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 We’re now halfway through the preseason and battles for the bottom roster spots are well underway. Now that the league has moved to only one big cut at the end of the season we’re not going through the paces we were used to with weekly cuts as we whittled down the roster. While this gives the coaches more time to look at each group and every player it also makes the process more difficult to project for those who don’t wear black and gold to work every day.This is the second version of this roster projection series Alex Anzalone Jersey , and each week we’ll include not only roster projections but hot takes at various positions from our contributors here at Canal Street Chronicles. You can read version one here.Quarterbacks (3)Starter: Drew BreesBackup: Tom SavageBackup who runs fast on special teams: Taysom HillEven with his poor performance against the Cardinals Taysom still has the final roster spot for quarterbacks due to his play on special teams. While J.T. Barrett had a much better performance at the end of the 4th Quarter in New Orleans against Arizona than he did against Jacksonville he still hasn’t done enough to show he deserves to be protected by the 53 man roster while he develops. Currently he is a practice squad candidate.Staff Hot Take: Ellias J Williams “The Saints will cut Tom Savage and run with J.T. Barrett and Taysom Hill on the roster.”Runningbacks (5)Starter(s): Alvin Kamara & Mark Ingram *Backups: Jonathan Williams, Boston ScottFullback: Zach Line, Trey EdmundsSean Payton likes the runningback by committee approach, and he get’s to have plenty due to Ingram’s suspension. Right now Jonathan Williams seems to be leading the race for Mark’s snaps in the first four games of the season. The real question is who gets released once Ingram returns. Edmunds has been spending a lot of time in the “Hooman” role as a quasi-fullback/h-back/utility piece. This keeps him safe on the roster for now. Asterisk - Ingram’s suspension means he doesn’t count against the 53 man roster for the first four games of the season. Staff Hot Take: Don Kellum “Jonathan Williams performs so well he cuts into Ingram’s touches when he comes back.”Wide Receivers (5)Starters: Michael Thomas, Ted Ginn Jr, Cameron MeredithBackups: Tre’Quan Smith, Brandon TateTate through most of his career has been a receiver in name only. He is on the team for special teams; specifically he is currently the team’s top option as punt return and one of the two kick returners. That said we’ve seen the Saints offense bring players into the spotlight that had never previously entered it. Could Tate be that next guy? The four guys ahead of him are a lock for the roster. Be on the lookout for a Brandon Coleman reunion.Staff Hot Take: Chris Dunnells “WR/RB - Tommylee Lewis is gone. Boston Scott is the new Tommylee Lewis, taking over a return-only special teamer and emergency offensive option.” Tight End (3)Starter: Benjamin WatsonBackups: Josh Hill, Dan ArnoldHooman has stayed injured. Deon Yelder has had flashes, but like many UDFAs he hasn’t been consistent in his first year and seems more practice squad candidate than roster material right now. Griffin, while having some splash plays on special teams, seems to be in the same category as Yelder. Roster spots on this team are precious and a defensive lineman or defensive back could end up simply being more valuable. Staff Hot Take: John Sigler “Arnold > Yelder. Nuff said.”Offensive Line (8)Starters: Terron Armstead, Andrus Peat, Max Unger, Larry Warford, Ryan RamczykBackups: Jermon Bushrod, Will Clapp, Rick LeonardLike the defensive line, the offensive line has quite a few athletic prospects seen to have upside, but they aren’t necessarily seen as players who could be starters this season.Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images Leonard drew the ire of a lot of Saints’ fans on draft night but Pro Football Focus has him listed as the best rookie tackle in terms of pass protection and the second best when blocking for the run. He’s quietly had a good camp and given that several teams apparently were considering drafting him around the same spot the Saints took him New Orleans could look to protect him by keeping him on the roster.Staff Hot Take: Chris Dunnells “Rick Leonard, Saints fan’s whipping boy on draft day, starts more NFL games in 2018 than Jermon Bushrod.”Defensive Line (9)Starters: Cameron Jordan, Sheldon Rankins, Tyeler Davison, Alex OkaforBackups: Marcus Davenport, Trey Hendrickson Authentic Josh LeRibeus Jersey , David Onyemata, Devaroe Lawrence, Taylor StallworthThere are several ways the Saints could go when it comes to their defensive line and there would still be fans split between happiness and sadness. Stallworth provides depth as a run stuffing nose who has shown the short area quickness and agility to provide some pass rush when needed. Most of the players on this list are locks for the roster with arguably only spots eight and nine on this projection even up for debate. Devaroe has continued to prove New Orleans right for keeping him around after his injury issues. Assuming he stays healthy he is in the black and gold in 2018.Staff Hot Take: Garen “Davenport plays only 35% of total snaps this season due to the ascendance of Trey Hendrickson and Okafor’s solid play”Linebackers (6)Starters:Demario Davis, Manti T’eo, A.J. KleinBackups: Alex Anzalone, Hau’oli Kikaha, Craig RobertsonGuess who’s back (back back), back again? Kikaha’s back, tell a friend. Against Arizone Kikaha played snaps on special teams while also providing depth snaps at defensive end and linebacker. The versatility he’s showing makes him to take off of the roster. The one week fire that was Jayrone Elliot hype has smoldered after the Cardinals game. With two weeks left until cut day the bottom of the linebacker roster is up for grabs.Staff Hot Take: Ellias J Williams “Kikaha is traded to Greenbay”Cornerbacks (7)Starters: Marshon Lattimore, Ken Crawley, Patrick RobinsonBackups: P.J. Williams, Arthur Maulet, Justin Hardee, Natrell JamersonSeven cornerbacks? Four safeties? With the change in kickoff rules coming here in 2018 we Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sportscould start seeing rosters devote more space to defensive backs and other skill positions to accommodate the new rules. There are still many questions on how the rules will affect the game, and special teams coordinators are certainly going through their own learning curve,but right now players like Jamerson, Hardee and Maulet all have looked pretty strong. Staff Hot Take: Bob Rose “Neither PJ or Kikaha make the team. Looks like the 53 man roster might end up with The Clapp.”Safeties (4)Starters: Marcus Williams, Kurt ColemanBackups: Vonn Bell, Chris BanjoSafety is one of the few positions on this team where the term depth can’t be liberally applied. Rookie Kamrin Moore has struggled with injures and Rickey Jefferson tore his ACL against the Cardinals. Bell, Coleman and Williams will all likely see significant playing time while Banjo continues to be the special teams contributor he was originally brought in to be. Staff Hot Take: Chris Conner “Vonn Bell will get cut. He changed his number, and the curse of Corey White still lives on in New Orleans”Note: Chris wins the Hot Take of the week award. There wasn’t one before, but that was straight fire, as the kids say. Special Teams (3)Punter: Thomas MorsteadKicker: Wil LutzLong Snapper: Zach WoodKeys to success: More Tre’Quan Smith is one of few tweaks Saints are making to gain advantage over Falcons Whatever it takes to get the upper hand, you do it!Tre’Quan Smith, Cameron Meredith, Ted Ginn Jr. Youth Austin Carr Jersey , and Alvin Kamara will all be doing something slightly different than they’ve done up to this point in the season when they arrive in Atlanta to face the Falcons in Week 3.For Smith, this appears to translate into an expanded role according to head coachSean Payton.“We have to find ways to get him more touches. He is handling our installation. He knows what we are doing game plan wise, and I think he is ready to prove that.” I get it.This is a chance to see what the rookie can do in an important game where any wrinkle can result in an upper hand.He’s shown a lot in camp and during preseason, so now is as good a time as ever for him to swim or sink.The question is, will he look more like Kenny Stills or Robert Meachem? Meanwhile, following an injury to return specialist Tommylee Lewis that placed him on injured reserve, the Saints have inserted two new candidates into the now vacant punt return duties.One of those candidates Sean Payton said, “I know I’m comfortable with Alvin (Kamara) back there” but the other he was a little more guarded about and used it as a chance to give the player a vote of confidence“Ted Ginn is someone who’s done it and we just got to get that gas can in his locker and get him going. I think he’s someone who can give you some juice in that area.”Notice the highlighted “subtle” differences in the certainty of the two individual players?Over his career as a punt returner, Ginn has fielded 257 punts for 2,600 yards and 4 TDs.The drawback to some of that “juice” Payton alluded to is that he’s also had 16 fumbles in that time span.Two of them last year as a Saint that had Payton suggesting they “needed to find someone they can trust” before relieving him of those duties.When Payton had his issues with Reggie Bush, he used Lance Moore for the fair catch scenarios.I’d imagine something similar with Kamara and Ginn on Sunday.Finally, Cameron Meredith looks set to make his much anticipated regular season debut as a Saint after being inactive for the previous two games.“He’s doing well. He’s healthy. And this will be a week we’ll look to see how he progresses and see if we can get him into this plan.”Now granted, I trust that the staff knows when he’s ready to contribute but practice speed and game speed are two different things.His first preseason game saw him drop a pass (albeit thrown with questionable touch) that resulted in an INT for his quarterback.He would go on to fair much better in his fourth preseason game with 2 catches for 77 yards and a TD.It obviously took him some time to get up to speed, but those games were meaningless and the current scenario now begs the question - Does game rust and lack of action in the offense for Meredith show up at an inopportune time?I brought all of this to you to make a single point.There is some serious boom or bust potential with the timing of these changes.On one hand, the “newness” of these players and roles could give the Saints a slight advantage in what will be an otherwise close game. On the other they provide a breeding ground for potential mishaps because of that very same “newness”.In a rivalry that is usually won by the team that makes the fewest mistakes, we’ll find out which side of the coins these moves land on following Sunday’s game.Matchup to watch vs FalconsThe Falcons offensive line is missing starting left guard Andy Levitre after he was placed on IR earlier this week.If the secondary is going to hold up against Atlanta’s receiving talent, the defensive line will need to be the catalyst that makes it all possible.Yes, it’s important that the defensive backs force Ryan to go through more than his 1st or 2nd read, but it’s up to the front seven to make him pay when he does.Once you begin hitting Ryan (like any other quarterback) that’s when the mistakes and the second guessing start to appear.If they can rattle him Marshon Lattimore, Ken Crawley, and Marcus Williams should have a chance to turn some tipped passes or errant throws into turnovers late in the game.Random Thought IEven at a young age, when you walk out on the field with your friends you know the consequences of playing tackle football.While being hurt as a kid was more likely than getting injured, you still recognized it’s a gladiator sport.Interesting that many QBs are coming out and trashing the NFL’s current aims to protect the quarterback position.Random Thought IIAdd the recent news that Saints plan to start P.J. Williams in place of Ken Crawley, as another change that has boom or bust potential.The Saints offense is moving the ball and the Falcons offense is moving the ball.The Saints defense is giving up points and the Falcons defense is giving up points.Per usual in this rivalry, it could all come down to which defense or special teams makes the key play that ultimately ends up being the difference in this game.There will be plenty of opportunities for either side but with the Falcons down at least three of it’s primary play makers and the Saints fairly healthy New Orleans should could steal a victory in Atlanta.Prediction: Saints win 28-27