Saints fans who have kept up with training camp shouldn’t have been surprised by Monday’s result.  Weaknesses that have popped up since the first scrimmage were exposed on a grand scale.  Offensive line continues to be a worry, causing Drew Brees and Todd Bouman to throw on the move often.  TE Ernie Conwell and FB Mike Karney were frequent members of the first team offense, no doubt for their blocking ability.  That may be a good indicator of how often two back sets will be used this season.  I spoke with Karney after the game and he said that sets involving Deuce and Bush will be implemented for a change of pace.  I came away with the impression that he expects to be featured quite often.  Players with questionable blocking skills, such as Zack Hilton, had difficulty getting on the field.  It will be unfortunate if talented players with special skills remain unused throughout the season due to a severe need for blockers.  Another weakness on display was the lack of skill and talent at the linebacker position.  The Cowboys, like many teams will likely be able to do this season, completed short and medium passes at will.  The lack of athelticism of the LB’s was apparent, allowing halfbacks and tight ends to easily create distance on slant and drag routes.  Defensive Coordinator Gary Gibbs has his work cut out for him with a group that is too slow to play man to man and too inexperienced to run any sort of short/medium zone.  I’ve said it for some time now, this position will consistently drag this team down until a serious effort is made to bolster it.  After years of championing has-been free agents and late round picks, Saints fans should be more than fed up.  The secondary, apart from an excellent Roman Harper fumble recovery that showcased his rare athletic talent, found it difficult to match up in single coverage.  No defensive back showed an ability to battle on a fade route, a fact that Drew Bledsoe and Tony Romo exploited in spades.  If this game assessment sounds bleak, it’s because there simply was not much good news.  Despite having a sub-2.0 yard rushing average, Reggie Bush showed flashes of the kind of talent that can make him a special player in the pros.  Rookie DE Rob Ninkovich, despite executing anunnecessary suplex on a stopped runner and losing 15 yards for the team, had a sack and seemed to move well on the inside.  Brees continues to sync with Joe Horn, an important relationship to solidify by the start of the season.  Unfortunately, his tenure with the first team was brief and unremarkable.  Depth will remain a serious concern all season long, with few positions safe from a severe talent drop-off.  QB, CB, and possibly TE are positions that losing a starter may well prove fatal.  I’ve said before that 6 wins or so is a likely end result for this club, but I worry that with a few nicks, the win total may fall quite a bit lower.  There are signs of a nucleus being developed on offense, of which the future looks bright, but it will be a difficult journey to develop this team into a contender.