Below is all the info from Saints training camp practice this morning. I will contuously update this post throughout the day as more information rolls in so be sure to keep checking back!

Also, CSC will be receiving the AP's photos from training camp so be sure to click the picture on the left to view the full gallery. Cool!

Twitter Updates

jeffduncantp SRO crowd. Heat index climbing to triple digits. Biggest cheers for Brees.    

jeffduncantp Quote of day, per anonymous Whodat fan, after bobbled end around: "Stop runnin that play! Throw it away! Don't run it again!"    

jeffduncantp Just off the field. 1st impressions: Thumbs up: M. Bell, L. Moore, J. David, J. Vilma. Thumbs down: the entire receiving corps. Lotsa drops

MalcolmJenkins tryna make the best of this time    

jeffduncantp Anthony Hargrove on defensive coordinator Gregg Williams: "That guy's a beast. Playing for him is a dream come true."    

therealJShock finally time off... sleep time hahah  

ltorrence24 Remember that Today is a day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!    

saints83 1st practice was a good one. got about an hr to lay it down and get ready for # 2

CPT23 The morning was good, time to relax

NOScom Saints afternoon practice moved indoors due to thunderstorms in the area. Next open practice to the public @ 8:50 am on Saturday, Aug. 1   

jeffduncantp Just back from afternoon practice. Less intense than morning. Defense ruled again. Gregg Williams, clucking: "It wasn't even close."  

jeffduncantpGetting lots of strong comments about Anthony Hargrove. He could be THE story of camp.    

 

ltorrence24A little conditioning serprise after the second two a day practice! Oh my, only one way to the top baby, Hard work!    

therealJShockmeetings till 10pm then some well needed rest.... i hope everyone enjoys the weekend i know this team will......    

 

Linkage

Forcing turnovers point of emphasis at first training camp practice for New Orleans Saints - Times-Pic

 Injured New Orleans Saints not-so-limited in Friday's morning workout - Times-Pic

"I'm going to do what they'll let me," Moore said. "They don't want me to have any contact for another two weeks at least, so I won't be in team drills." "I heard it snap and I knew what had happened," he said.  

- Lance Moore

 New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma says he felt better than expected in first practice - Times-Pic

"I know I'm the type that will just keep going and going, so I want to make sure that I can make it through the long haul and not just worry about trying to finish up a whole practice. Eventually I'll get to that,"

-Jonathan Vilma

"It was one of those things where I felt like maybe I could tough it out, maybe it could get better without the surgery, resting my body," Vilma said. "But at the same time, you never want to go into a season with injuries that you have to worry about. You know, you get nicked up enough as it is during the season. So I figured it would be better for me to take care of it early."

-Jonathan Vilma

Weather conditions could move New Orleans Saints' afternoon practice will be moved inside; stay tuned for updates - Times-Pic

 Reggie Bush says New Orleans Saints training camp is 'better' at home - Times-Pic

"Being here, we have a moe luxuries than we had in Jackson," he said. "We're happy it's here. I'm happy it's here. We feel more comfortable.

"We had been there (at Milsaps College in Jackson, Miss.) three years in a row. Training camp is a tough grind, the conditions there made it tougher. So I think this will help us being here. Now, it's not going to be easy, but it will help to be at home."

 New Orleans Saints tailback Pierre Thomas adds bulk, while tailback Mike Bell trims down - Times-Pic

"I still want to keep that speed, but I still want to have that power, too," Thomas said. "Right now, I'm trying to balance myself between 220 and 225. But knowing every year during camp I lose probably about five to 10 pounds. So maybe the first game of the season I'll be at 215. Hopefully not. I'm going to try my best to stay between 220, 223 something like that."

-Pierre Thomas

"As we keep practicing with pads on, you get used to it, your speed gets a lot better, you get a lot faster, a lot stronger," Thomas said. "So right now a lot of guys probably look a little sluggish. But honestly we feel like we had a great practice for this being the first practice."

-Pierre Thomas

"I'm light. Light like my rookie year. Skinny," said Bell, who had a breakout rookie season with the Denver Broncos in 2006 before struggling to adjust in '07 when they switched him to fullback. "They said they wanted me under 225, then I remember watching some old tape of me from my rookie year, and I liked what I saw when I was flying around, making some good cuts, being able to move left to right. So I figured, why not just get back to when I was at my best? "I'm excited. If I can stay under 220 the whole year, I feel like I'm going to be a force to be reckoned with."

-Mike Bell

 So far so good for New Orleans Saints at training camp - Times-Pic

"I thought it was good this morning," Coach Sean Payton said. "It was the first time to see these guys in pads. I thought it was a good start."

-Sean Payton

 Reggie Bush says practicing against New Orleans Saints defense benefits he and his offensive mates - Times-Pic

"I love the fact that Gregg's (Williams, defensive coordinator) here," Bush said. "I love working against the defense with the physical way they're playing. It's only going to help us, with them trying to knock the ball away, knowing fumbles can cost us games. "

-Reggie Bush

Saints, fans enjoy first training camp practice - NewOrleans.com 

Williams The Talk of Day One - New Orleans Saints official website

"He is a very aggressive play-caller," Brees said of Williams after practice. "I can say without a doubt that this is going to be an exceptionally competitive camp. They (the defense) are coming after us on offense, and it’s only going to make us better."

-Drew Brees

I think they (the players) are all in," Payton said. "I think out players are excited and certainly there is a lot in regards to scheme, in regards to the change from what we did before, but I think they want to be coached hard and I think they’re excited about the opportunities."

"Players want to have success," Payton added. "You guys have seen great defenses that have been pressure-oriented. We talked recently about the death of (Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator) Jim Johnson and what he created there over a number of years and the problems that he created. Then you can turn around and talk about some of the great Tampa Bay defenses that swarmed to the ball but played with a different type of philosophy. I think it comes down to pursuit, fundamentals, and personnel with the right scheme."

-Sean Payton

"It’s nice, in a way, to finally put the pads out here and play real football. Granted it’s hot and there are times where it’s just going to be grueling, but this is exciting being a part of this defense."

"There are so many different things that we are doing," Fujita continued. "Make no mistake, there is a feeling of uneasiness out there, because we are trying to get it right and make plays. But I think it’s a good thing."

-Scott Fujita

"I love competing against what he is calling, it’s awesome," Bush said. "He has the guys attacking and just as he did during the mini-camp and the OTA’s, the players are going after the football and trying to create turnovers. From our perspective, it sharpens our ability to protect the ball and not turn it over. As soon as we get our hands on the ball, they are poking at it, trying to pry it out. You always have to be alert, just like in games."

-Reggie Bush 

 Defensive dominance highlights New Orleans Saints' first training camp practice - Times-Pic

"I feel like there were times when we got the upper hand and some times when they had the upper hand," Brees said of the battle between offense and defense. "But the competitiveness and energy is good for all of us."

-Drew Brees

"I had to cut it," Brees said. "It was getting pretty long. And my wife recommended that I trim it, so there you go."

-Drew Brees, on his hair  

 Transcript of New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton's news conference - Times-Pic

 New Orleans Saints are ready to win big ... right now - Times-Pic

"I think we are (a contender), but if you look at the past two years, what we are right now is a team that made a push and now we're not there yet," Brees said. "We're fighting to get there; we're striving to get there. There are very few teams that can call themselves contenders every year; very few. But we want to be one of those teams and that's what we're fighting for."

-Drew Brees  

 New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is predicting a big year for receiver Robert Meachem - Times-Pic

"(I expect) big things from 'Meach'," Brees said."Going into his third season, he's one of just a few guys that I can literally say that every day he gets better. It's a tribute to him and his commitment to really trying to find a place in this offense and find a key role where he's contributing a lot."

-Drew Brees

"When you have some of the guys that we have like Marques (Colston) and Lance (Moore) and (Jeremy) Shockey and Reggie (Bush), you're just kind of trying to find your role and your contribution to the offense," he said. "I feel like he can do some very big things. We formation people to death. In other words, we throw a lot of formations at a lot of different personnel groups and Meachem is involved in a lot of those things. He's somewhat of our big play guy, but then again, I feel that he's starting to move towards more of an every-down guy. He can do whatever we ask him to do, whether it be blocking in the run game or running the intermediate routes, the short routes and the deep routes. He's getting to the point where he's a complete receiver."

-Drew Brees

 Drew Brees said the New Orleans Saints' improvement on defense is exciting - Times-Pic

"That's just forming good habits," Brees said. "Even if it's just an incompletion, any ball that's on the ground, they're picking it up and running with it just to get used to that mentality. In a game, you see a ball on the ground and you snatch it up and run with it. I think that's a very opportunistic type of mentality."

-Drew Brees

"Absolutely. Turnovers create so much momentum for us as an offense and also for the team," he said. "You get that short field and you just know you're going to score. That momentum swing is huge throughout the course of a game, especially when you feel like you're very evenly matched with a team. That is a stat that typically makes the difference, the turnover ratio. As an offense, the better we can take care of the ball and the more the defense can present us with those opportunities, the better off we're going to be."

-Drew Brees 

2theadvocate.com | Sports | Saints open Metairie training camp - The Advocate