4 questions we need answered in Friday’s Saints-Packers preseason game

We’re hours away from the second New Orleans Saints preseason game of the summer, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. CT against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. It follows a few days of joint practices between the two teams that got heated at times, but ultimately left both squads with a better understanding of how their rosters are constructed. Friday night’s exhibition game is another opportunity to test their mettle. It’s also another chance to gauge the progress players are making – not just young rookies, but also veterans who are picking up new skills. So with all of this in mind, let’s explore four key questions we need answered:

1
Can the offensive line hold up against pressure?

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

This was a problem last week, with the New Orleans offense yielding five sacks – all of them against Ian Book playing behind backups. That context is important, but it doesn’t look better the further you look into it. Rookie draft pick Trevor Penning was charged with allowing four pressures by Pro Football Focus, with all of his teammates up front combining for five pressures themselves. He struggled to set his feet and keep up with NFL-quality athletes. Penning also played more snaps than anyone else on the team (well, except for Book), and that should continue against Green Bay. He needs a lot of development and every rep is a learning opportunity. Elsewhere, look for top backups Calvin Throckmorton and Forrest Lamp to get an extended look at guard. And there’s a competition brewing for the backup center job between NFL veterans Nick Martin and Josh Andrews.

2
Which wide receiver separates from the pack?

AP Photo/Matt Patterson

Speaking of competition: there will be a lot on the line even late in this game, especially at wide receiver. The top four or five spots are set in stone. After that, things could go in any number of directions. We’ll be looking for guys who are running hard and fighting for receptions and making life easy for their quarterbacks. Established pros like Marquez Callaway and Tre’Quan Smith lead the pack, but don’t sleep on Kirk Merritt and Dai’Jean Dixon, who each caught multiple passes last week. And second-year draft pick Kawaan Baker ran more routes than anyone on the team in Houston. He’s got to keep it up to make his case for a roster spot, even if a six-game PEDs…