Saints Training Camp Day 14 Notes and Observations

Friday's Saints practice took place in the Superdome, and we got to see a ton of action in the team's last practice before their first preseason game.

NEW ORLEANS -- Players got to get a feel for the new turf on the Superdome as the team shifted practice there on Friday ahead of the team's first preseason game against the Chiefs. Here's all of our notes and observations from Day 14 of practice.

TRAINING CAMP RECAPS: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 11 | What We've Learned | Day 12 | Day 13

Saints Training Camp Notes and Observations from Day 14

New Saints linebacker Jaylon Smith out at practice on Friday, Aug. 11 / John Hendrix

ATTENDANCE

The Saints were missing a few more players on Friday, as Tre'Quan Smith, Michael Thomas, Keke Coutee, Rashid Shaheed, Kirk Merritt, Demario Davis, Nick Saldiveri, Ryan Ramczyk, Andrus Peat, Jimmy Graham, Jesse James, and Lucas Krull were among those not spotted on Friday. Dennis Allen revealed after practice that Coutee was waived for Jaylon Smith. Graham, Ramczyk, and Thomas were veteran rest days, while the others have been injured.

Landon Young went down towards the end of practice in the second team drill, which concluded practice. He was down on the field for a few minutes getting checked on, but was able to eventually get up without assistance. Allen said after practice that the initial diagnosis is a sprained MCL, but will have further evaluation.

STARTING LOOKS AND MORE

For the offensive line, they went with the same thing as yesterday, with Trevor Penning, James Hurst, Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz, and Storm Norton. The second grouping included Lewis Kidd, Tommy Kraemer, Max Garcia, Calvin Throckmorton, and Chuck Filiaga.

Defensively, the Saints operated in their base 4-3 to start with a defensive line of Cam Jordan, Khalen Saunders, Nathan Shepherd, and Carl Granderson. Pete Werner, Zack Baun, and Nephi Sewell were at linebacker, with Alontae Taylor and Marshon Lattimore on the outside. Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Maye were at safety. 

A later grouping in situational team drills gave us Bryan Bresee in place of Saunders, and took Baun off the field to put Alontae Taylor in the slot with Paulson Adebo being on the outside opposite of Lattimore.

FIRST SKIRMISH OF CAMP

It took an inside practice in the Dome to get our first skirmish in camp. It came in the first set of team drills after Nathan Shepherd appeared to have knocked Erik McCoy's helmet off while rushing from the inside. They went to the ground, with Trevor Penning and Carl Granderson getting involved. McCoy and Shepherd went to their sidelines and Allen pulled the team together after the first team series ended to address the dust up. Allen said his message to the team was, "If we want to act like boxers, we'll start training like boxers and get on the side and run."

PLAYS OF THE DAY

Keith Kirkwood had the catch of camp after making a one-handed grab in the back of the right end zone working against Paulson Adebo from Derek Carr in 2 on 2’s. My notes simply said, “Holy sh--." Kirkwood did an outstanding job of getting the catch in the back corner after jumping up for the pass and made a highlight-reel grab. Unfortunately, we are not permitted to record, otherwise it would be breaking the internet. Kirkwood has had a strong camp and is seriously threatening for a roster spot.

The other play came in team, which we'll highlight in a bit, but it's worth mentioning now. Bryan Bresee jumped into the neutral zone, which gave the offense a free play. Carr rolled right and put a bullet into the back right end zone that Chris Olave caught working against Alontae Taylor. It was a 44-yard touchdown hookup, and they made it look too easy, and the timing, throw, and everything else was just on point. Olave continues to be on fire in training camp, and the chemistry between him and Carr has been getting stronger every day.

2-ON-2 HIGHLIGHTS

The Saints did this drill the other day, which focuses on two receivers side-by-side going up against defensive backs about 5-7 yards out from the end zone. It's an interesting concept that we haven't seen in a while in Saints camp, but the second time in the past few days it's come up. Here's a few highlights.

• Chris Olave got things going with a nice touchdown grab in the right end zone from Carr against Paulson Adebo.
• Tyrann Mathieu had a few pass breakups on both Derek Carr and Jameis Winston.
• Marshon Lattimore continued to have strong coverage on his reps. Again, he looks outstanding.
• We pointed out the Kirkwood rep earlier, but this happened from Carr.
• Bryan Edwards got a couple of looks here and got into the end zone against Anthony Johnson. It seems like he's starting to hit a little bit of a groove.
• A.T. Perry came back from an earlier drop with Winston to get a nice fade route against Bradley Roby for a touchdown from Jake Haener.
• Jontre Kirklin had a nice toe-tap in the end zone on one of his catches. I'm eager to see if he can do something in the preseason after being a later add in camp.

7-ON-7 (RED ZONE)

Derek Carr (2/6)

• 15-yard-line: Interception by Marshon Lattimore, left end zone intended for Juwan Johnson. Great read by Lattimore on the play.
• 9-yard-line: Throwaway, great coverage by the defense and Nephi Sewell came late with the pressure.
• 6-yard-line: Complete, touchdown back of the end zone right side to Chris Olave after Carr flushed right. Alontae Taylor had good coverage on the play, but Olave continues to find a way.
• 4-yard-line: Incomplete, intended for Taysom Hill in back right end zone. Pass breakup by Alontae Taylor.
• 2-yard-line: Complete, touchdown back left end zone to Bryan Edwards. Someone lost him in coverage for an easy hookup. Edwards was all alone.
• 15-yard-line: Incomplete, intended for Chris Olave on a fade to the left end zone. Isaac Yiadom was in coverage.

Jameis Winston (3/5)

• 9-yard-line: Incomplete, post to back of the end zone intended for Keith Kirkwood. Pass was thrown a little over Kirkwood. D'Marco Jackson had good coverage on the play.
• 8-yard-line: Complete, sideline left short to A.T. Perry in front of Lonnie Johnson Jr. and Ugo Amadi.
• 5-yard-line: Complete, touchdown middle to Foster Moreau working against Anfernee Orji. Ellis Merriweather was his first choice on the route, but Winston did a nice job staying patient and finding Moreau.
• 4-yard-line: Incomplete, intended for Jamaal Williams near the left sideline working against Anfernee Orji. The pass was just off his hands on the out route.
• 15-yard-line: Complete, curl right middle to James Washington working against Troy Pride.

Jake Haener (2/4)

• 13-yard-line: Incomplete, curl right end zone to Jontre Kirklin with Alontae Taylor in coverage. Pass was a little behind him.
• 6-yard-line: Incomplete, intended for A.T. Perry. Credit Alontae Taylor for a pass breakup. Perry originally ran a quick curl near the goal line and then went to the right to stay with Haener on the play.
• 5-yard-line: Complete, touchdown to Ellis Merriweather working against Jaylon Smith on a right out route.
• 2-yard-line: Complete, touchdown outside left to A.T. Perry working against Anthony Johnson.

TEAM DRILLS

TEAM SERIES NO. 1: Both Derek Carr and Jameis Winston got opportunities to operate from their own 25-yard-line. Here's how things went for each series.

Derek Carr (5/5)

• 25-yard-line: Complete, play action boot right to Chris Olave (Zack Bain).
• 30-yard-line: Alvin Kamara run right for short gain, Carl Granderson with first contact.
• 34-yard-line: Complete, sideline left short to Chris Olave (Zack Baun).
• 39-yard-line: Toss right to Alvin Kamara for intermediate gain. This was the play in which the scuffle ensued.
• 46-yard-line: Complete, sideline right to Chris Olave (Tyrann Mathieu/Alontae Taylor).
• 46-yard-line (Defense): Carr keeper, run right. Tanoh Kpassagnon had good pursuit.
• 44-yard-line (Defense): Complete, touchdown to Chris Olave (Alontae Taylor) in what we highlighted already as one of the plays of the day.

Jameis Winston (3/5)

• 25-yard-line: Complete, over the middle to Kendre Miller (Ryan Connelly/Ty Summers).
• 31-yard-line: Kendre Miller right run for short gain.
• 40-yard-line (ball moved up to 45-yard-line and then back to the 40 for delay of game): Complete, right flats to Kendre Miller for short gain (Ryan Connelly).
• Midfield: Incomplete, intended for Bryan Edwards (Isaac Yiadom) on an intermediate out left. Pass was a little over his head, and Edwards tried to put a hand on the ball.
• 43-yard-line (Defense): Kendre Miller run left (Ty Summers).
• 38-yard-line (Defense): Kendre Miller run stopped for loss.
• 39-yard-line (Defense): Complete, middle crossing route to Bryan Edwards (Paulson Adebo) for an intermediate gain.

TEAM SERIES NO. 2: This put the offense in a late-game situation where they were needing to get a touchdown and had 40 seconds to get one. Here's how the sequence unfolded for Carr. The drives started at the defense's 45-yard-line. The offense was guilty of a false start, which backed them up to midfield.

• 0:40 - Completion, short right sideline to Juwan Johnson (Pete Werner/Paulson Adebo).
• 0:33 - Completion, sideline right short to Alvin Kamara (Nephi Sewell).
• 0:19 - Incompletion, deep right end zone shot to Chris Olave (Paulson Adebo). Both Carl Granderson and Cam Jordan came with pressure.
• 0:12 - Completion, sideline right short to Juwan Johnson (Paulson Adebo). This was also a fourth down hookup.
• 0:08 - Interception by Jordan Howden, intended for Chris Olave (Marshon Lattimore). Carr and the offense were at the 31-yard-line. It was a fairly easy pick for the rookie in the back of the end zone after an attempt to hit Olave.

We only had two plays with Winston under center due to the Landon Young injury. The first play didn't happen due to a false start by Lynn Bowden Jr. The play after was picked off by Troy Pride after throwing a pass deep right that wasn't on target. It looks like there was either miscommunication or a hurried throw. Taysom Hill and Shaq Davis were in the area, and Hill did his best to try to run down the pass. Pride had the easy pick.

GENERAL NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS

• Derek Carr's actual snap count in the preseason is unknown, but Allen said after practice, "When I see enough, I'll make a switch." Carr was asked about the last time he played in a preseason game. He turned to Foster Moreau and asked if they played in one last year. Moreau said, "I did." It got some laughs in the newly built out press room at the Superdome.
• Jaylon Smith isn't expected to play on Sunday, but will be around for emergency situations. Healthy players are expected to play, including starters.
• Alontae Taylor got work in with the first-team defense in the slot with Adebo and Lattimore on the outside. What I love most about Taylor is his ability to come back from a negative play. For instance, he gave up a touchdown in 7-on-7 to Chris Olave and then immediately made a pass breakup in the end zone.
• New turf feels a little better in the Dome. Maybe it's a little softer, if that makes any season. We'll get a better sense of how the players liked it after the game on Sunday.
• Kick return team featured Lonnie Johnson Jr., Ty Summers, Johnathan Abram, Ugo Amadi, D'Marco Jackson, Keith Kirkwood, Isaiah Foskey, Ryan Connelly, Adam Prentice, Kendre Miller, and Lynn Bowden Jr. as one of the returners. Kawaan Baker, Jontre Kirklin, and Taysom Hill were all in that group for kickoffs.
• Both Wil Lutz and Blake Grupe hit their three kicks on the day. In addition to extra points, Lutz hit from 37 and 40, while Grupe hit from 37 and 41.