. I've been in the book way more, my playbook, by Bible, just trying to get down to it, get down to the mental game."

On approach the next few days/making the roster:

"I can't go back in time and change anything I've done. I feel like I've had a good camp. I feel like I've done everything I needed to do. So just prayer, that's what I'm going to do, just pray. Give it to God and hope for the best."

On handling the next few days:

"You have the mindset that you're up. So you just have to be ready as a football player for any opportunity. I feel like you've got to be positive during this time as a football player in this league."

On being able to play in all three spots:

"I feel like it's helped me learn the defense way more. I feel like I know the defense way better than last year. Playing Will, I know what's going on on this side of the field, and Sam, I know exactly what's going on on that side of the field, and Mike, I'm more in tune with the fronts and with coverages and all that. So being able to play all three has really made me a smarter football player and a better football player."

Running back Jacob Kibodi

"It was good. I have to score touchdowns, and that was a dream come true, being from Louisiana. It's a blessing, that's what you dream of."

On last couple of weeks:

"It was all about getting better. Just working on the details, my outside zone, trying to just continue to grow as a player. I think I did that throughout camp. I just kept on growing as a player."

On importance of having good game film:

"I mean, that's everything. That's what we watch as Saints, but also other teams around the league, that's what they watch as well. You always want to go out there and have a good performance."

On Spencer Rattler's performance/presence in the huddle:

"He's spectacular. He's full of talent. Y'all saw out there, the throw he made to Equanimeous (St. Brown) was crazy. He's full of talent. He has a swagger about him that uplifts everyone around him. That's the biggest thing."

On running scheme//performance:

"That's the goal, to be a balanced back, so showing finesse and power with speed. Also for running backs to be a part of the passing game. It allows you to be a complete back and show all your skills."

Quarterback Jake Haener

"At the end of the day, I got to be super confident in what I can do and who I am. I believe in myself and (am) confident in what I can do and I believe that I can play. We'll go back and I'll watch the tape, watch the decisions I made, but overall, I feel like I made really good decisions. Extended some players, make you feel like you built (up) throughout the entire preseason and probably some answers."

On the resume he has built in the preseason:

"Yeah, preseason and offseason I felt super confident. We'll see what (the) evaluation looks like and come back on Tuesday."

Receiver Samson Nacua on his 106-yard field goal return to at the end of the first half:

"Coach (Rizzi) said sell the fake and then come back to the wall. I did exactly what he said, and the team set it up perfectly. When it was in the air, I was like, let me get under this and try to go make a play. I was definitely trying to bring it all the way and make something happen. I did not know it was 106 yards, but running sideways felt like an extra 60 yards. By the time I got to the 50-yard line, my legs were gone."

On if he had practiced returning a field goal before:

"We have practiced it probably, like, two or three times. We've been focused on really base stuff and wasn't really planning for that. But luckily, we got like, two times in, so I was prepared a little bit for it."

On if he was disappointed that he did not score:

"I'm 100 percent disappointed. Coach (Rizzi) said it's the end of the half, no matter what, get it in (the end zone), don't get tackled with the ball. And what did I do? I got freaking tackled with the ball and I let the guys down. I should have pitched it to my teammate behind me and let him walk it in for me. But hopefully next time, if I receive another opportunity, I'll make it happen. I've seen my family group chat going off. I haven't got to check it yet, but they're probably going to tell me I am the slower brother, and I am going to be sick because I know I am faster than Puka (Nacua)."