Saints Training Camp in Jackson: Offense Day Eight, Practice One by FOX 40 News

July 31, 2008

Saints Training Camp in Jackson: Offense Day Eight, Practice One | Fox40 Jackson, MS | Sports

Saints Camp
By Travis Recek

Story Created: Jul 31, 2008

Story Updated: Jul 31, 2008

It’s exactly one week from the first pre-season game as the Saints come out for practice this morning. It’s also been exactly a week since camp opened last Thursday. That’s hard to believe because it feels like a lot has happened in this past week.

9:01 a.m. It’s a no pads practice this morning, with the team scheduled to have just a walk-through.

9:26 a.m. These walk-throughs are usually all about special teams work. The QB’s and most of the lineman are usually sent off to the weight room.

9:30 a.m. Pierre Thomas remains as the main kickoff returner. He did just drop one and let it be audibly known he was upset. Skyler Green is getting most of the looks as second in line to return kickoffs.

9:35 a.m. A little breeze blowing across the practice field just gave Green trouble catching a punt as he muffed it. Green is a guy that can’t afford any mistakes on special teams, in fact he needs to turn heads with his play.

9:40 a.m. Green is not the only one having trouble with the wind, Reggie Bush just dropped a punt as well.

9:44 a.m. Since this isn’t the most riveting practice I guess we could talk about some other football issues. While the Saints being in Mississippi is a huge story , it may not be the biggest NFL news coming out of the Magnolia State. Just about an hour and half down the road is Hattiesburg, MS home to the Brett Favre fiasco. Although I’m beyond sick of this story I did just read that the Packers reportedly offered Favre $20 million to stay retired. While I don’t see him accepting that, let’s just hope some sort of resolution comes soon, like today.

9:52 a.m. The other day Martin Gramatica outperformed Taylor Mehlhaff in kickoffs. Round two and Gramatica put a couple kicks about 4 yards deep in the endzone and then hit a knubber that barely made it to the 20-yard line. Mehlhaff finally showed off his big-time leg putting one through the back of the endzone.

10:07 We’re already done, be back in a minute.

Press Conference Tidbits

-We saw Reggie Bush muff a couple of punts today but afterwards Coach Payton said that he is confident in Bush’s ability as a punt returner. He said that Bush has been returning kicks his whole career and he may just be working on some new techniques right now.

-As for the kick returner competition as a whole, Payton says it is still wide open and they really won’t get a good evaluation until Saturday’s scrimmage and the pre-season games. There has been a focus on special teams this camp after the Saints performance in this area last season.

-Wednesday Jon Stinchcomb tweaked his shoulder but he was back out there today and Payton says he’s fine. Another offensive lineman that Payton mentioned is rookie Carl Nicks. The 5th round pick is big and powerful and has really jumped out to the coaches.

-There is a new look Mike Karney this camp, a slimmer version of the fullback. Payton said he and Karney spoke this off-season and they wanted him a little lighter. Payton believes Karney has dropped about 8-10 pounds and is around 252 right now.

-Payton also talked extensively about some new rule changes the NFL has implented and that a crew of refs are here for the next three days to go over those new rules and the old rules with coaches and players. The officials in town are Gene Steratore and his crew.

-The topic of Drew Brees came up and Payton said that his QB is as critical of himself than anyone he’s ever been around. Brees talked to the media after practice as well and we’ll share his thoughts on how camp is going tonight in our wrap up.

-Be sure to log back on at 3:40 p.m. for live updates of the afternoon practice. We expect it to be a lot more telling than the walk-through this morning.

Written by admin · Filed Under New Orleans Saints News

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