There's a very real position battle going on for the CB2 spot across from Marshon Lattimore, but with the star out for the second half of practice on Friday, there was some time to shine.
The player who took full advantage: Paulson Adebo, the third-year pro who was thrust into primary coverage on Keenan Allen. And shine he did, holding everything underneath, sinking perfectly on multiple deep balls and breaking things up with his hands while avoiding penalties.
It was truly an impressive day in coverage sans one of the NFL's premier cover corners. Adebo wasn't alone in that charge, but he was the clear top dog on the field today. I also came away impressed, as I have often, with rookie Anthony Johnson on the outside. Isaac Yiadom held up consistently as well. Chargers star QB Justin Herbert completed a lot of passes, but nearly all checkdowns and short gains.
NOTE: Much like yesterday, I was only able to watch one half of the practice (the offense vs Chargers defense was on the far field) so the defense is what my notes will be focused on. For a fuller breakdown of what happened on offense, check out Deuce McAllister's breakdown in the video above.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
There were no major surprises on Day 2 of joint practices, but there were some changes in attendance. Lynn Bowden Jr. returned after missing Thursday's work, and Taysom Hill was also in attendance (though not in pads). Here are the players we did not see in any capacity:
- WR Tre'Quan Smith (groin)
- OT Landon Young (knee)
- TE Jesse James (groin)
- WR Shaq Davis (unknown)
Davis practiced fully on Thursday and did not suffer any apparent injuries, so his absence will be one to monitor. For the second consecutive day we saw Rashid Shaheed (groin) and Cesar Ruiz (shoulder) in attendance, though they were not in pads. Demario Davis (calf) and Andrus Peat (quad) were both, again, in pads and getting light work early in practice, but they did not participate in team drills.
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BIG AMADI
If a had to pick a lesser-known player that I'm ready to put my stamp on as a near lock for a spot on the 53, it'd have to be Ugo Amadi. He was one of the first signees this offseason, and it's clear the Saints like him. He's taken every opportunity to prove them right thus far. He was the player who came down with an interception against the Chiefs on a tipped ball. Today he didn't need the help, jumping in front of a pass from Chargers backup Easton Stick for an impressive interception in 7-on-7 drills.
He's consistently in the right place and when he gets a chance at a takeaway, he rarely misses. He's also looking like the backup slot corner. Nothing I've seen in camp to this point has made me question his spot on this roster.
RUN STRUGGLES
It can be tough to gauge run defense in a practice setting. You're not really hitting, so you kind of just have to piece together the result based on who was in position to make a play. It doesn't guarantee a tackle was made, and RBs are as adept at breaking tackles as anybody. That said, this felt like a subpar day for the run defense.
In fairness, it was the only part of the Chargers offense that felt effective, but Austin Ekeler and Josh Kelley managed to find too many holes in the Saints' front. The Chargers lone touchdown of the day was on a short run during red zone drills. Head coach Dennis Allen pointed to the run defense struggles in his post-practice comments. It's something to watch for, considering the first week of the regular season will come against Derrick Henry and the Titans. If he's allowed to wreck the game, it could be a long day at the dome. I need to see Khalen Saunders and Co. step up there.
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HIT STICK TAYLOR
One thing I never question about Alontae Taylor is his willingness to come down and put a huge hit on a WR. He did that today and he wasn't actually supposed to. It's just in his DNA, and it's one of the reasons he's so easy to like. He's been working through some inconsistencies this camp, but I feel more than comfortable if he ends up in a starting role.
GRANDERSON IS RELENTLESS
I don't know if it's a product of working across from Cam Jordan, but Carl Granderson's motor always impresses me. Even late in the practice during a two-minute drill for the Chargers, there was no fatigue showing through. The Saints ultimately held up on that drive, but from what I saw it'd have been over a few plays earlier if Granderson would've been allowed to swipe at Herbert and force a fumble. Those types of drives can be brutal to watch when the QB is allowed to sit comfortably and pick a shell defense apart. The pass rush, at times, feels like the only hope to ruin that, and often the question is whether it can still be effective late in a game.
I don't know exactly what to expect out of the Granderson-Turner platoon this year, but if it's a productive pairing, I really like what this defense brings to the table.
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