The New Orleans Saints are just a few days away from the preseason finale – their only home exhibition game – Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. The good news is key players like Alvin Kamara, Taliese Fuaga, Juwan Johnson and Pete Werner are back on the field. However, the DNP list remains long.

Before we get to Part 6 of our third annual NFL team-by-team previews and take a look at the NFC West, we’ll talk about the home team for an extended period of time. Then we’ll ask if anyone can unseat Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and the San Francisco 49ers.

It’s the usual Friday suspects on Wednesday this week, as The Athletic’s Larry Holder joins host Jim Derry on the Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 269) presented by Evangeline Securities. And if there is a surprise, would it be Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams, Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks or Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals?

How could it be that one can feel better about the New Orleans Saints following a 16-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday than after the win over the Arizona Cardinals last week? It’s easy: Preseason scores don’t matter, but the play from the first teamers do.

Not only was quarterback Derek Carr much better this week, but so was the offensive line, and more specifically, tackle Trevor Penning. The play calling from offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak might have showed a glimpse into what to expect for the regular season with a heavy dose of Taysom Hill, Jamaal Williams and the run game. Also, the first-team defense was dominating, and tackle Bryan Bresee is the most improved player on the team thus far.

Host Jim Derry talks to and with the audience, and we hear clips from Coach Dennis Allen, Carr and Bresee on the Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 268) presented by Evangeline Securities. It’s also time for “Mondays with Gabe Henderson,” and Jim finishes the show with his “Extra Point,” honoring the life of New Orleans sports media icon Ed Daniels, who passed away Friday.

The New Orleans Saints are set to play preseason game No. 2 on Sunday, and it’s likely the starters will see a decent amount of time. But beyond the major concerns of all those who are missing time in practice, there are other questions: Does Trevor Penning still have a leg up at right tackle? Will Spencer Rattler do as well playing with the 1s and 2s? How much does he share time with Jake Haener on Sunday? Is the defense really THAT good? Does the Justin Simmons signing with Atlanta make it so the Saints can make other moves?

We’ll ask these questions before we get to Part 5 of our third annual NFL team-by-team previews, looking at the NFC East. Can Dak Prescott put the offense of the Dallas Cowboys on his shoulders, and how big a deal is the CeeDee Lamb situation? The roster of the Philadelphia Eagles might be the best in the NFL, so why did they flounder last season?

Jim Derry is back with his Friday partner Larry Holder and their NFC East crystal ball on the Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 267) presented by Evangeline Securities. They also ask if Jayden Daniels can make football fun again for fans of the Washington Commanders and whether Daniel Jones and the New York Giants can avoid the cellar.

We had such an outpouring of debate on both the Trevor Penning debacle and the debate of who should be QB2 – Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener – we decided to extend the conversation into another show.

This time, Jim Derry has brings in a fellow local sports talk host, Eric Asher, to get a fresh take on Wednesday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 266) presented by Evangeline Securities. Also on “Wednesdays with Gabe,” Jim and Gabe Henderson shares some thoughts on the newest AP college football poll.

Lastly, just days after the Olympic Games in Paris ended, in the “Extra Point,” Jim goes back 85 years to the first-ever gold-medal 19-8 – yes, 19-8 – victory for the United State in basketball. It came over Canada, and it was outdoors on clay and sand in the muck and the mud.

Sure, the New Orleans Saints defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Saturday’s preseason opener in the desert, but what does it really mean? There were some positives (Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler, Chase Young, Willie Gay and the defense), but there some negatives, too (Trevor Penning and the first-string offense).

How much should we put stock into these little snippets of time? We hear from Coach Dennis Allen, who is more candid than one might have expected, and share our opinions on all these topics, including a long debate with listeners on Haener vs. “The Rat Train.” Is the hype on Rattler a bit much? What about the kicker battle between Blake Grupe and Charlie Smyth?

Host Jim Derry talks to and with the audience, and it’s time for “Mondays with Gabe Henderson” on the Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 265) presented by Evangeline Securities. Jim finishes the show with his “Extra Point” that looks at other young quarterbacks around the league who also might be getting their own hype.

The New Orleans Saints open their preseason on Saturday, and we still don’t have much of a clue on how much the starters will play. Will Derek Carr even play at all? How will the team get through with only six healthy receivers? Will Trevor Penning shake off tough camp?

We’ll ask these questions before we get to Part 4 of our third annual NFL team-by-team previews, looking at the AFC South. Will CJ Stroud be able to repeat his Rookie of the Year performance, and can the Houston Texans continue their rise from nowhere in 2022 to 2023 to again this season? Can Anthony Richardson make a healthy return and help Coach Shane Steichen and the Indianapolis Colts have another winning season?

Jim Derry is back with his Friday partner Larry Holder and their AFC South crystal ball on the Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 264) presented by Evangeline Securities. They also ask if Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars can overcome a brutal schedule – especially the start – and whether the Tennessee Titans can avoid the cellar.

The LSU football Tigers are just 25 days away from their 2024 season opener in Las Vegas against the USC Trojans. How is Garrett Nussmeier coming along at quarterback, and what about Harold Perkins and the defense? Can LSU get through the early part of the schedule and get to the Ole Miss game at 5-0 and keep their chances going for a shot at the 12-team playoff?

Host Jim Derry brings in our own Wilson Alexander on Wednesday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 263) presented by Evangeline Securities to discuss answer these questions, and on “Wednesdays with Gabe,” Jim and Gabe Henderson have fun with their LSU football Mt. Rushmores, and they share a few from the audience.

We also offer a Saints camp update and talk about the newly released depth chart heading into the preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. In the “Extra Point,” Jim goes back 31 years to when 46-year-old Nolan Ryan beat the ever-loving snot out of 26-year old Robin Ventura.

Without blasting last year’s offensive coaching staff, running back Jamaal Williams says there are many reasons to be excited about the new one that is being led by coordinator Klint Kubiak. It’s a reason for him to be happy and excited about the 2024 New Orleans Saints, as that’s all he really wants … oh, and to be able to go home and spend time with his cats and daughter.

Meanwhile, Coach Dennis Allen had good things to say about his offense from this past weekend’s worth of training camp practices, although he was a bit concerned with penalties. As for the mounting injuries, Allen said it’s critical guys like guard Nick Saldiveri get themselves out of the training room and onto the field. This likely goes double for running back Kendre Miller, who could be losing his job to Jordan Mims.

Host Jim Derry goes through all that solo with clips from Williams, Allen and Mims, as well as plenty of comments from viewers. And there’s “Mondays with Gabe Henderson” the Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 262) presented by Evangeline Securities. Jim finishes the show with his ‘Extra Point’ that looks back 57 years to the Saints’ first-ever preseason game and first appearance in that beautiful black and gold.

There’s some breaking camp news for the New Orleans Saints on Friday morning, including the release of a quarterback and the signing of two wide receivers. Does this mean Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler have locked up spots and one of the two will be the backup to Derek Carr in 2024? What’s up with the injuries to the receiving corps?

Time to get up to speed on what’s going on with the Black and Gold, and then there’s Part 3 of our third annual NFL team-by-team previews, looking at the AFC North. Will Lamar Jackson be able to put together another MVP-like performance, and will the addition of running back Derrick Henry be enough to push the Baltimore Ravens over the top? Can Joe Burrow stay healthy and give the Cincinnati Bengals a chance to go from worst to first in the division?

Jim Derry is back with his Friday partner Larry Holder with their AFC North crystal ball on the Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 261) presented by Evangeline Securities. They also ask if the Cleveland Browns can win again with defense and – maybe – a healthy Deshaun Watson and Nick Chubb? And is the year Mike Tomlin has his first-ever losing season with the Pittsburgh Steelers?

One of the big stories of training camp for the New Orleans Saints so far has been the injuries. Star wide receiver Chris Olave, one of the NFL’s top cornerback’s Marshon Lattimore, RB2 Kendre Miller and more. Should we be super concerned or is this just an early preseason bump in the road?

That being said, there are bright spots in wide receiver Mason Tipton, running back Jordan Mims, and defensive end Chase Young looks ready to go. Which current reserve offensive lineman could find their way into the starting lineup? Lucas Patrick for the injured Nick Saldiveri? Landon Young for Trevor Penning? Move Taliese Fuaga back to right tackle?

Host Jim Derry went brings in Ross Jackson of the “Locked on Saints Podcast” on Wednesday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 260) presented by Evangeline Securities to discuss all these topics, and Jim has plenty to say before Ross joins. Also, producer Gabe Henderson has presents some “top” and “bottom” lists, while Jim’s ‘Extra Point’ goes back 24 years to the day the Saints traded for quarterback Aaron Brooks.