Saints Training Camp: Oxnard Day 1

by Jon Banks on Aug 22, 2011 8:25 PM CDT

After traveling to California yesterday, the Saints practiced out in the beautiful California weather which has to be better than the weather here on the gulf coast. The Saints have shown a lot of intensity out on the practice field, apparently the Texans game has made some players very upset with their performance. Which is exactly what Saints fans want to hear.

One highlight of note today, Gregg Williams was not happy. He made the defense do a lot of work today. If you were a conspiracy theorist, you may even think Payton and Williams planned this. The offense and defense are working much harder after their loss than they were last week. As well, the Texans are more optimistic about their next match up.

I'm posting this as practice ends, so expect updates later on tonight. For now, go ahead and make the jump to see what happened in Oxnard today.

TWEETS:

Official_Saints New Orleans Saints

Correct. Monday-Friday. 4-6:30 PM PDT each day. All open to the public RT @LynnKupfer @Official_Saints - Oxnard prax every day this week?

LHolderCBS Larry Holder

Pretty wild set up in Oxnard for the Saints. Weight room is literally outdoors under a tent on a concrete basketball court.

garlandgillen Garland Gillen

San Antonio '05 all over again RT @LHolderCBS: Pretty wild set up in Oxnard for the Saints. Weight room is literally outdoors under a tent

jeffduncantp Jeff Duncan

#Saints already drawing a crowd, an hour before practice in Oxnard: lockerz.com/s/132027828

kspainTP Kevin Spain

#saints fans already lining up for practice at Oxnard. #whodat #nola lockerz.com/s/132028671

Official_Saints New Orleans Saints

Jenkins signing autographs for fans twitpic.com/6a5bad

kspainTP Kevin Spain

there are #saints fans everywhere. here is a group lining up to watch practice in #cali a while b4 it starts: nola.com/saints/index.s… #whodat

jeffduncantp Jeff Duncan

#Saints hitting the practice field.... lockerz.com/s/132034642

kspainTP Kevin Spain

#whodat fans cheering as #saints stroll out to the practice field, really loud as @drewbrees comes in. it's a good turnout, more than 1,000

jeffduncantp Jeff Duncan

#Saints QBs working at the start of practice... lockerz.com/s/132036563

jvarneyTP James Varney

LB Will Herring not practicing.

jvarneyTP James Varney

Gorgeous day in Oxnard, for a change. Yesterday closer to 'nearly-perfect."

LHolderCBS Larry Holder

Jenkins, Evans, Porter, C. Ingram, Torrence, Humber were among the previously injured players to return to Mon. practice in Oxnard, Calif.

LHolderCBS Larry Holder

LB Will Herring not practicing with apparent calf injury.

jvarneyTP James Varney

Good crowd of Who Dats here at Oxnard. Brees, of course, gets big hand.

jeffduncantp Jeff Duncan

#Saints not working: Will Herring; Jeff Charleston; Aubrayo Franklin; Chris Taylor; Tory Humphrey; Tom Johnson; ... among others.

kspainTP Kevin Spain

Brees nice throw to Ingram ... sproles off left tackle nice gain ... they dial down to walk thru handoff to Thomas

jeffduncantp Jeff Duncan

Saints back working: Clint Ingram and Tracy Porter.

Official_Saints New Orleans Saints

Beautiful day in Oxnard for practice today twitpic.com/6a5stu

LHolderCBS Larry Holder

Gregg Williams making defense do plenty of up downs after stretching. Poor play vs Texans spurred that on.

kspainTP Kevin Spain

some of u asked if g Williams would make defense do ups and downs ... answer is yes. A lot

jeffduncantp Jeff Duncan

Big Who Dat chant breaks out from the crowd as #Saints went through calisthenics. Estimate the crowd at several hundred.

kspainTP Kevin Spain

#saints in technique drills. Ol v dl, wr v db backs and ends

LHolderCBS Larry Holder

Shanle running with ones at WLB today.

jvarneyTP James Varney

Saints now running real plays. Pierre Thomas breaks off big gain on 1st one

kspainTP Kevin Spain

Thomas rips off td run 1st play of team drill ... Ingram big run off left tacked next play

jvarneyTP James Varney

But defense1s getting the best of it here early

kspainTP Kevin Spain

Patrick cobbs up middle big gain ... sproles around end for a long run

kspainTP Kevin Spain

Sproles off left tackle for a score ... defense stuffs cobbs next play ... Pierre with big run right. He's had a good camp

kspainTP Kevin Spain

#saints in special teams drill, trying to cause turnovers. greg mcmahon screaming at guys to get the ball

kspainTP Kevin Spain

seems like the #saints have a little more energy than in last week's workouts. maybe temps, maybe because of loss to #texans. more intensity

kspainTP Kevin Spain

chris ivory and greg romeus working with strength coach in end zone. running and stretching.

jeffduncantp Jeff Duncan

I didnt see it but apparently Clint Ingram limped off the field and went to the training room to get evaluated by Saints medical staff.

LHolderCBS Larry Holder

Carl Nicks appears to have left practice. G Matt Tennant is taking Nicks' snaps with the ones. Unsure of what happened to Nicks.

jvarneyTP James Varney

Saints brass must love this setup - almost impossible for media to see plays

kspainTP Kevin Spain

Brees just hit graham over the middle as team drill starts. ... sproles makes a big catch, good reaction from secondary

jvarneyTP James Varney

Apparently this facility once a sort of football Area 51 for Al Davis and Raiders

kspainTP Kevin Spain

mr reilaable, colston with a catch in the flat as team goes into backs on dbs. linemen doing 1-om-1 drills in end zone

jvarneyTP James Varney

...place had high walls and not open to public. Cowboys tore down walls....

jeffduncantp Jeff Duncan

The injury list grows. Guard Roger Allen just left practice with trainer Scottie Patton.

jvarneyTP James Varney

And Saints no time yet to rebuild...

LHolderCBS Larry Holder

Just saw G Roger Allen just leave the field with the head trainer. Peeps dropping left and right in Oxnard.

wwltvsports WWL-TV Sports

Like old times. RT @miketripletttp: With Herring and Clint Ingram nicked, Jo-Lonn Dunbar slid over to play SLB with #Saints starting defense

LHolderCBS Larry Holder

Apparently DT Shaun Rogers just showed up at practice, at least that's what Gregg Williams just yelled after making a play on Mark Ingram.

kspainTP Kevin Spain

lance moore with catch in right flat, immediately tackled by jabari. defense with big push up middle, gets 'sack'. williams barks approval

kspainTP Kevin Spain

ingram nowehere to go on left side. he reverses field to cheering of fans, but would have been tackled for a loss

miketripletttp Mike Triplett

Guard Carl Nicks walked off practice field for #Saints. Injury unknown. Matt Tennant took his place.

kspainTP Kevin Spain

preseason hero joe morgan with a long td reception to roar from crowd. this guy is gonna make it hard for #saints not to keep him

jvarneyTP James Varney

Darren Sproles just breaks another long run crowd pleaser

jvarneyTP James Varney

WR Jarred Fayson walks off a bit shaky

kspainTP Kevin Spain

Ingram scores off left tackle ... graham catches it in flat & is swarmed by defense

jvarneyTP James Varney

In 2 minute now

jvarneyTP James Varney

Brees hits Colston for a big gain down seam and O gets 3 pts

kspainTP Kevin Spain

#saints run hurry up, big pass to colston leads to fg

miketripletttp Mike Triplett

Nice deep ball from Brees to Colston set up "last-second" field goal by Garrett Hartley in hurry-up team drill with no timeouts.

miketripletttp Mike Triplett

Time ran out on 2nd string offense in same drill.

LINKS:

New Orleans Saints players can expect to feel the heat from coaches in California | NOLA.com
Team will be under microscope heading into game vs. Oakland Raiders

New Orleans Saints' play vs. Texans downright dismal | NOLA.com
Supposedly big, beefy front roundly outplayed in Saturday's loss

New Orleans Saints poll: Is team's performance vs. Houston Texans reason to panic? | NOLA.com
Let columnists Jeff Duncan and Peter Finney state their cases

New Orleans Saints' weakside LB battle one to watch: links | NOLA.com
News and notes from around the nation

New Orleans Saints will get back to work today in California | NOLA.com
Practice begins at 6 p.m. Central

Saints Linkage: Ingram the anti-Bush | wwltv.com New Orleans
The Saints begin the Oxnard, Calif., portion of training camp today at 6 p.m. central standard time. Until then, here are a few stories to read.

EOSB: Which Saints Player Helped Himself, Hurt Himself vs. Texans | wwltv.com New Orleans
We’ve reached the midpoint of the preseason and the Saints likely put a good scare into their fanbase with Saturday night’s performance.

Brees: ''I'm Not Quite There Yet'' - WWL - AM870 | FM105.3 | News | Talk | Sports

Kristian: Clock Is Ticking On Black And Gold - WWL - AM870 | FM105.3 | News | Talk | Sports

VIDEO: Who Dats Invade Cheese Head Land - WWL - AM870 | FM105.3 | News | Talk | Sports

Coaches not allowed to compare notes before preseason games | ProFootballTalk
As Saints broadcaster Jim Henderson tells it, the Saints blitzed the 49ers early and often in the preseason opener because San Fran coach Jim Harbaugh didn't call New Orleans coach Sean Payton to compare notes before the game.

Saints Practice Schedule in Oxnard

Saints Nation: Texans Steamroll Saints 27-14 | August

Saints Practice In Oxnard Before Raiders Preseason Game " CBS Los Angeles
The New Orleans Saints will start practice in Oxnard Monday, leading up to their third preseason game against the Oakland Raiders.

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Wow, Jon

I can’t believe CSC and SB Nation ponied up the bucks to send you to Oxnard.

Are you at the Residence Inn with the team?

Maybe you can follow Duncan around and get in the background of one of his V-logs…with a CSC Sign

Thumbs up, everybody...
For rock and roll!!!!

by Hans Petersen on Aug 22, 2011 9:15 PM CDT reply actions

They did?

Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!
"I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose...Rapture!"

by Jon Banks on Aug 22, 2011 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, I'm in Room 221

what floor are you on?

Dave’s got the Executive Suite on the 5th floor.

We’re all meeting at the free breakfast bar at 9:00. Varney, Duncan, Spain, Holder, Triplett, and

wait

for

it
.
.
.

Peter King!!!!

Thumbs up, everybody...
For rock and roll!!!!

by Hans Petersen on Aug 22, 2011 9:23 PM CDT up reply actions

I do hate it that the Raiders are the playing the Saints this week.
Even if the Saints beat them 50-0. It really will not be known if the starters are in sync or not.
After all the Raiders are the Raiders.

"I can eat oreos faster than him" Scott Fujita's take on Payton Manning SB44

by jeremysherwin on Aug 22, 2011 9:33 PM CDT reply actions

"Smokin" Joe Talamo, jockey and NOLA native

at Del Mar, I’m sure that would’ve been a great Post Pic, I see him in the group photo.

You think you know, and you don't know, and you never, ever, will.-Jim Mora Sr.
I understand ....nothing.-Michael Scott
The Future is Unwritten.-Joe Strummer
The last thing I want to deal with at work is people-Creed Bratton

by metryman on Aug 22, 2011 10:41 PM CDT reply actions

Where exactly are the Saints practicing, on a golf course?

I see a Resident Inn at RR on Google maps, River Ridge Golf Course is near the Hotel.

by metryman on Aug 22, 2011 11:01 PM CDT reply actions

the Raiders had practice fields built @ River Ridge near the hotel when they were in Los Angeles

According to Varney of the T-P:

In Oxnard, the Saints have taken over a Marriott Residence Inn and basically occupy apartment buildings. Consequently, Payton said the team’s meals, meetings, practice and living spaces are all within 50 yards of each other, and that proximity, coupled with the superb weather, means the team maximizes its time in ways it could not in Louisiana.

. . .

Payton was familiar with the Oxnard facility from his days as Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator. The Raiders built the River Ridge fields when they were based in Los Angeles, some two hours south, but they cloaked it in secrecy. Dallas tore that down when it came here, with Payton on the staff, for a portion of its camp, and the town thus is familiar with hosting an NFL franchise during the preseason.

Thumbs up, everybody...
For rock and roll!!!!

by Hans Petersen on Aug 23, 2011 7:57 AM CDT up reply actions