New Orleans Saints Day Six Wrap Up from Fox 44 News

July 30, 2008

Saints Training Camp In Jackson: Offense Day Six Wrap Up | Fox40 Jackson, MS | Sports

By Travis Recek

Story Created: Jul 30, 2008

Story Updated: Jul 30, 2008
-Tuesday’s morning session really had very little to write about so we’ll focus on what went on Tuesday evening. It was a perfect night as the Saints went under the lights at Memorial Stadium for the most comfortable practice, as far as temperature, since camp started. The nice conditions did not equal stellar results.
-The first team offense was very inconsistent and the frustration could be heard from Drew Brees. Really the third team guys, led by Tyler Palko, moved the ball more effectively than the other units.
-Big plays were made by Palko as he hit Skyler Green and Todd Blythe with deep passes of more than 50 yards. Deuce McAllister had a nice run as well, drawing a huge “Deeuuuccee” chant from the fans. Also, that guy Adrian Arrington made a couple of tough grabs that very few receivers on this team could make besides Marques Colston.
-We had another injury this evening with 2nd year running back Chris Barclay going down after running out for a pass. Barclay was carried off the field, putting no pressure on his injured leg and then was carted to the locker room. This injury didn’t look good, we’ll find out how severe it is tomorrow.
-While I personally enjoyed the nighttime workout, the players seemed to as well. Afterward David Patten said the guys had a different energy coming out here under the lights and without the heat.
-We also talked with backup QB Mark Brunell who shared this interesting note. Brunell, a 13 year veteran, says he has never been to a training camp where the team was only carrying three quarterbacks. This is something to watch as all three guys will be taking more reps because of that and possibly wearing out their arms. Brunell added that he is now serving as Palko’s “big brother” offering the other lefty QB on the team lots of advice.
-Some new guests showed up in Jackson today, as Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops and his staff are in town for a few days to observe the Saints. New Orleans coach Sean Payton has ties to a few of the Sooner assistants, coaching with them at Miami(Ohio) back in the mid-90′s. I shared with you this morning that the sight of Stoops doesn’t really bring a bright smile to the face of a former Texas Longhorn, such as myself. By coincidence I happened to be wearing a burnt orange UT shirt today and I ran into OU assistant coach and former national champion quarterback Josh Heupel in the lunchroom, only to have Coach Heupel call my shirt ugly. It’s just too bad he had to “stoop” to that level.
-OK, back to more serious matters. NO practice in the morning, the team will only workout in the afternoon at 4:20 p.m. back at Millsaps. We’ll be there with live updates and a timeline of the action similar to this one from today.

9:08 a.m. We’ve got a special visitor for practice this morning, he’s a high profile college football coach that likes to wear visors. No we’re not talking about Steve Spurrier, Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops is wandering the sidelines right now. If anyone knows me or saw the shirt I was wearing right now, you’d understand why my blood boils a little at the sight of Stoops. I’m a graduate of the University of Texas and die-hard Longhorn fan. My feelings aside, I’m trying to figure out why he’s here. I do know that starting left tackle Jammal Brown played for Stoops at OU.

9:16 a.m. Right now the only tie I have between Stoops and New Orleans is that his Sooners lost to LSU in the BCS title game at the Sugar Bowl in 2004. Wait, was that a low blow bringing up his past of BCS game losses. I apologize and will move on to Saints news of the day.

9:21 a.m. I don’t expect this practice to be very intense, but tonight should be interesting. Want to let people know that the afternoon session has been moved from 3:40 p.m. at Millsaps to 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium, which is right across the street. It will remain open to the public. My best guess is that they want to beat the heat a little bit and Memorial Stadium, home of Jackson St., allows them to turn the lights on and remain on a grass surface.

9:25 a.m. Todd Blythe is back at practice after missing both workouts yesterday.

9:32 a.m. It looks like there is going to be a lot of special teams work this practice. The linemen have left the upper field. Receivers Marques Colston, David Patten and Devery Henderson are just tossing passes to each other off to the side. Jeremy Shockey is working one-on-one with the tight ends coach and the quarterbacks are nowhere to be seen.

9:42 a.m. Coach Payton and Stoops have been talking for the past 20 minutes and it looks like a good portion of the Oklahoma staff is here as well.

9:55 a.m. The guys are off to the cool room for a little break. Today is not quite as hot as yesterday was.because there’s a light breeze, but it’s warm enough.

9:58 a.m. Reggie Bush has been pretty committed to working on his kick return game all training camp. Bush did not go cool off and has remained on the field to work more on the special teams side of his game.

10:07 a.m. The kicking battle will surely come down to who is more accurate making field goals. But as far as Gramatica vs. Mehlhaff in kickoff duties, I’d give the edge to Gramatica a little. He put one through the back of the end zone while Mehlhaff was booting his about 3-4 yards deep in the end zone.

10:11 a.m. Just remembered another connection between the Saints and Oklahoma. Defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs used to be the head coach at OU from 1989-1994. Stoops though has had a little more success at the helm of the program than Gibbs did.
10:13 a.m. Looks like we’re done with an uneventful morning practice.

PRACTICE TWO:

7:28 p.m. Coach Payton mentioned he liked the grass surface here at Memorial Stadium and looking down on it, the playing field looks to be in great shape. This stadium is used in the fall as the home for Jackson St.

7:32 p.m. Taking a quick overview of the guys in white, it looks like everyone is suited up for tonight, minus Devery Henderson. Coach said again today that Henderson will probably be out at least another week.

7:34 p.m. Although they were going just half-speed, Marques Colston just made a ridiculous one-handed catch. The guy has bear claws for hands.

7:50 p.m. Lance Moore has had two uncharacteristic drops early in these drills.

8:05 p.m. Here we go, the offense and defense are done working individually and are about to go 4 on 5. The offense has the four, QB, running back and two tight ends. Reggie Bush against a linebacker is so unfair, he just got free for a catch. Then Aaron Stecker, as dependable as they come, just had a ball go off his fingertips. Deuce McAllister got himself a grab too.

8:10 p.m. The receivers are going 2 on 3 vs. the defensive backs. Lance Moore is back to making the catches he should. Robert Meachem is doing a good job as well.

8:16 p.m. A stagnant crowd just erupted as Deuce found a hole on the right side and burst free into the open field. Oh yeah, we’re in 11-on-11 drills right now.

8:21 p.m. Aside from the little things that Adrian Arrington has to learn, one thing I can say for sure: he has incredible hands. Double-A just made a tough catch on a ball thrown behind him in a crowd of three defenders.

8:31 p.m. Yes, most exciting play on special teams so far in camp. They just executed a fake field goal in which holder Steve Weatherford completed a pass to Jamar Nesbit and he took off in a plod of glory.

8:49 p.m. Interesting look as the offense just lined up with five wide, Reggie Bush and Jeremy Shockey to go with Colston, PattenCopper. Drew Brees was in the shotgun to take the snap. and

8:53 p.m. A new wrinkle to these full offense vs. defense drills, they are adding down and distance to each play. Intensity is pretty high, Lance Moore got blasted by David Roach on an incomplete pass.

8:58 p.m. Uh-oh. Running back Chris Barclay is down, holding his ankle it looks like after going out for a pass.

9:01 p.m. Barclay is up and now sitting on the bench. He’s a second year running back that split time between Tennessee and New Orleans in 2007.

9:05 p.m. Barclay gave a wave to the crowd as he was being carted off, but this could be a serious injury.

9:07 p.m. After throwing an incomplete pass on a rollout to the left, Brees shouted in disgust. You don’t normally get that kind of outward emotion from him.

9:13 p.m. Play of the practice. Tyler Palko lofted a 50-yard pass to Skyler Green who made a nice over the shoulder grab. Green has the speed to burn people deep, he just needs to be more consistent holding on to the ball. As soon as I write that Palko drops another bomb to Todd Blythe for a TD, good little run for the third teamers.

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