Saints Training Camp: Day Nine Recap

Another afternoon practice today, and this one was held indoors because of bad weather. Tomorrow is a day off for the players, so the news may be slow...you'd better enjoy this post while the information lasts.

Make the jump for all that I could find tonight before having to go to bed for work tomorrow...

Updated [10:15 pm EST]: Includes Mark Ingram audio and Leigh Torrence video.

Post-Practice Reports

Saints rookie Patrick injures wrist, King out with heart condition | wwltv.com
Bradley Handwerger - Rookie cornerback Johnny Patrick injured his wrist late in practice Sunday, earning a spot on the injury report.

Saints Practice Quick Hits: Ingram breaks free | sportsnola.com
Brian Allee-Walsh

New Orleans Saints receiver Marques Colston sidelined again Sunday | NOLA.com
Mike Triplett - Injury report from Sunday's practice.

New Orleans Saints will continue practicing in afternoons during training camp | NOLA.com
Mike Triplett - Practices are now scheduled for 4 p.m. this week.

Saints Extras

Saints LB Casillas on the mend, on the hunt for knowledge | sportsnola.com
Brian Allee-Walsh

Rogers, Franklin Look to Beef Up Defensive Line | neworleanssaints.com
Staff Report

Photo Gallery | neworleanssaints.com
Photos from the Saints Training Camp practice on Aug. 6, 2011. Photos taken by Saints Photographer Michael Hebert.

Faulk Gives High Praise for Coach Johnson in Hall of Fame Speech | neworleanssaints.com
Alex Restrepo

Twitter

alexbrown96  Getting ready to strap on the pads again today and go to work... Hope to see all the Who Dat fans out today.

LHolderCBS  Just heard thunder and lightning at #Saints camp. Practice may be moved indoors.

Official_Saints New Orleans Saints Great photo of Sproles from yesterday's practice #HeCanFlytwitpic.com/62luz3

kspainTP  lots o lightning out here at #saints camp. practice could be moved inside.

camjordan94 Some people have a 9-5 I'm blessed to have this 6am -10pm football#grind

LHolderCBS Official RT @Official_Saints: UPDATE: Today's Saints Training Camp practice has been moved indoors due to inclement weather.

wwltvsports Sorry #Saints fans. Storms have moved into the area and practice has been moved inside. It's closed to the public.

wwltvsports That means practice tweets will not go. Updates to come after practice

Official_Saints  We still have 8 scheduled open Training Camp practices! Here is the updated schedule (PDF) bit.ly/Camp8711

jvarneyTP Rookie CB Johnny Patrick left practice Sun w hurt hand or finger

jvarneyTP  Trying to down a punt inside the 5 when he jammed something

jeffduncantp WRs Adrian Arrington & Jarred Fayson were among the Saints who missed practice Sunday night.

jvarneyTP  Saints r thin at corner. Patrick was 3 on depth chart w Tracy Porter still out

miketripletttp #Saints WR Marques Colston didnt practice again Sunday. He was out there just not participating. Will likely be back Tues after off day Mon.

wwltvsports  Didn't see Arrington, Fayson, Barron at prax today. Butler, Porter, King, Romeus, Washington, Ivory, Colston sat out today.

wwltvsports TE Graham dropped a few passes today. Offense appeared to win the day. Ingram had some nice runs, including 1 50 yd td run.

jeffduncantp  Rusty practice for Charles Brown. Beaten repeatedly in pass pro at left tackle with the second-team O.

wwltvsports Also, J Patrick appeared to hurt himself at the end of practice.

jeffduncantp My pick for Most Impressive Undrafted Rookie -- WR Joe Morgan -- had another good night.

judybattista Out of nowhere, 6 yr old daughter just asked who the Redskins' quarterback is...where to begin without frightening her?

Official_Saints Payton talks with the media... http://twitpic.com/62obtc

LHolderCBS Sean Payton said it's unlikely that FB Heath Evans will be in the #Saints plans with Korey Hall, Jed Collins and Kolby Hurt.

wwltvsports  Payton said King missed prax w/ chest-heart issue. Said King has atrial fibrillation, an arrhythmia of the heart. Payton said he'll be OK.

alexbrown96 his lil man is having a little too much fun dancing with daddy's little girl lmao http://twitpic.com/62okrn

wwltvsports Payton said Johnny Patrick injured his wrist during practice; Ramon Humber injured a quad.

kspainTP according to sean payton, the #saints are moving this week's practices to the afternoon. leaves open possibilty of afternoon shower #whodat

jeffduncantp Sean Payton said rookie CB Johnny Patrick injured his wrist while trying to down a punt. He left practice & was expected to get X-rays.

JonVilma51  U kno ur workin hard wen all u wana do is sleep on ur day off

LHolderCBS  Sean Payton said both #Saints OLB spots are pretty wide-open competitions. Will Herring played w: the ones at SLB, while Shanle at WLB today

wwltvsports Payton said the plan w/ CB Tracy Porter is to be back by the Houston preseason game or the Monday after.    

wwltvsports Payton on #Saints' FB: "We're three deep right now and we feel comfortable with that depth and who is here right now." Translation: No Heath

wwltvsports  Payton on LB's: "It's probably the deepest we've been and the most talented we've been at that position in our six years."

Audio file of Mark Ingram's post-practice press conference.

New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton Post-Practice Media Availability Transcript

neworleanssaints.com - Sunday, August 07, 2011

To listen to the audio of it, go here.

Opening Statement:

No transactions. The players still on the failed physical list: Chris Ivory left foot, Tracy Porter left knee, Greg Romeus right knee. The following players did not practice today due to injury: Ezra Butler hamstring, wide receiver Jarred Fayson ankle, Adrian Arrington ankle, cornerback Fabian Washington left hamstring, tackle Alex Brown left knee, we rested (Marques) Colston one more day with his right knee, and Mitch Kingwith his heart and chest. Ramon Humber had a quad during practice and cornerback Johnny Patrick had a wrist during practice. Tomorrow's schedule for them will be off. Tuesday, we will be back with a P.M. practice. I think the schedule time is listed, 4:00 P.M.

Can you talk about the younger players at the wide receiver position?

I would say this, and we talked about this the three or four days before our whole team was together, that is a position group with a lot of free agents that have come in and done some good things. The first thing that strikes you is that they can run. I am anxious to see how these guys do in the preseason. There are two or three young guys, and a couple that have been with us for a year or two. It is a position where we are deep. We do have some young speed and we are anxious to see how they do in a game.

Without the normal off-season workout schedule, how would you classify the physical status of the team after a week and half of training camp?

I look at it, not quite a week and half in because we didn't get everybody until the last part of the week. I do feel like they are in good shape. There are a few areas that you have to pay attention to. We've got time, but I am pleased with their conditioning level. There is still room for work. I think that one of the reasons that we decided not to scrimmage yesterday was that we just felt like it was a quick turnaround from guys just getting here and then all of sudden us deciding to have a padded scrimmage. Throughout the course of next week, we will have some contact drills that will lead us up to the 49ers game Friday night.

Are you worried at all that Tracy Porter might not be able to play in the opener?

No. I think we are (on) schedule with him so I feel pretty good to answer your question. I think we are going to see him, hopefully, by the Houston weekend if not, the Monday after the Houston week. I think he is on schedule. There is nothing surprising about where he is at right now.

Do you think that two weeks will be enough to get him ready?

We are on schedule. I think that Houston week, that game, will be a tough one. The Monday after that game, the week following that game, our plan is to get him going.

How open are the outside linebacker spots?

There is a lot of depth there. We have some younger guys. Some veteran guys. I think that you are seeing real good competition at the Sam linebacker position as well as the Will. It's probably the deepest we've been, and most talented we've been, at that position in our six years.

Are those positions open?

Yes. We are going in with the idea that we are going to get a lot of reps at the Will. You have seen (Scott) Shanle and you've seen (Jonathan) Casillas and some young players. You have seen, at the Sam, of course Danny Clarkand Will Herring. You have seen(Clint) Ingram back healthy and Martez Wilson. We've got a lot of time to evaluate their spots and those will be two competitive spots that we have a lot of depth at and a lot of good competition at. I think we view it that way.

Can you talk about the addition of Korey Hall out of free agency?

He was a guy that is versatile on offense in regards to his blocking and receiving ability and also a guy that can contribute in the kicking game. Green Bay had depth at that position, and for us, we were able to get him in that first week.

Did you look at multiple fullbacks?

We had two or three guys. Korey being the first guy we wanted to call. Fortunately for us, he had an interest and that was the first free agent acquisition from another team and it worked out well.

Does that mean the team will probably not re-sign Heath Evans?

Right now, that would be something that would be accurate. I've talked with Heath and I think the plan for us, not only with Korey but if you watch Jed (Collins) I think he is playing real well. Those two are competing at that spot and we have a young player with (Kolby) Hurt that is getting reps. We are three deep right now and we are comfortable with that depth and who's here right now. I don't expect us, anytime soon, to look outside the building.

Are you going to bring in a veteran quarterback to compete with Chase Daniel for the backup position?

Right now, I think the one thing we are seeing with Sean (Canfield) is more improvement. We are not seeing a rookie anymore. He is someone who is understanding what we are doing. I am anxious to see, not only Chase's growth, but how Canfield responds too.

What kind of player do you think Chase Daniel can be?

I am anxious to see him this pre-season. The first requisite is just scoring points, leading this team. There are things he can do that are a little bit different. He can escape and gain yards with his feet. That's one of his strengths. I think he has worked tremendously hard in the off-season. I think you are going to see a guy who has made a ton of progress from year one to year two. We are confident, as we were a year ago, with him as our two. We are confident that he is going to make the improvements and still do the things that are necessary to win a quarterback, which are protect the football, move the team. Those are some things that are attractive about him.

He led his team at Mizzou, do you think that is one of those intangibles?

I think so. If you look back, he is a guy that won a lot in high school. He was part of what Missouri accomplished. Those are important characteristics for that position. Obviously, you need the talent, the ability to throw the football, make good decisions, and be accurate.

V-Roll Roll Call

Sean Payton assesses New Orleans Saints camp so far - As the New Orleans Saints are a little more than a week and a half into training camp, Coach Sean Payton makes an assessment to where the team is at this point. (nola.com)

Leigh Torrence Talks About His Team's Cornerback Position - Cornerback Leigh Torrence talks about his team trying to fill the spot left open with the injury of Tracy Porter. (nola.com)

Camp Report: RB Mark Ingram shows talent Sunday - WWLTV.com sports writer Bradley Handwerger and WWLTV sports reporter Juan Kincaid talk about running back Mark Ingram's impressive day and the battle at linebacker.