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13	November 2018

3 Ups and 1 Down from yesterday�s preseason win against the Chargers

Football is back Thomas Morstead Jersey , and the regular season is just two weeks away. It might have just been the preseason, but it�s still something. So with the return of football, comes the return of our �Ups� and �Downs� series. In what was another roller-coaster of a game with plenty of ups and downs along the way, here are a couple that stood out.Jake Roth-USA TODAY SportsUp: Taysom HillThe Taysom Hill hype train lives!After an abysmal showing in the Saints second preseason game of the year, Hill came back and showed exactly why he fits in a Sean Payton offense.He made a short and crisp throw to Tre�Quan Smith late in the game for a touchdown. He also rushed for a touchdown earlier in the game. He scored a two-point conversion when he kept the ball away from Boston Scott and rushed around the edge, and later Scott was able to score a two-point conversion himself when the threat of Hill keeping the ball forced the opposing defender to cheat outside.That�s not even mentioning the most exciting element that Hill brings to this team: Hill can absolutely wreak havoc on special teams. This time, it wasn�t in the form of a blocked punt or a key special teams tackle, but rather a direct snap on a fake punt where he was able to use his speed to pick up a first down and continue a drive.More of that, please.Kirby Lee-USA TODAY SportsUp: Austin CarrHe lives!After staying relatively quiet through training camp and the first week of the preseason, former UDFA Austin Carr has finished with back-to-back games of nearly 40 receiving yards out of the slot. We also know Drew Brees like his trusted �hands�/possession receiver in the slot for key third downs, with the likes of Willie Snead and Lance Moore having filled that role in the past, but now Austin Carr has taken a big step forward to try to be that guy for 2018.Jake Roth-USA TODAY SportsUp: Marcus DavenportThe 2018 1st Round draft pick didn�t light the stat sheet on fire during his half of play, but the fact that Marcus Davenport finally saw the field for live football action is an �Up� in and of itself.The pass rushing defensive end finished the game with 3 total tackles (with one tackle for loss), .5 sack, and 1 QB hit during his time with the ones. One of his tackles was on an athletic play where he initially over-pursued a sweep toward the sideline but was able to twist his body around to make a stop on the Chargers Travis Benjamin.Jake Roth-USA TODAY SportsDown: Drew BreesIt has to be said, right?Brees has seemingly struggled with the interception bug during training camp, with multiple reports of S Marcus Williams picking Brees off in team drills. When Drew was finally able to see preseason action, his second pass attempt of the game went for an easy interception as he threw a ball into double coverage intended for Ted Ginn Jr.Hopefully this isn�t a throw Drew would attempt in the regular season, but let�s be honest: we all know it is. And that�s why we love him.Weekend Content: Power ranking the Saints� undrafted rookies The New Orleans Saints still haven�t announced an official list of undrafted free agent signings, so I had to refer to the team�s officially-incomplete roster at NewOrleansSaints.com.Any inaccuracies on this list are due to a failure of research on my part.So let�s get into this week�s Weekend Content, where I�m presenting a power ranking of the dozen undrafted free agents currently on the team roster:12. Offensive tackle Nate Wozniak, MinnesotaIt�s unfortunate Cheap Michael Thomas Jersey , but somebody has to be ranked last, and in this case it�s the big tight end who was immediately converted to playing offensive tackle.Props to Wozniak for telling the Atlanta Falcons, �no thanks� and signing with the Saints after the draft, but he�s got a tough road ahead of him.11. Defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth, South Carolina It�ll take some time before Stallworth can prove his power level, but for now he�s stuck behind a more-accomplished peer in Henry Mondeuax and the Saints� young, ascending defensive line rotation - Sheldon Rankins and Tyeler Davison figure to start with David Onyemata seeing heavy action, and last year�s preseason darling Mitchell Loewen returning from an injury.10. Defensive back J.T. Gray, Mississippi StateIt�s not clear yet where J.T. Gray will line up, which is a problem.He filled in at slot corner, box safety, rover/money/star linebacker, and other odd jobs in college and doesn�t yet have an official designation for the Saints.But that broad-ranging skills set matches what was asked of Kenny Vaccaro last year, so Gray at least has an immediate path to fitting the defense.9. Linebacker Colton Jumper, TennesseeThe Saints have a bunch of linebackers, but just a few really good linebackers at the top and some older fringe players behind them - names like Nathan Stupar and Craig Robertson.Jumper played well against the run in college and could push one of those guys off the roster if he stands out on special teams and can show quick close on the ball during the preseason.More than anything, he needs to show he can affect the game in pass coverage.8. Linebacker KeShun Freeman, Georgia TechWe�ve got a strongside linebacker with size (6-foot-2, 240-pounds) and production (20.5 tackles for loss in college) who could ably step in behind A.J. Klein or Hau�oli Kikaha while making plays on special teams.That�s not a skills set the Saints have an abundance of.Freeman was a recent signee with the Saints after trying his hand in two weekends of rookie minicamps with the Saints and Baltimore Ravens, so the must have seen something they like.7. Interior offensive lineman Cory Helms, South CarolinaVersatility isn�t exactly an asset at every position, but it is along the offensive line.Helms has started at center and guard for two different programs (South Carolina and Wake Forest) and could take advantage of the uncertainty found in Senio Kelemete�s absence.Cameron Tom and Will Clapp figure to have better odds to make the final roster Tyeler Davison Jersey , but Helms shouldn�t be ruled out.6. Defensive tackle Hendry Mondeaux, OregonHenry Mondeaux can play!He�s a taller lineman (6-foot-4, 280-pounds) in the mold of Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner who had 10 sacks the last three years as a starter.I could see him really competing with Loewen for the fourth interior lineman spot as a nice developmental project now that Onyemata is nearing his fullest potential (and a contract year in 2020).5. Fullback Ryan Yuracheck, MarshallYuracheck didn�t really impress at his pro day workout, but he showed in college to be a reliable passing target on underneath routes the last three years as a starter - catching 126 passes and 24 touchdowns.He�s a competent enough blocker, and should be good competition for Zach Line for that gig.I think he offers some skills the Saints don�t really have.4. Cornerback Linden Stephens, CincinnatiThe Saints made it clear that they liked Stephens back at the East-West Shrine Game, and he ended up joining the team as an undrafted free agent.It seems like they find a 6-foot-0, 190-pound UDFA every year who plays well in the preseason and earns more action as the regular season wears on - think Ken Crawley�s career path.3. Wide receiver Keith Kirkwood, TempleKirkwood had a quiet rookie minicamp, but it was a confident quiet.He was one of the cornerstones for Temple�s passing offense and, according to people close to the program, one of the coaching staff�s favorite players.He�s a player who has enough talent and a clear mind to impact soon and grow into a bigger role over time.Don�t sleep on him.2.Tight end Deon Yelder, Western KencukyIt was awesome to see a tight end getting open down the seam and making over-the-shoulder catches in midair last weekend.It�s been quite some time since that�s happened on the Saints� practice field, much less in games, but Yelder accomplished it.He�s the front-runner to get a roster spot out of the current crop of undrafted rookies, but he didn�t capture my heart the way the next contender did:1.Quarterback J.T. Barrett, Ohio StateHas any undrafted rookie made a better first impression than Barrett so far?He did everything asked of him well at rookie minicamps, which admittedly wasn�t much.We�ll get a better judge of his power in upcoming organized team activities, like the traditional post-practice quarterbacks challenge.But for now the leading spot is Barrett�s to lose.-Alright, that was fun.Which undrafted rookie are you enamored with?