Payton to evaluate players in game situations

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Aug 7, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:28 a.m.

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JACKSON, Miss. — New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton will be looking to continue the evaluation process when his team opens its preseason schedule tonight against the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz.

Payton and his staff have put the Saints through 22 training camp practices in 13 days, including Wednesday morning’s light walkthrough, but tonight’s game will be another evaluation since most of his starters will play just a quarter or less.

“The proper evaluations of players, seeing them execute,” Payton said when asked what he wanted to get out of the game.

“I think it’s good when you see another team, not only the young players but veterans too — and how they’re doing. It’s really a measuring stick of where we think our team is at, but most importantly, it’s about the evaluation.”

Payton said he will carry a play list to the one he uses for a regular-season game, but the list will be cut back and reduced the formations.

“What’s most important is finding out how these guys do what we’re asking them to do,” he said.

“It’s not about a lot of exotic formations and shifts, it’s really about the fundamentals so we can get a proper evaluation.

“I think a mistake would be using too much and confusing a young player and then not getting a good evaluation because he’s somewhat hesitant. So it will be reduced.”

Nine players who are injured or are coming off surgeries last season, did not make the trip when the Saints departed Millsaps College just after noon Wednesday.

Staying behind for rehab and treatment were RB Deuce McAllister (knee), WR Marques Colston (knee), TE Jeremy Shockey (leg), LB Jonathan Vilma, WR Devery Henderson (hamstring), DT Brian Young (knee), CB Mike McKenzie (knee), FS Josh Bullocks (knee) and CB Tracy Porter (hamstring).

Payton said he expects all of them to be on the field Saturday when the team practices for the first time after the Cardinals game.