If there's a point in a rookie's journey where a lightbulb suddenly clicks on, that's what happened under the bright lights at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday for A.T. Perry.
The long-armed rookie's start at training camp hadn't been perfect, but the reviews from coaches remained positive, and so did Perry himself. He never stopped putting in the work, and that's why his impressive showing in his preseason opener, 70 yards and a TD from Jameis Winston while catching all 6 targets, was such a welcome sight.
"I just know that he’s a young player, he loves football," said Winston, who found Perry on a ball over the top for the 29-yard score on the second drive of the game. "So it was a great moment for him to show his capabilities and he did just that.”
The Saints nabbed the 6'5" Perry in the 6th round of the NFL draft after he fell down the board following an impressive 4-year run at Wake Forest. He arrived with the reputation of being a big-play threat, with the type of jump ball ability the Saints were seeking after a 2022 season that saw too few of them.
One of the reasons contested catches were such a struggle was the loss of Michael Thomas after Week 3. But he's back now, and A.T. has been watching MT closely, picking his brain wherever he can and following his lead.
“I’m learning a lot. Just his worth ethic, really, I pay attention to that," Perry said. "Just how he approaches practice most importantly. … Just picking his brain on running routes and stuff like that, different plays. Just learning from a great guy, great football player.”
From here for Perry, it's all about the little things and building consistency. One thing he noted is that the adjustment to the NFL has had stumbling blocks, including the lack of a white stripe on the football like there is in college. Without it there, it can be more difficult to track it through the air.
He's had to work on hand fighting, getting in and out of breaks, but it's coming along. So what does that mean for his confidence level?
“It’s building it, honestly, just every day," Perry said earlier in camp. "It’s letting me know that all right, I’m doing this, I’m doing the right thing, I’m being consistent. But just doing it every day, you turn heads out there, coaches start talking to me and stuff, just letting me know I’m doing my job correctly.”
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