Santa Clara, Calif. – There wasn't nearly a totality of execution by the New Orleans Saints in Sunday's preseason game against San Francisco at Levi's Stadium.
But there was enough, especially from the starting offense and defense, to provide some of what Coach Dennis Allen wanted to see as the Saints closed out the West Coast leg of training camp with a 16-10 loss to the 49ers.
New Orleans held 18 practices at Cal-Irvine and traveled to two preseason games, against the Cardinals and 49ers, before packing up 65 tons of equipment and heading back to New Orleans for a schedule that includes two open practices and the preseason finale Sunday, against the Titans in the Caesars Superdome.
"Obviously, disappointed that we lost the game," Coach Dennis Allen said. "Like I told the guys in the locker room, it's never OK, it's never acceptable, regardless of whether it's a preseason game or not. We have a lot of things we have to improve on, but I thought there were some good things.
"I thought early in the game the defense, with some short fields, did some good stuff and limited their points in some short-field situations. And then once we had a chance to get the field position a little bit better, I thought the offense – at the end of the first quarter and into the second quarter – we had a really nice, long drive. I thought we ran the ball well in that drive, and we were able to convert that with a red zone score. I was really pleased overall with what we were able to get once we kind of got some field position.
"Early on in the game, we got a couple of drives where we were backed up and it made it a little bit more challenging. (But) overall, I saw some positive signs. We were a little bit better up front early on.
"And then I thought as the game wore on, our execution wasn't nearly as good as it needed to be, as we got into our second and third phase with our guys, both offensively, defensively and in the kicking game. A lot of things that we have to get cleaned up but I did see some positive signs to build on."
The Saints totaled 271 yards and converted three times in four fourth-down attempts but failed to convert on 10 of 11 chances on third down. But the offensive encouragement for Allen came in the first half, after a couple of three-and-out drives to open the game.
With quarterback Derek Carr (7 of 9 for 47 yards) and the rest of the starters taking the field for their final drive with 6:61 left in the first quarter, and the Saints backed up to their own 5-yard line, New Orleans embarked on a16-play, 95-yard touchdown drive that lasted 8:17 and culminated on Taysom Hill's 1-yard run. The Saints converted twice on fourth down (including Hill's score) and once on third down in the drive, and took a 7-0 lead.
The defense forced punts on San Francisco's first three drives before backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs took over in the second quarter, and sparked the Niners with his elusiveness and his arm. He led the Niners on consecutive field goal drives of 41 and 32 yards on a combined 19 plays, then finished out the first half by engineering an 11-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that Dobbs finished with a 1-yard run on fourth down, with one second remaining in the half, to give San Francisco a 13-7 halftime lead.
In less than a half, Dobbs completed 12 of 21 passes for 133 yards, ran for 25 yards on three carries and danced out of a half-dozen potential sacks.
The Saints' second unit, meanwhile, couldn't corral Dobbs on defense and the second and third offenses couldn't mount much of a threat behind quarterbacks Spencer Rattler (4 of 8 for 27 yards, sacked twice and a lost fumble) and Jake Haener (7 of 13 for 76 yards).
Each will continue his quest in New Orleans to separate from the other and take ownership of the primary backup spot behind Carr, and the Saints will look to build on a solid run game that churned out 134 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries, including 54 yards on 10 carries on the touchdown drive. Jamaal Williams ran for 32 yards on five carries, and Hill played running back and fullback while totaling 21 yards on five carries.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
New Orleans Saints punter Matthew Hayball punts during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
New Orleans Saints' Cedrick Wilson Jr. returns a punt against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles, left, breaks up a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers tight end Eric Saubert (82) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles, foreground left, breaks up a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers tight end Eric Saubert, middle, during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams, right, runs against San Francisco 49ers safety Tracy Walker III, rear, and cornerback Renardo Green during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) passes as San Francisco 49ers defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos, middle, and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott apply pressure during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means runs against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means, left, runs against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Samuel Womack III during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
New Orleans Saints cornerback Rico Payton (36) cannot intercept the ball as he and safety Johnathan Abram (24) defend against a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Trent Taylor, bottom, during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (18) passes as San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle T.Y. McGill applies pressure during the second half of a preseason NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Rico Payton (36) breaks up a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Danny Gray (6) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Tay Martin (86) is tackled against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
San Francisco 49ers running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn (31) is tackled against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a preseason NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
