I think people are overlooking that our starting OLine hasn’t played much together. That unit is dependent on chemistry just like QB’s & WR’s are on timing w/each other. Honestly, since the league has changed to 3 preseason games, it seems teams around the league knock rust off for three weeks, before settling in to their identities in the 4th week. I make a point to hold off on determining what type of team we have until we finish our fourth game of the season. By then, most teams’ offenses come into form and their defenses have an identity.
The Saints are notorious slow starters even during Payton’s era. I take these first three or four games as extended preseason battles that actually count. Players are still getting used to live bullets, given many didn’t play much in preseason. I don’t expect us to gel for another few games. If we can still win during that period, we’ll have a tough squad to beat once things start clicking.