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WHO HELPED THEIR CAUSE

Alvin Kamara
One snap was all it took for the New Orleans Saints’ first third-round pick from the 2017 draft to reach the end zone. At this point, Kamara probably doesn’t need to touch the football anymore in a preseason game to help his cause.
Kamara took the team’s first offensive snap and jetted for a 50-yard touchdown. He showed patience to the hole created by Ryan Ramczyk, Andrus Peat and Josh Hill on the left side.
The versatile tailback also caught one pass for 22 yards on another play to highlight his speed and versatility. He ended up with five carries for 61 rushing yards and had an 11-yard punt return.
Kamara deserves all the preseason hype he has received.

A.J. Klein
There’s a reason the Saints plan to use Klein as an every-down linebacker.
Klein zeroed in on Melvin Gordon through a hole up the gut and hammered the Chargers' tailback for a 2-yard loss. Later, Klein drove a blocker deep into the backfield to flush Kellen Clemens from the pocket. Alex Okafor took full advantage with a blindside shot on Clemens for a brutal sack.
Klein picked up a half sack when he teamed with Sheldon Rankins to take down Clemens. Klein even downed a great Thomas Morstead punt at the Chargers' 5.

Chris Banjo
The reserve safety won’t make the Saints solely because of his play on defense. Banjo knows he has to make his mark on special teams.
Banjo stood out twice on the coverage teams. He stopped the Chargers' Brandon Oliver at the Los Angeles 15 on a kick return and halted punt returner Isaiah Burse for a 5-yard loss. Banjo followed that up by swarming Burse on another return in the second quarter for an 11-yard loss.
A monster game for Banjo to say the least.

Specialists
I've been preaching about Wil Lutz's improved confidence all offseason.
Lutz had plenty of distance to spare with a successful 53-yard boot up the gut of the uprights. The Saints' second-year kicker would have liked better trajectory, but that's obviously more challenging from 50-plus yards.
Lutz's trajectory hasn't been an issue in training camp, and I don't expect it to be a problem come the regular season.
Remember when Sean Payton complained about Thomas Morstead having a tough practice early in training camp? That's over. Morstead boomed punts and placed them perfectly.

Manti Te'o
The frontline linebacker corps as a whole played well. For Te'o, it probably felt even better since the last time he saw the Chargers was when he ripped up his Achilles tendon as a member of the team.
Te'o picked up a sack against his former teammates and stood out with blitzes and bone-jarring tackles. Most important, Te'o completed the Saints' first takeaway of the preseason, recovering Sterling Moore's forced fumble.

WHO HURT THEIR CAUSE

Damian Swann
It’s been mostly a downhill ride the past couple of years for the 2015 fifth-round pick. Swann didn’t help himself much Sunday in a crowded position group.
Craig Robertson planted Cardale Jones for a sack on a blitz to create a third-and-23 situation. You know what’s coming next. Swann hit the Chargers' receiver in the back early on a seam route and was flagged for pass interference, giving Los Angeles a first down.
Swann then gave up a 17-yard reception to James Jones on the next play. The Saints yanked Swann for a couple of plays and he drew the ire of Sean Payton on the sideline, rightfully so.
His spot on the 53-man roster is tenuous at best.

Bryce Harris/Khalif Barnes
It was inevitable the Saints would suffer with depth along the offensive line with players such as Terron Armstead and Max Unger not on the field. Then utility lineman John Fullington left Friday's practice with an injury.
Nonetheless, Payton would have liked a better performance out of tackles Khalif Barnes and Bryce Harris. They struggled at times against the Chargers' reserve defensive front. It made life for Saints backup QB Ryan Nassib uncomfortable.
Harris also picked up two holding penalties.

Stephone Anthony
The Saints' much-maligned linebacker didn't suit up all week in practice and didn't play against the Chargers.
He has fallen deeper on the depth chart with each absence.
Klein, Te'o, Robertson and Alex Anzalone showed plenty of signs of an improved linebacker corps. Nate Stupar will have a special teams spot and nearly snagged a pick-six off Jones on Sunday night.
If everyone in the group passes Anthony by, how safe is his roster spot?

Ryan Nassib
Nassib realizes he needs to be perfect to make the Saints' 53-man roster. A potential scoring drive went completely imperfect.
The Saints could have sealed the game late, but instead gave the Chargers life.
Nassib tried to hit Tommylee Lewis in small window as Lewis pivoted near three defenders inside the Los Angeles 5. Nassib threw the ball behind Lewis, allowing former Lutcher High standout Dexter McCoil to snatch the ball and sprint for a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Yikes!
Nassib finished 6-of-15 for 55 yards.

MIXED REVIEWS

Ryan Ramczyk
You knew the Saints’ second 2017 first-round pick would receive a trial-by-fire experience against Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. We saw good signs, but some bad plays crept up as well.
Ramczyk shielded his defender to create a hole on Kamara's 50-yard TD run. He also had success in the passing game vs. Ingram and Bosa.
The left tackle’s play fell off a bit as the first half progressed, though. He allowed Ingram to pressure Chase Daniel into an incompletion on third down. Ingram also put a spin move on Ramczyk to force the first of two holding penalties for the rookie in the first 30 minutes.
Hits and misses were to be expected for Ramczyk in his first taste of NFL game action. It’s a good tape from which to learn with the Texans coming to New Orleans this week.