The New Orleans Saints have talked often about how a focus on rest and recovery has made a major difference in the first training camp under head coach Kellen Moore. They'll now have to factor in recovering from absences.
After a first few weeks that were largely devoid of injuries, the Saints have been best the past few weeks. Guard Nick Saldiveri is already on IR with injuries, and he'll be joined by center Will Clapp and TE Mason Pline. But it's the injuries to starters G Trevor Penning and CB Alontae Taylor that will lead to the biggest adjustments.
Both players are expected to miss "a little while," Kellen Moore said on Tuesday. Penning's absence will push veteran Dillon Radunz, who started 15 games at guard for the Titans last season, up to first-team left guard. Replacing Taylor in the star role will be a bit more complicated.
“There’s certainly a competition behind Alontae and with some guys that are so-called safeties, some guys that are so-called corners, they have the position flex to be able to line up in there," Moore said. "We have a number of guys that have done a great job through camp so we expect one of those guys to step up.”
Some obvious candidates will be safeties Ugo Amadi and Terrell Burgess, a pair or veterans who saw reps at the position on Friday and have significant experience. Another option could be rookie Jonas Sanker, though that'd be asking a lot of a player early in his rookie season. A non-traditional option might even be Isaiah Stalbird, who is listed as a linebacker but has a defensive back pedigree from his time at South Dakota State.
“Star has got to have ... high football IQ, you’re in the middle of everything. You’re involved in everything," Moore said. "Rrun game, pressure plan, coverage, you’ve got to be dialed into that. You’ve got to communicate with really all three levels of the defense and so there’s a lot that goes into that position.”
Taylor is recovering from a groin injury that cropped up late last week in advance of the preseason opener. A large number of veterans were inactive for the game after warming up, but Taylor was among the handful who didn't dress at all.
The Saints hope Taylor can work back from injury sooner rather than later, but there's no question that it'll mark a major absence from Brandon Staley's scheme for the immediate future.
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TAKING ATTENDANCE
We already got into the attendance above with Penning and Taylor's absence, but there are several other names to mention.
Here are the players, excluding those on IR or PUP, who didn't participate on Tuesday:
- CB Alontae Taylor (groin)
- WR Bub Means (ankle)
- RB Devin Neal (hamstring)
- S JT Gray
- Edge Jasheen Davis
Means is expected to miss significant time with another ankle injury, but he's at least expected back this season. It's a disappointing result for the second-year WR out of Pittsburgh, who for the second time in as many seasons has had a prime opportunity derailed by an ankle injury at SoFi Stadium. The Saints don't have many options as big-body WR options, meaning Cedrick Wilson Jr., Kevin Austin Jr. and Donovan Peoples-Jones could see more opportunities going forward.
Gray dealt with an injury earlier in camp and Moore indicated that his issue isn't considered to be significant. Rookie Fadil Diggs is dealing with a hand injury but he practiced in full and it doesn't sound like there'll be any issue playing with it. QB Tyler Shough also showed no ill effects from the knee bruise he suffered on a sack by the Chargers.
The Saints did added three faces on Tuesday, including the return of TE Seth Green. They also signed WR Roderick Daniels, who was with the team at rookie camp, G/C Mike Panasiuk and DT Jayden Peevy. WR Chis Tyree was waived with an injury designation.
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QB WATCH
It was another day with Spencer Rattler starting with the 1s, but that flipped throughout the practice. Shough finished out the day running with the 1s against the 2s on defense, and vice versa for Rattler.
The most interesting part of practice, and what has become a staple of Moore's practice sessions lately, were call-it periods late in practice. Rattler got off to a rough start with a pair of 3 and outs -- both ending on sacks by Pete Werner -- but bounced back with a drive starting from his own 20 that went for 16 plays and found it's way down into the opposing red zone. The issue, which has been a problem for Rattler throughout his career, was that it was a long drive that ultimately resulted in no points.
Rattler was effective and completed passes to Michael Jacobson and Kevin Austin to get things going. He even overcame a false start that created a 3rd and 10 with a well-executed screen to Velus Jones that found the first down marker. The offense converted on 4th and 1 with a Cam Akers run, but things ended on a sour note when Rattler's pass -- which appeared on target -- to Dante Pettis was tipped up by the WR and landed in the arms of Julian Blackmon.
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It's another example of a disappointing end result that isn't necessarily on Rattler, but a 16-play drive that isn't even knocking on the end zone is a sign in and of itself that there's not much aggression going on. There wasn't a single throw on the drive that attacked downfield. Defenses will live all day forcing you to go 16 plays without a mistake being made. At some point I need to see Spencer put more pressure on defenses.
Shough didn't always find smooth sailing, either, but much like in the preseason opener (and in the first scrimmage of camp) it was the rookie who found a touchdown. His came at the end of a 12-play drive that was capped off by a 5-yard Alvin Kamara TD run. Shough converted a pair of third downs and a 4th down through the air, two coming on well-placed balls to Rashid Shaheed on the edges of the field. There was another first down converted on an option pitch to Kamara, a play concept we haven't seen much of to this point in camp.
Shough's next drive ended on after a sack set up 3rd and 14. Shough found Clyde Edwards-Helaire for a healthy gain on a checkdown but he was tackled well short of the sticks.
We've gotten to a point in camp where it seems like Shough is continuing to push his game forward and Rattler is playing it safe. If that continues, I might start changing my tune about who makes the most sense to start Week 1. The next few days of practice and the preseason showdown with the Jaguars feels pretty massive for both guys. Rattler really needs to show something.
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PRESSURE
One thing that's going to be fun to watch with Brandon Staley's scheme is the unique ways he applies pressure on third down. One of the perks of the 3-4 scheme is the ability to send an extra rusher from all over the formation, and in this practice it was Pete Werner twice on third down to snuff out drives. There's so much in that part of the playbook, it'll just be a matter of the Saints getting into situations where he can dial up those pressure packages.
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RAMS?
Will they or won't they? That's a good question. The Saints and Rams are expected to hold a joint practice on Thursday, but as of Tuesday Moore wouldn't commit to the session. He said both sides want to get it schedule, it'll come down to "logistics." Another competitive session would definitely serve this team well, so hopefully they can get it done.
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BREES
Drew Brees was at the Saints practice on Tuesday. It never hurts to have a Hall of Fame QB on hand. It also seems a little easier to get the alums out to practice in the Irvine weather. Imagine that.