Sean Payton
From the Times-Pic
Opening statement from New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton on Saturday:
"Just a couple notes: Malcolm Jenkins obviously had his first practice; Thomas Morstead had his first practice. With Dan Campbell, I mentioned yesterday that he's going to have surgery done on Monday morning. With Darnell Dinkins, it's an ankle sprain, and with Dan Morgan, it's a calf strain. We'll go from there."
How much better can this offense be with a healthy Jeremy Shockey?
"Certainly he's a guy both in the running game and in the passing game that we feel like is an asset to what we're trying to do. When you're at your full depth, obviously you have a chance to be more efficient so that's one aspect of it. We're looking forward to training camp where he'll be a year removed from both of the injuries that he's had. I think that definitely can help us."
What will Heath Evans add to your offense? Is he a contender to be a short-yardage back for you?
"I mentioned right after the draft that the primary focal point for him is as a fullback, both in the running game and in the passing game. I'm sure there will be some situations where we'll decide to hand him the ball. He's certainly a factor for us as a blocker and also as a receiver. I wouldn't go as far ahead as to say that he's going to be the short-yardage back - I wouldn't say that. He's probably going to be in a lot of short-yardage situations as the blocker. We'll see week by week."
As a veteran, what kind of locker room presence does he bring?
"He's a guy that has won a lot of games and any time that you can get a player from a successful organization, I think it adds to your team chemistry. He's a good leader and he's a guy that works hard. He does all the little things right. I think that's all a plus."
Is he an upgrade over Mike Karney as a blocker?
"We feel so. That's one of the big reasons that we ended up making this move. We felt like we needed to be more consistent at the point of attack as a blocker in that position and we feel like he does that well, talking about Heath. He has good athleticism to find the linebackers or the safeties at the second level; some of the things that we're asking the fullback to do in the running game. He's also versatile enough to where he's a guy that you can throw the ball to as well."
How will Darren Sharper's experience help the young guys in the secondary?
"His experience from the amount of games that he has played in this league is an asset, not only for himself but for the players that are watching film with him in the film room. You don't ever know exactly the type of leadership roles that veteran players that come in from other teams are going to have and we don't try to force those roles on any player. A lot of it comes from what they're doing on the field. Certainly there is competition too and we think we have a lot of new faces in the secondary that are going to help us, both at safety and corner."
Do you like the collection of talent that you have in the secondary?
"I like our spots."
Do you feel like you've made a big upgrade there?
"You just go through it and you can talk about the addition of a Jabari Greer, the additions of Darren Sharper, the addition of Malcolm Jenkins, Tracy Porter I look at as an addition because he's coming back off an injury. Those are a lot of new faces right off the bat before we get to Pierson Prioleau and some of the other players. To answer your question, yes."
After seeing Jenkins in action some, is he the same player you expected when you drafted him?
"Yes. When we drafted him, we felt like we were getting a guy who is physical, who is smart, who is disciplined, a guy that plays the run as well as he plays the pass. He has long levers and he has good size for the position. We're excited about him and we're excited that he was able to get out here earlier than we had anticipated having graduated."
Is it too early to tell if he's been in his playbook and doing his homework since the rookie camp?
"I think he's pretty smart. For all the new players there is a learning curve, but I would say that his ability to learn is a strength for him. I think he's a pretty smart player and he has handled the bulk of what we're doing now - especially in this veteran camp - pretty well."
Did Tracy Porter surprise you with how quickly he adjusted and played before his injury last year?
"There was a period of time in training camp, if you recall he pulled a hamstring and on the same play he and Devery Henderson both went down, and that kind of slowed him. He was able to come back before the start of the regular season and get healthy and we felt like he was on track and was playing at a very high level. Having him back is a big plus for us, a huge plus."
Do you expect Joey Harrington to compete for the number two spot now that he's here for a full offseason?
"Yes. I've talked to Joey about it and certainly Mark (Brunell) understands that each year you're competing for that position. It's something where each day they come out and take these reps. You may only get 28 team reps and I think both of those guys value those reps and understand the importance of being consistent. We'll continue - like we do with all of these positions at this time of year - to mix up the lineups and try to move guys in and out of spots. But certainly he's competing for that position and I think he understands that."
Will Reggie Bush work this afternoon?
"We'll see. Yesterday he got two (practices) in and I wanted to back off of him this morning. I want to see how he feels. I know if he doesn't go this afternoon, he'll work tomorrow morning."
Are there any positions right now where you see a great deal of competition?
"You look at some of the positions where there has been more turnover. We talked about the secondary and there are a lot of guys there competing for spots - at the corner position and at the safety position. There's a lot of competition I think at running back. We're certainly seeing some new guys on the defensive line and I think when we get through this offseason portion of the calendar and get into training camp, ultimately you start grading the preseason games and see how they handle everything."
Is it safe to say that the guys that are in camp right now are going to be your running backs this year?
"Yes. We feel pretty good about this group. The key is just developing and keeping these guys in tune to what we're doing. We have good depth. We have some good young prospects and we're excited about it."
Did you guys tell Pierre Thomas to bulk up?
"I don't know that he has bulked up so much. I've heard that but I think you're going to see him at a similar weight that he was a year ago. You have to be careful at that position. Especially at the running back and receiver positions, bigger isn't always necessarily better. The right weight is what's most important; the weight he's most comfortable carrying. He's probably three or four pounds heavier today than he was last season. I would anticipate his playing weight to be similar to what it was last season."
What was his playing weight?
"Probably in the (2)20s range; (2)24, (2)25."
Have you seen any loss of agility or speed in him?
"I just haven't seen that much of a change to begin to look at it. Mike Bell and I talked yesterday about his weight. He has played halfback before at about (2)18 or (2)17. He's probably (2)28 now. He's a guy that's a little bit heavier than what he's used to playing halfback at. Before these guys leave here in three weeks, we'll spend a lot of time assigning the reporting weights to these players. That's a pretty important topic because it's something that you want to be on with. You don't want to be too low or too high with the specific player's body type. Their body fat and how their body is made up is important in determining that."
What are your thoughts on the big crowd that has been out here for the two open practices?
"I think it's easy to feel the fans' excitement year-in and year-out here. I've said before that it's a fan base that is unique to any other that I've been a part of and I've been in some pretty big cities with pretty good football traditions in Dallas, New York and Philadelphia. But there is a uniqueness here and it's great that they have an opportunity to see some practices at this time of the year when they're all anxiously awaiting the season. It's good to see them out here."
Reggie Bush
From the New Orleans Saints official website
Q: Do you think you have a good overall group of running backs?
A: I think we definitely have a good core group of running backs. Everybody here that we have here right now are fully capable of stepping in and getting the job done. We're very confident about our group of running backs we have right now.
Q: What does Heath Evans bring to the table with veterans like Mike Karney and Deuce McAllister having left as far as a leadership role?
A: Experience. He also brings versatility to our group and that is really important for us at the fullback position, because that's going to just make us that more dangerous and enable us to create a lot of mismatches with defenses. On top of that the experience part is huge for us. The leadership role in terms of having been playing for championships and in a Super Bowl and coming from a winning organization brings an attitude that can only help us.
Q: Do you think there is a drop-off at fullback with the loss of Karney?
A: No, not at all.
Q: How can you guys improve offensively, even though your team was ranked number one?
A: We can always get better. We didn't make the playoffs last year so we can get better. It's not just about the offense or the defense, it's about us as a team collectively winning. Whether it's the number one offense or the number 15 offense, whatever it is, however it is collectively winning or not just individually or the offense doing well and the defense not doing as well. We want to collectively play well as a team.
Q: Do you think you guys will have problems in third and one situations this year and that you have the personnel to be successful in that situation?
A: I definitely feel like we have a chance to do that. I don't think that's ever a question for us. We're such a versatile offense we can line up or split five wides and get a first down. We're not that worried about first downs, third and ones or fourth and ones.
Q: Do you think you have a good overall group of running backs?
A: I think we definitely have a good core group of running backs. Everybody here that we have here right now are fully capable of stepping in and getting the job done. We're very confident about our group of running backs we have right now.
Q: What does Heath Evans bring to the table with veterans like Mike Karney and Deuce McAllister having left as far as a leadership role?
A: Experience. He also brings versatility to our group and that is really important for us at the fullback position, because that's going to just make us that more dangerous and enable us to create a lot of mismatches with defenses. On top of that the experience part is huge for us. The leadership role in terms of having been playing for championships and in a Super Bowl and coming from a winning organization brings an attitude that can only help us.
Q: Do you think there is a drop-off at fullback with the loss of Karney?
A: No, not at all.
Q: How can you guys improve offensively, even though your team was ranked number one?
A: We can always get better. We didn't make the playoffs last year so we can get better. It's not just about the offense or the defense, it's about us as a team collectively winning. Whether it's the number one offense or the number 15 offense, whatever it is, however it is collectively winning or not just individually or the offense doing well and the defense not doing as well. We want to collectively play well as a team.
Q: Do you think you guys will have problems in third and one situations this year and that you have the personnel to be successful in that situation?
A: I definitely feel like we have a chance to do that. I don't think that's ever a question for us. We're such a versatile offense we can line up or split five wides and get a first down. We're not that worried about first downs, third and ones or fourth and ones.