jeffduncantp Sunday practice in the books. Good day for Reggie Bush, Jabari Greer & Robert Meachem. Bush looks terrific, no hesitation on knees at all.
jeffduncantp Day 3 highlight: M. Mitchell throws R. Bush on blocking dummy like rag doll @ end of pass pro drills. Mitchell admits Bush won battle, tho.
drewbrees Sorry about the rain everybody. Our fans haven't been able to see many practices. Tomorrow morning should be a really good one though
jeffduncantp New Orleanian Mark Bloom visited prax from LA to check on client, CB Jabari Greer. Must be good luck. Greer scored 1st INT on Brees of camp
CPT23 Putting in work - it feels great! Time for some r&r then back at it again in the morning. See you bright and early.
therealJShock hope the weather clears up for our fans... time for some rest then putting in work in the am.... night everyone
saints83 Sorry to all the saints fans that have missed practice because of the weather. The rain should be fine in the am so bring on the Who Dats
Linkage
News and notes from New Orleans Saints' Sunday practice - Times-Pic
PLAY OF THE DAY
Greer won the honor of being the first player in camp to intercept Brees. During a seven-on-seven drill, Greer, who signed this offseason, stepped in front of receiver Devery Henderson, who was running a hook route, and picked off the pass.
"The hamstring injury was worse than we first thought," he said. "So the coaches are having me come back slow, not come back too fast and make it worse."
-Adrian Arrington
"It's big that they put me on IR; being a rookie and for them to keep me for another year ...," he said, acknowledging he's fortunate to still be around.
"I just hope to get back next week and get out there and show them what I can do."
-Adrian Arrington
"It was good, I needed a mental break," Coleman said. "I didn't even start watching football until November. About then, I said, 'It's time to get back out there and show them I've still got it.'"
-Rod Coleman
"When you have a coach who doesn't care if you win or lose, it's tough," Coleman said. "It was too much for him. Some guys are just not made to coach men."
-Rod Coleman
"You just can't go out there and yell and cuss the players out like they're kids,"
-Rod Coleman
THE LIGHTER SIDE - Times-Pic
"It's no different than a horse carrying 1 more pound on his back in the Kentucky Derby," Saints defensive line coach Bill Johnson said after Sunday's lone workout at the team's indoor facility in Metairie. That can make a difference.
"To play defensive line in this league, you have to have efficient movement. If that weight bothers you for your efficiency and movement, then it has to go. If not, then big's good."
-Bill Johnson
"Last year I played about 290, 292," Grant said. "If I get to 283, I can roll all day."
-Charles Grant
"I feel a lot lighter; I feel real good," Grant said. "As long as I'm making plays, my D-line coach ain't got a problem with my weight. Now, if you ain't making plays. . . . Look, I'm a realist. I know if I don't do my thing this year, they're probably going to get rid of my ass. I'm a grown man.
"But one thing I will do, I will do my thing. I had so much adversity last year, that's in God's hands. I don't sweat that. I can control what's in front of me. I can't worry about what's going to happen in the future. For me, that's having the best season I've had in the Saints' history. I'm one of the last of the Mohicans around here (players remaining from the Jim Haslett era)."
-Charles Grant
"They thought I was a lot heavier than I was last year," Smith said. "My body fat went up when I had that sports hernia, but my weight was still low. Now my body fat is about 11 percent. I've lost about 10, 11 pounds. I feel great, better than I have in a couple of years. I can go longer.
"They want us to be a lot faster. The way the defense was before they wanted us to be pluggers, to hold up the run and be sturdy on the run. Now they want us to be able to move a lot since we're going to be pass-rushing a lot more. Gregg (Williams) just wants us to be flying around a lot more."
-Will Smith
"I had the opportunity to be in Atlanta for seven years, and it took three to four years before we were a very productive unit. There is no finish line to building what we're trying to build. I keep seeing the summit. Every day there is going to be something to do to reach it."
-Bill Johnson
Bush back at practice - Sun Herald
“I feel like this year’s going to be a test for me to see where I’m at health-wise and I think I’ll be fine,” Bush said. “It’s just about doing the little things to keep myself healthy. Everything adds up, really, flexibility to the vitamins you take, to the food you eat. I’m really focusing on that this year and just trying to maintain everything I can to stay on the field.”
-Reggie Bush
“It’s just one of those drills where it’s kind of a tough man competition and you don’t want to lose, you don’t want to be shown up, so that’s really what it is,” Bush said. “I’ll watch the film and see what happens. All in all, it’s a great learning experience for all of us and it’s only going to help us.”
-Reggie Bush
Video: Camp Thoughts Day 3: Juan likes intensity -WWLTV
Day Three Notebook - New Orleans Saints official website
Saints Enter Difficult Week - New Orleans Saints official website
"Once the games start to be played, your mindset starts to change a little bit because you are looking forward to playing in a game," Vilma said. "The practices become a little easier to get through and the number of two-a-days drops off quite a bit, then you factor in the occasional day off and in some cases a travel day, and the routine starts to get broken up a bit."
-Jonathan Vilma
"It’s the routine and what we do at this time of year," said Vilma. "Most players make it sound like its grueling, and to an extent, it is tough, but in the grand scheme of things, there are plenty of things worse off than this, and we know that. I know that if you asked every guy out here, they know deep down how much they love playing the game and how lucky we are to be doing this. And when you are all going through a tough time together, it builds a strong team."
-Jonathan Vilma
Training camp battles to watch in Metairie - New Orleans Pro Football
Training Camp, Day 3: Reggie Bush gets feisty, Drew Brees has not so good day - WWL
New Saints defensive coach under the spotlight - NewOrleans.com
Saints: Sunday afternoon practice notes - NewOrleans.com
Saints have third straight indoor afternoon workout - NewOrleans.com
Top 10 Ways to Get Malcolm Jenkins to Sign - Chicks In The Huddle
Audio
From WWL's Sports Talk
Video
| New Orleans Saints training camp video log (Aug. 2, 2009) |
Sean Payton Press Conference
From the New Orleans Saints official website.
Opening Statement:
"On practice, Adrian Arrington, we're working with the hamstring; Lance Moore practiced on a limited basis; Kendrick Clancy is having some back spasms - we should have him back tomorrow but we held him this afternoon. There were two other players this afternoon - Jo-Lonn Dunbar with a mild hamstring and Dan Campbell with a finger."
How do you feel about your defensive tackle position?
"We have some depth there and some flexibility with a couple of ends that can move inside. (Paul) Spicer is a guy that can go inside; (Anthony) Hargrove is a guy that can go inside. Certainly we have (Sedrick) Ellis and Kendrick (Clancy) and we have depth a little bit behind those players in (Rod) Coleman and (DeMario) Pressley. Remi Ayodele has had some experience there at the nose too. When it's all said and done, typically we want to have a rotation inside with that front and I think we'll have a chance throughout this training camp to evaluate those players."
Gregg Williams has said that every job is open coming into this camp. Do you feel that way on defense?
"The point is that we don't take anything for granted. Each year in our league you see positions won or lost that maybe the media had penciled in a certain player and another player won the position. We take that approach. Certainly there are some players that are more established in their positions than others, but that being said, I think there is a lot of competition. We talked about that in the very first team meeting, that regardless of your years in the league or your experience, it's something that we have to see right now and we're really going to go by what we see."
Is there a particular battle at some of the linebacker spots?
"We have some young guys and those guys are taking snaps. Scott Shanle had one of his better years last year, but there is competition. We're deeper at that position group than we have been in my first three years. Overall, we're pleased with some of the depth and some of the younger guys. It's early now, but I'm anxious to see how they do when we get into the games and get into the scrimmage looks."
How will you handle Reggie Bush throughout camp with his knee?
"On the two-a-day schedule we'll back off the second practice and on the one-a-day schedule go full with him. He'll have at least one full practice a day right now and when we're on an ‘A' schedule, we'll back off him in the afternoon practice. There are going to be about four or five other guys that we'll do that with as well."
With his injury history do you plan on doing that as well in the season?
"We'll see. I think a lot of it during the season is the mental aspect of the game. The key is keeping him on the field and that's something that we'll pay close attention to. He's very competitive and he wants to be out here. There's a balance there that we just have to be smart with."
After one weekend, do you feel that you've been able to create the training camp environment you were looking for?
"I think the routine has worked out well so far, knock on wood. From a logistics standpoint, the schedule has gone smoothly. Any time you're having your first camp somewhere new, we're all creatures of habit and those habits are broken a little bit and you have to get into a new routine. It seems like the time to and from the hotel has worked out pretty smoothly and the players have grasped the schedule pretty quickly."
With having moved the practices indoors the last few days because of rain, do you think some of the previously scheduled indoor practices might be moved outside?
"We'll see. Tomorrow we'll be outside in the morning and inside in the afternoon. Tuesday, the plan is to be inside with the walkthrough and then outside in the afternoon. Really the weather has kicked us in here a little more than we had hoped because of the fields, but with the way it sorts out, we'll be out there plenty."
Are you pleased with the backup quarterback situation right now? Do you have them in a particular order at this point?
"Right now it's either. Both Mark Brunell and Joey Harrington are getting a lot of work. It's going to be easier to see them once you get into the game setting. We're working both of those players with the second and third groups. We have a lot of time here to evaluate them."
Are you confident in how they're performing?
"Yes. I think we have experience there and I think we have some youth there as well with Joey. I like our depth at the position."
Is Joey picking things up well?
"I think so. The challenge he has is that any time you're working with the third group is that the picture that you're getting isn't always going to be clean. He's working with some younger guys and whether it's protection oriented or on the perimeter, sometimes there are some adjustments he has to make because of that. Overall I like where he's going."
Is there anything about practicing inside that you can't do outside?
"With this facility we can do most everything. We can't really punt; we can set up our punt drills and work off the JUGS gun, but that's really the one aspect that you're limited with here with the ceiling height. Other than that, we can pretty much do whatever we want. It's a full field. I think it's a great set-up."
What are your thoughts on Adrian Arrington's potential?
"We just have to get the hamstring healthy. He's a guy that picks things up quick. We just have to get him back on the field."
Do you remember how many times practice was affected by rain when you were in Jackson?
"I think overall it was three times in three years. Last year was the first time that we really had to cancel a practice and go into that gymnasium. There were two other practices that we cut a little short, but that was pretty good, considering the rain they're getting now."
Was this the biggest concern you had about having camp here?
"There were a number of things. You're a little shorthanded when you don't have a rain plan, and that's the case with any team that goes away to training camp. Other than that, this gave us a chance - forget the rain - it gave us a chance to get in here a little bit and get out of the sun for ‘x' number of practices. We still get our work in the humidity and the heat and there's still a change-up by coming into this building."
Is there a point where you worry that the intensity in practice is getting a little too high and are you getting close to that point?
"I like to see what we're doing right now. I think the intensity has been good and that's part of training camp. We'll be smart and judicious about the tempo in each drill that we have and make sure that we define it with our players so there's no gray area, but I think it has been good."
Is Carl Nicks going to be the starter at left guard or is there an open competition there with he and Jamar Nesbit?
"He's taking the reps with the ones right now and that's a position where we thought he played pretty well last year. I expect him to be competing with that first group and involved in that first group. Certainly Jamar Nesbit has experience - not only at guard but at the center position - but right now, Carl is taking all of those reps."
How do you know the weather conditions in Jackson? Have you been following to see what it would've been like up there?
"I have been. From what I hear, the groundskeeper there said that we wouldn't have been able to practice yet outside because of the amount of rain that they've had."