Saints Training Camp Notes and Observations from Day 17 for Offense

The Saints and Chargers got together for their second and final joint practice on Friday, and I focused solely on the offense during Day 17.

COSTA MESA -- Joint practices between the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers wrapped up on Friday with some nice action for quarterback Derek Carr and the offense. While they put together a few big plays, there are still some looming questions marks in regards to how consistently effective this offense can be, especially with some poor showings when it comes to offensive line depth.

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 | Day 14 | Day 15 | Day 16 (Offense) | Day 16 (Defense)

Jun 13, 2023; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) passes to running back Alvin Kamara (41) during minicamp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Saints Training Camp Notes and Observations from Day 17: Offense

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ATTENDANCE

There wasn't too many changes to attendance, but one new absence was added in Shaq Davis. We did not spot him, Tre'Quan Smith (groin), Landon Young (MCL sprain), or Jesse James (groin). Taysom Hill was around today, but was not in pads. He's dealing with an oblique strain. Rashid Shaheed and Cesar Ruiz were also around, but not in pads. Shaheed, Ruiz, and Demario Davis were doing some work off to the side.

Marshon Lattimore hurt his knee during 7-on-7's and was held out of practice as a precautionary measure. Dennis Allen said that he planted and felt something, and it's not considered to be serious. Lattimore did hang around all practice on the sideline, so that's a good and encouraging sign.

STARTING LOOKS AND MORE

For the offensive line, we had the same starting look as yesterday. From left to right, Trevor Penning, James Hurst, Erik McCoy, Calvin Throckmorton, and Ryan Ramczyk was the starting look.

On defense, the Saints rolled with their base 4-3 at first, which featured Cam Jordan, Nathan Shepherd, Khalen Saunders, and Carl Granderson on the defensive line. Zack Baun, Pete Werner, and Nephi Sewell were at linebacker, while Alontae Taylor and Paulson Adebo were on the outside. Marcus Maye and Tyrann Mathieu were at safety.

Second pairings had Tanoh Kpassagnon, Malcolm Roach, Bryan Bresee, and Payton Turner on the line, as the Saints operated in nickel some. D'Marco Jackson and Jaylon Smith were at linebacker, while Bradley Roby was in the slot.

HURRICANE HILARY

It's a bit weird having to talk about this in this area, of all places, but here we are. The Saints and Chargers are going to have a call with the league on Friday afternoon to discuss the game. We'll know more afterwards, but the likeliest scenarios would be to move up the game or cancel it. The deciding factor may depend on how quickly the field team can get things ready from the Rams playing the Raiders on Saturday night. We'll know more here soon.

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7-ON-7 DETAILS

With no 1-on-1s on Friday, the Saints and Chargers went immediately to 7-on-7s, though the offense fielded just five skill position players on each first and second teams. Here are the the plays from both quarterbacks Derek Carr and Jameis Winston's two series each.

Derek Carr (5/8)

Offensive personnel: Alvin Kamara, Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, Keith Kirkwood and Foster Moreau. Kirk Merritt, A.T. Perry and Juwan Johnson rotated in as well.

In Carr's first series, he opened with two straight completions. The first went to tight end Juwan Johnson on the left side of the field in the underneath area. The second found running back Alvin Kamara on an out route to the left side with Chargers defensive back Ja'Sir Taylor in coverage. Carr then threw an incomplete pass, but we are not sure who he was targeting. He wrapped up his first series with a nice completion to wideout Chris Olave on an out route again attacking the left sideline.

In his second series, he went 2/4 completing two passes to start. Both completions were for some good chunk gains, he first connected with Olave on an over route in the intermediate area with Taylor again in coverage. He then found Kamara out of the backfield on an angle route for a bit catch and run up the middle. He worked his way loose from linebacker Daiyan Henley's coverage. Carr then missed on two attempted in a row, the first to Olave which was a pass that would have put him in position to take a walloping over the middle of the field in live game action by linebacker Amen Ogbongdemiga. On his final rep in the period, Carr just barely missed a big connection with rookie wideout A.T. Perry who got the best of corner Michael Davis off the line.

Jameis Winston (4/4)

Offensive personnel: Elliss Merriweather, Kawaan Baker, Jontre Kirklin, Bryan Edwards, and Lucas Krull. J.P. Holtz also rotated in.

In his first pair of passes, Winston completed back-to-back attempts to Kamara underneath with linebacker Kenneth Murray in coverage and then a quick slant to the left side to receiver Kawaan Baker on a slant. Rookie cornerback Cam Brown was in coverage for that one.

Winston returned and again was good on his pair of passing attempts. He first found Baker on an over route in the intermediate area. Baker was wide open crossing from the left to right side of the field. He then found tight end J.P. Holtz on a quick out to the right sideline with linebacker Nathan East in coverage.

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TEAM DETAILS

I have Carr going 13/19 with a pair of touchdowns throughout team drills and Winston going 8/16. One of Winston's incompletions came after a sack. For the sake of everything being important, we will include both the sake and the incompletion like we did with some of Charger's quarterback Justin Herbert's count yesterday. Rookie quarterback Jake Haener took snaps in routes on air but did not participate as a passer in 7-on-7s or team drills.

First team offense: Derek Carr, Trevor Penning, James Hurst, Erik McCoy, Calvin Throckmorton, Ryan Ramczyk, Michael Thomas, Keith Kirkwood, Chris Olave, Juwan Johnson and Alvin Kamara. Jamaal Williams, Kirk Merritt, Storm Norton and Foster Moreau were among those that rotated in.

Second team offense: Jameis Winston, Lewis Kidd, Nick Saldiveri, Max Garcia, Tommy Kraemer, Storm Norton, A.T. Perry, Kawaan Baker, Bryan Edwards, Juwan Johnson and Kendre Miller. Foster Moreau, Darrel Williams and Jimmy Graham were among those that rotated in.

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TEAM DRILL NO. 1 (CARR 3/3, WINSTON 1/2): Carr opened up team action with a quick out to Thomas with Jackson in coverage. The two top options had a good back and forth today. The Saints then ran twice. The first was a nice run with Williams right up the middle while Kamara got the next carry for a short gain on a stretch run to the right. On the final play, a Third and 5 would have converted with Carr rolling out after a play action and finding Olave in the intermediate area with Davis in coverage.

Winston took the field and did not find the same success he found in 7-on-7 drills. He could not connect with Perry  on a crossing route downfield. Perry slipped while being covered well by Brown. Winston then took off on a scramble the next play after feeling some pressure from the right side. 

Carr took over again only to be immediately sacked. Chargers defenders Chis Rumph II and Derwin James were in the backfield. The team then ran with Merritt  to the right-middle area of the line for a nice pick up. Fullback Adam Prentice provided the lead block. Carr then ran a play action rollout to the right sideline where he found Olave crossing the field with Davis trailing. Then Miller had a nice run up the middle with a big hole made for him to run through.

New Orleans wrapped up this period with a run by Darrel Williams up the middle. He ran right into a pile without much room ahead.Chargers lineman Christopher Hinton then got a sack on Winston, but the team played through. Winston tried to push the ball deep to Perry, but it was overthrown.

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TEAM DRILL NO. 2 (CARR 5/6, WINSTON 2/4): This team period had the feel of more down and distance work, but not necessarily in a hurry-up situation. Carr opened with a screen pass to Jamaal Williams  to the right side for a few yards. Kamara then ran up the middle for no gain. Carr connected with Johnson on a fantastic dagger concept. Johnson ran a dig (or "out") route toward the right sideline with linebacker Eric Kendricks in coverage while Olave cleared out with a big vertical push along the same sideline. The corner and safety help focused on Olave, allowing Johnson to have green grass to run to for the completed pass. Carr then went right to Olave on a screen for a nice gain on the left sideline. Williams carried left for a short run. Carr then completed to Johnson again for a nice catch and run by the big tight end. Carr went to wideout Keith Kirkwood on the next two reps, the first fell incomplete downfield on what would have been a free play thanks to a defensive penalty. The second was completed on a comeback with Matt Hankins in coverage.

This may have been one of the most challenging drives we have seen so far for the team in these joint practices. Winston completed his first pass to Miller in the flats and Miller followed that up with a stretch run to the right side. For the next rep, Winston was pressured by Rumph and linebacker Andrew Farmer, forced to run. After a big run by Merriweather up the middle, things went south. The Saints lined up but were called for a false start on the next play. Winston then threw an incomplete pass into double-coverage to Edwards. That was followed up another false start. Winston bounced back with a nice completion to Baker who had some room to run after the catch. The throw was a great one by Winston who stepped up in the picket first to evade pressure. Well-poised and executed by both. Winston could not connect with Perry on the final play with more pressure bearing down on him in the pocket.

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TEAM DRILL NO. 3 (CARR 4/5, WINSTON 0/2): Carr led off this series with a beautiful pass down the left sideline on a fade to Johnson with Kendricks in coverage. One of the prettiest passes we have seen Carr throw this offseason, but it would not be his only on Friday. Jamaal Williams had a short run up the middle and then Carr was forced to throw the next pass away with pressure coming. He and Johnson connected again on a play action roll out in the short, middle area of the field. 

Merritt kicked off the next series with a run to the right. Prentice again was the lead blocker. Winston fired a pass to Baker, and although the pass was incomplete, Chargers cornerback Deane Leonard was flagged for defensive pass interference.

Two nice runs by Miller on a simulated First and 10 and Second and 3 started off the next series. Carr then fired two passes to Merriweather on a dump-off to convert a Third and 5 and then a quick slant to Thomas to get another first down on the four-yard line.

Winston wrapped up this period with an incomplete pass to Baker on a jump ball in the endzone. A risky throw with a few baby blue jerseys around Baker. The Saints then tried to run with Darrell Williams up the middle, but were called for a holding penalty. That was three penalties on the second team during this one period.

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TEAM DRILL NO. 4 (CARR 1/3, WINSTON 3/4): This series was the team's second red zone work of the day. The Saints immediately struck pay dirt with another excellent pass and route by Carr and this time Kamara. The running back ran a beautiful wheel route out of the backfield from about the 20-yard line. He beat defensive end Joey Bosa with no issue around the edge and the pass was perfectly placed allowing Kamara to walk into the end zone. Bosa was not very happy about ending up in coverage on Kamara, turning to his huddle to asking a more foul version of"What am I supposed to (freaking) do?" After a run by Carr, he finished the drill with two incomplete passes to Thomas and Olave. The first of which was batted at the line while it was a simple missed connection on the second. McCoy did a great job picking up an outside/in stunt from the Chargers' defensive line though.

The second team was called for their fourth penalty of the day, a second holding call to kick things off. That took them from First and 10 on the 20 to First and 20 on the 30. Not ideal. Winston and Miller picked up five yards on a quick out. Winston and Merriweather connected on a screen for another three yards. Tight end Lucas Krull pulled in the next pass pick up nine yards, giving the team a manageable Fourth and 2 from the 12-yard line. Winston again went for Baker in the end zone, but the pass was broken up by cornerback Michael Jacquet.

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TEAM DRILL NO. 5 (CARR 0/2, WINSTON 2/4): Carr had a lot going on in this series to close out the team drills and none of it was good. He first put a pass up for Olave who was double-covered downfield. This was definitely a training camp throw as opposed to something you would likely try in game. Olave went up and tried to fight for the catch, but it and he fell to the ground. There was some concern that maybe he had gotten hurt on the rep, but he was immediately back in the lineup. Carr was then flushed out due to pressure from the left side of the line. He did pick up some solid yards on the run. Carr then tried to fit a pass in on the right sideline to Thomas, but it was undercut and almost picked up by Jackson. The series ended with a sack of Carr with two Chargers defenders in the backfield.

Winston completed his first pass to Kirklin then followed up with a connection with Moreau on the right sideline with Leonard in coverage. Winston and Edwards were not able to connect on the left sideline and then the final rep of the day was a Hail Mary attempt that was broken up. Kirklin, Baker, Edwards and Moreau were on for the attempt as pass-catchers.

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GENERAL NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS

• Wil Lutz kicked on the skinnier half-size uprights today, but still went 11/12 on the day. His ranges went everywhere from extra point distance to a 52-yard attempt on the right hash, which was missed. 
• Punter Lou Hedley helped out today by signaling field goal attempts.
• Dennis Allen was working exclusively with the defense again today.
• The great thing for the Saints offense today came down to being able to take advantage of mismatches and generate big plays in the passing game.
• The focus of improvement has to be on offensive line depth. Following the first-team unit, things can get concerning when it comes to protection.
• Officials were in attendance again today. The first team offense did not pick up a single penalty while the second team offense were hit with four. Two false starts and two holding calls.
• Head coach Dennis Allen said that the teams would be having a phone call with the NFL regarding Sunday's game. With Hurricane Hillary threatening the West Coast.
• John Hendrix will be attending the game, regardless of whether or not it is rescheduled. 
• Taysom Hill was back today, though not participating. Seeing players like he, Cesar Ruiz, Andrus Peat and Rashid Shaheed making trips with the team is a big positive.
• Lucas Krull returned to participating in team drills today.