Week 3 of the NFL's preseason is typically the time when teams begin to show the first real signs of what will transpire once the regular season kicks off. Starters get extended playing time. Game plans are scripted. Depth charts are finalized.
In other words, players are scrutinized more heavily because it's the final tune up before the games begin to count.
Offensive line and running game coach Aaron Kromer leads drills during practice at Saints camp on Aug. 2. Kromer will take over as interim coach of the team while Joe Vitt serves a six-game suspension.
But when the New Orleans Saints take the field against the Houston Texans on Saturday night in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the players won't be only ones being watched closely.
Many eyes also will be on newly minted interim Saints coach Aaron Kromer, the team's offensive line/running game coordinator who was named as the replacement for interim coach Joe Vitt, who'll miss the first six regular-season games due to his suspension for his role in the Saints' infamous bounty scandal.
"It's going to be a different role for him, but as long as we play well and win it'll make that job for him easier," Saints linebacker Scott Shanle said. "The expectations won't change. Like I've said before, it's going to be easier for him just because he has been here for so long. It's not like it's his first year, second year, trying to learn what we do. He is fully ingrained in what we do and how we do it."
The move to Kromer with two preseason games remaining will allow the players and the rest of the staff a gradual transition before the Sept. 9 season-opener against the Washington Redskins at the Superdome.
Beginning with the Texans' game, it'll also give the staff time to work out any kinks in what Kromer says will be a collaborative effort, with him leaning heavily on offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr., defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and special teams coordinator Greg McMahon.
"What we are going to do in this game is we are going to work together on the sideline and just work out the mechanics of being the offensive line coach and the acting head coach at the time," Kromer said. "That is the whole function. How many red flags do we need? Do we need someone else to have a red flag other than myself to be able to throw it on the sideline if I am back talking to the offensive line or the offense.
"That is not unusual. I spent years with Jon Gruden, who coached the offense. He called the plays, he coached the offense, he put the plays in during the week. He did it the whole time. I have seen how this thing works and I think that it should be flawless."
While the players may be interested to see how Kromer handles the first head coaching duties of his coaching career Saturday night, they have no plans on grading Kromer's effectiveness.
"That's not our job," receiver Lance Moore said. "Our job is to go out there and play ball. We can't worry about what coaches are saying and what they are doing or how they are acting about certain things on the field. It will be interesting to see how he deals with things, but it's not our job to judge how well or how poorly he does things."
Aaron Kromer on his six game promotion Aaron Kromer addresses the media about being named to replace interim head coach Joe Vitt for the first six games of the season. Watch video The Texans, led by a high-octane offense that features quarterback Matt Schaub and star receiver Andre Johnson, will provide the ultimate test for the Saints (1-2) this preseason, as both team's starters are expected to play throughout the first half, with some even playing into the second half.
Even without multi-dimensional running back Darren Sproles, who is expected to sit out his second straight game to rest a sore knee, the Saints' first-team offense, which has had three, three-and-outs in seven possessions so far, will try to get back to its explosive ways.
"Starting with me, I have to and we have to do a better job on third down," Carmichael said. "It's something that we've been historically good at the last couple years. That's something I think we have to be better on; third down, finish drives and feel like we have some consistency going."
Meanwhile, the defense, which showed an abundance of promise in the first two preseason games before take a step backward in the 27-24 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, likely faces its most daunting task of the preseason.
The Saints will be without their top four middle linebackers, as Curtis Lofton (ankle), David Hawthorne (knee), Chris Chamberlain (knee), and Ramon Humber (hamstring) are all out. Newly acquired linebacker Barret Ruud could see some limited playing time.
Still, with a cut down day coming soon, many of the Saints have to show signs of improvement against the Texans (2-0).
"We have to see it now," Vitt said. "The veterans are going to play a little bit longer. They have been issued somewhat of a game plan. We have tried to structure this week like it was a regular-season week. I believe they are excited to play and we are playing against a real good football team.
"This team spanked us last year in the preseason. They have a unique scheme with their stretch-bobs and their nakeds and throwing the ball down the field. (Houston coach Gary) Kubiak is an excellent play-caller. He knows exactly what he wants to get done. Our hands are full."
The same thing goes for Kromer as well. For the first time, his approach to coaching will be on full display.
But the Saints have few worries about the transition. They predict it will be seamless.
"Everybody's different as far as coaching style, but we already know what we have to do," running back Pierre Thomas said. "Krome said it earlier today: When he takes over, nothing's going to change.
"Everything's going to be the same, the same thing if (Sean) Payton was here, the same thing if Joe Vitt was here. Everything is going to be the same. Nothing's going to change. Yes, they do have their own unique styles, their own character, they're all different people, but running this organization, everything is going to be the same way we're doing, consistent like how we've been doing."
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Nakia Hogan can be reached at nhogan@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3405.
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