Rookie Mini-Camp Review: Are You Freaking Kidding Me Edition
by Saintsational on May 9, 2009 7:00 AM CDT
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Day one of rookie mini-camp is officially in the books and Saints fans are none the wiser about what to expect from this years team. It's been nice getting a little taste of some action and having something to talk about but did we really learn anything from yesterday's workouts?
No.
Well...I take that back. We learned that the Saints installed three coverages via a Malcolm Jenkins press conference. Thanks Malcolm. Funny thing is he probably got an earful from Payton after that for saying too much. Jenkins will learn.
We also learned that the more things change, the more they stay the same. I'm talking about the Stanley Arnoux injury. And the John Halman injury. What in holy hell is going on here!?! The thought of having another promising season destroyed because of rampant injury is just too tough a pill to swallow. Not after last season. Not after this off-season. Not now. But 2009 seems to have picked up right where 2008 left off. If yesterday was any indication of the season to follow, the Saints will be lucky to finish 8-8.
I'm able to write this post calmly now because I took a step back to get some perspective. SERENITY NOW!! But when I first heard the news I was just as irate as the next guy. Who wouldn't be? Then, all that cautious optimism I've been preaching for months covered my body like a warm, protective blanket with two holes cut out just enough so I can see out. I've been expecting crap like this to happen so why should I be surprised because it's actually happening? Serenity now. I figure these early injuries can't really be blamed on the Saints strength and conditioning program since this was the first day of rookie practice. More likely it's just plain bad luck. What's worse is that there's nothing anybody can do about bad luck. You may just want to assume that this was an abberation, forget it ever happened and move on with the rest of your daydreaming. Honestly, you don't have a choice. As for me...everything is right on schedule.
Oh...and...uh...I told you so.
I've got some other notes from the events of yesterday. You can make the jump for a few of my favorite things (continuing the Sound of Music reference from yesterday).
Disrespecting the Deuce
I know some of us were freaking out about Colorado free agent safety Ryan Walters wearing #26 at practice yesterday. Calm down. It's just mini-camp. I also don't think anyone is going to want to wear the number if they're going to catch hell like this from most of Who Dat Nation.
It's gettin' hot in here, so take off all your...
Everyone was talking about the weather yesterday. More specifically, complaining about the heat. Big surprise there. We hear this every year.
It was a lot hotter than in New Jersey or Ohio.
-Malcolm Jenkins
I have to get used to the heat, but it was a great first day of practice.
-Chip Vaughn
Wusses. I live approximitely ten miles from the practice facility and yesterday was nothing. It was gorgeous out. If these guys think it was hot yesterday they're in for a rude awakening this August. They ought to be more like punter Thomas Morstead. He's a real man.
I'm excited about this weather actually. I'm from Houston so I'm used to the hot stuff. It's pretty nice and it's good practice out here with the wind.
-Thomas Morstead
I'm startin' to like this kid. What else did we learn about Morstead today?
I'm kind of crazy. I've told coaches before and I'll tell them again that I'm up for anything. I'm up for whatever they want to do.
-Thomas Morstead
Woah, Tommy! You barely even know them. I think you should take it slow and get to know each other first. Maybe a romantic dinner and a walk along the beach. Actually, Morstead reminds me of another kicker the Saints drafted suspiciously early. Listen to the way they each describe themselves.
"I'm the kind of guy that I'm just never satisfied with where I'm at. I'm always trying to improve, always trying to do better. I'm kind of my own biggest critic. I expect a lot out of myself, and my goal is to go out there and put the ball deep in the end zone and get touchbacks for our team with good hang time."
-Taylor Mehlhaff
"I could care less really about that. I'm harder on myself than anybody else could be. Coaches have to tell me not to worry about it and hit the next one, which I do, but I'm very hard on myself."
-Thomas Morstead
We know what happened to Mehlhaff. Not good, Tommie. Not good.
Zoo York Reprezent
I never knew that undrafted free agent running back P.J. Hill is from Elmhurst, Queens; about twenty minutes from where I grew up. Now I'm pulling for him.
Quote of the Day
"Knock 'em the ( -- -- ) out!"
Random Fact of the Day
Q: What's the story on Stanley Arnoux?
A: Stan's actually a great cook. He can cook Haitian food.
Q: Have you eaten Haitian food before?A: It's pretty good.
Q: Did he get you hooked on that?A: He did.
-Transcript of Chip Vaughn Press Conference
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voted for "I have been all along"
Bubbling just below my cautious optimism there’s always a dreaded fear of the next terrible thing to happen (freak injury, ridiculous turnover, defensive back searching for his jock strap as the receiver jukes past him, missed tackle by a whiffing linebacker, poor blocking on a short-yardage situation, a triple reverse statue of liberty play on a fake punt late in the fourth quarter of a close game that results in a 25-yard loss putting the opposing team in field goal range, etc.). But I try to let all that go or push it all down and hope for the best. Can you see the faltering grin plastered on my face? C’mon Saints.
At this point, it’s just two freak injuries on the first day of rookie camp – it’s just all part of the NFL’s natural selection – weeding out those that are not the most fit. I just wish some of these “less fit” would be on all the other teams except for ours.
"Knock 'em the (- -) out!"
Gregg Williams
by HansDat on May 9, 2009 9:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Arnoux injury
Yeah, this can’t be blamed on Coach Dalrymple and the S & C program. Arnoux didn’t look to be in the best of shape in his Combine video. My feeling is when he got to camp his legs weren’t quite up to the challenge and one of them gave out on him. He was so eager to impress the coaches that he pushed it just a little too far. It’s a shame. It’s a crying shame. But, we’ll have to live with it and wait until next season to find out about this guy. Most likely, he would have been used mostly on special teams and probably wouldn’t have been a starter this season anyway. It still sucks though.
Go Saints!!!! Deuce may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.
by satchmo26 on May 9, 2009 9:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
someone was wearing 26!
I WONT calm down.. who had the balls to do that?
String him up!
MT
by MT_always on May 9, 2009 10:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I wish to register a complaint...
The final option available for voting in the poll attached to this article implies swearing. I believe that this has no place on the god-fearing American internet, because I find it personally offensive. Please remove the option, the poll, the article and the entire blog.
by MarcusR on May 9, 2009 12:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Is marcus for real?
If so please reference my prior reply as it stands tall and alone in the face of censorship
by Norml912 on May 9, 2009 4:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Football?
Do you people ever talk about football or just silly subjects such as implied expletives?
by 4ever Falcon on May 10, 2009 7:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
it's the offseason
and what an unfortunate choice for your screen name. Have you met Dave The Falconer yet? The good news is, I despise the Bucs and the Panters (sic) much more than the Falcons, so welcome!
"Dying ain't much of a living, boy." -Josie Wales
by stujo4 on May 10, 2009 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!
(warning: marathon post, hitting many topics!)
Wow…my dark horse favorite goes down on day one? :-\
Hopefully, the team will keep Arnoux on IR, because he WILL be a player in the NFL, and I want to see him in black & gold (and not that yellow crap that the color blind people in Pittsburgh call gold, thankyouverymuch! ;-) ) for his entire career.
Marcus, if you can’t hang, go home, and stay there, you dum@$$ futhermucker. :-P
;-)
Seriously, if you’re serious, get over yourself. If you’re not, nice job of sucking me in!
OK, time for me to go and worship the Flying Spaghetti Monster…have you been touched by his noodly appendage yet?
:-)
Some rookie wearing #26? WTF is that kid thinking? Cut him now!
4ever Falcon, this is just our public face we show to the fans of other NFL teams, we do the serious blogging and commenting in our double-secrect Star Chamber website.
Oh, and shouldn’t you be somewhere else worrying about what Ron Mexico will be doing next year? ;-)
On polling issues, I used a 10’ bamboo pole to push my pirouge around when I ran my crawfish traps, what did y’all use?
…oh, and NO, I’m not worried, injuries happen, even to guys I had exceptionally high hopes for, the season goes on. Our boys added a LOT of firepower on the defensive side, it’ll take more than a couple of injuries to make me worried about them.
…OK, my fingers are tired now, anyone know a good hand masseuse?
by GSO Saints Fan on May 10, 2009 9:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
yellow crap that the color blind people in Pittsburgh call gold,
Like LSU, yeah!
"Dying ain't much of a living, boy." -Josie Wales
by stujo4 on May 10, 2009 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The reason LSU uses that color is
to hide the mustard stains on their corn dog eating fans. Haha Roll Tide! (LSU is my #2 team only root against when they play each other)
by Norml912 on May 10, 2009 6:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
CORN DOGS?!?!?!
…that shows us that you haven’t been in Death Valley for a game. ;-)
The stains on the shirts are from all the good food at the tailgate, which is the best in all of college football! :-)
Oh, and how can any self-respecting SEC fan claim to be both an LSU and Bama fan? :-\ One name: Nick Saban, turncoat, traitor, liar. I hope Bama falls into the pit of the SEC and never climbs out until that jerk is collecting an unemployment check.
by GSO Saints Fan on May 11, 2009 6:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
…well, I was speaking of the NFL only here, SEC is different, LSU can call it whatever they like, they’re LSU!
:-D
by GSO Saints Fan on May 11, 2009 6:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey my Urinal Mint will take your flying spaghetti monster any day and leave him with nice minty breath
by Norml912 on May 10, 2009 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You obviously haven’t experienced the hyper-garlicy white clam sauce on the sacred pasta, which will overpower even the most metaphysical of urinal mints.
:-P
by GSO Saints Fan on May 11, 2009 6:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Be still my beating heart
The read-and-react era of Saints defensive football officially ended Friday, the first on-field work of any kind for Williams as a member of Coach Sean Payton’s staff. No more rope-a-dope. No more bend-but-don’t break. With Williams calling the shots, the Saints will attack from the opening snap and not back down.
by SaintBevo on May 10, 2009 10:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I have a complaint
There is not enough swearing in the last choice to satisfy my emotional outburst. The swearing must be of sufficient length that 10 minutes of scrolling on my browser at the highest scrolling speed is just able to reach the end.
by xen-cuts on May 10, 2009 3:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
In breaking CSC news, HansDat has now changed his avatar to match his signature
"Knock 'em the (- -) out!" - Gregg Williams
by HansDat on May 10, 2009 5:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Dare you to call him G-Dub.
"Dying ain't much of a living, boy." -Josie Wales
by stujo4 on May 10, 2009 8:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
if our D...
is top 10…
I will call him SIR..
If sucking the hosepipe of a 72 pinto is preferred over watching our team give up big play after another yet again… or JD is on the field as a starter.
I will call him a name my mother would reach for the soap for.
MT
by MT_always on May 11, 2009 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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