3 Players to Watch at Saints Camp Day 12

At the halfway point of New Orleans Saints training camp, players looking to solidify roles and prove themselves go under the microscope.

11 practice is down and 11 remain for the New Orleans Saints through training camp. At this point, expecting the gap to begin to close between the offense and defense will be worth everyone’s focus. However, certain players have a lot to gain as not only training camp approach its twilight, but preseason games are on the horizon. Now is the time for players who have big question marks around their names to answer them to the best of their ability. That brings us to training camp day 12’s list of three players we will be watching closely.

Jul 29, 2022; Metairie, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) during training camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

LT Trevor Penning

Penning has had a solid camp so far, specifically in the run game. But is his pass protection is what he himself said would be his biggest focus throughout the off-season. That will be under a microscope the last 11 practices of saints training camp. As well as the preseason games in which he appears. 

Penning maintains his physical play style with which he was branded throughout his draft process, and there’s no doubt that his tenacity has not been lost. His fundamentals and technique will have to rise to the occasion next so that his talent and tenacity can combine to create what the Saints hope will be a long-term starter-quality level of play.

LB D'Marco Jackson

Jackson has been giving a lot of opportunities so far throughout training camp even before starting linebacker. Demario Davis has been held out with a calf injury. Unfortunately, while Jackson has had some flashy moments along with some standout plays, the consistency of his game as a MIKE linebacker has left something to be desired. 

Assuming Davis is not yet back out on the field Wednesday, Jackson should continue to get opportunities next to starting weakside linebacker Pete Werner. This will be a major opportunity for Jackson to answer any of the questions that circle his name when it comes to the role that he can hold in the linebacker room.

CB Alontae Taylor

Taylor has two big questions that he will look to answer as training camp enters its latter half. The first of which is the obvious, he and Paulson Adebo have been firmly locked into a battle at the second cornerback position. While it looks like Abebo has a firm grasp on the lead, a big turnaround from Taylor at this point would be hard to miss, and certainly hard for the Saints to ignore. 

However, if he is not able to close the gap, the second question comes in to play, Is Taylor one of the team's best 11 options on the field as a slot cornerback? Taylor has gotten a lot of work in the slot throughout training camp, but it is clear that his strength is on the outside. He will have to make a big jump on the inside in order to be seen the front-runner to start over veteran corner Bradley Roby. If the intent is to get the best players on the field on defense, Taylor certainly deserves to be in the mix, but where?