Jaguars vs Saints Week 7 TNF preview: Questions with the enemy

As the Jacksonville Jaguars prepare to play the New Orleans Saints in Week 7, we had the pleasure of interviewing Hayden Reel of Canal Street Chronicles to gain insights into the opposing team.

Question 1: Evaluating Derek Carr’s Performance as a Saint

Derek Carr’s performance has been inconsistent. It’s hard to attribute wins or losses solely to him. In his worst game against the Bucs, he probably shouldn’t have played due to a lingering shoulder injury. The offense as a whole has struggled to score, and the offensive line and play calling haven’t been supportive of Carr. We expected better from the offensive line, but the play calling has been problematic since Sean Payton’s departure. We anticipated a 4-2 record at this point, so we’re not far off, but both the offense and Carr have failed to impress so far.

Q2: Significance of Injuries to Key Players

All the injuries are significant, but not all of the players listed on the injury report are expected to miss the game. The offensive tackles’ injuries are particularly concerning. Three out of the four tackles on the roster are questionable, and the best of them, Ryan Ramczyk, is in concussion protocol. There’s a real chance he won’t be able to play on such short notice. Since the offensive line has already struggled this season, if they have to rely on two backups or don’t have Ramczyk to block Josh Allen and Travon Walker, they’ll be in trouble.

Q3: Emerging Young Players on the Saints

Carl Granderson immediately comes to mind. While not technically young (in his 5th year in the league), this is his first year as a starter, and he’s only one sack away from setting a career high in six games. He’s made an impact in nearly every game and has been a great complement to Cam Jordan. That’s why the Saints have already signed him to an extension.

Another standout young player is Rashid Shaheed. Despite going undrafted out of Weber State, where he was a 4-time All-American and set the FCS record for most kickoff return touchdowns, he’s coming into his own as a receiver. Alongside his skills as a return man, he’s arguably been the Saints’ most explosive player on offense this season.

Keep an eye out for rookie DT Bryan Bresee as well. Although he doesn’t play every down, he’s shown flashes when on the field. Since the Jags might be without Brandon Scherff and Walker Little this week, don’t be surprised if Bresee goes after his former Clemson teammates.

Q4: Sentiments Towards Dennis Allen and Hopes for the Future

Opinions on Dennis Allen are mixed. While many acknowledge his underwhelming performance, not everyone thinks a change is necessary right away. He’s a great defensive coach, and the defense hasn’t been the problem during his tenure. The issue lies with the offense, and most Saints fans would agree that they need to replace the offensive coordinator as soon as possible. Personally, I believe they should change the offensive coordinator while keeping Allen, as he’s an asset to the defense. However, there are others who believe a complete overhaul is needed if things don’t improve this year.

Q5: Predictions for the Game and DraftKings Sportsbook Odds

I think the Jaguars have the edge in this matchup because I don’t believe the Saints can score enough points to win against teams whose defenses they can’t dominate. The only way I see them winning is if they consistently pressure Trevor and potentially force some sack fumbles. They might be able to exploit the Jaguars’ secondary if Tyson Campbell doesn’t play, but the Jaguars’ defensive line will apply pressure on Carr, limiting the Saints’ ability to pass downfield (which they don’t do often anyway). The Jaguars’ offense and defense, along with the Saints’ defense, have all performed well, but the Saints’ offense has struggled at times. I don’t think they’ll be able to score enough in this matchup without significant help from the defense.

We extend our gratitude to Hayden for taking the time to answer our questions!

Jaguars fans, what are your thoughts on this week’s matchup? Share your opinions in the comments below!