The Saints got on the field this week for the final set of organized team activities, and a pair of veterans got back on the field for the first time.
But it was the younger names that stood out most, particularly linebacker Kaden Elliss, who continued his strong offseason with a handful of impressive plays. On one, he sunk he in zone coverage and broke up a ball intended for Jarvis Landry.
"Of all the defensive players in these OTAs, he’s the one that really has stood out," WWL's Mike Detillier said.
Other standouts included TE Lucas Krull, who caught a nice backshoulder pass up the seam during team drills late in the day, and Kirk Merritt out of Destrehan, who mossed Dylan Maybin for a touchdown that closed out the day's practice.
“It shows you he must have a lot of confidence,” Hebert said.
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TAKING ATTENDANCE
Two more veterans made their OTA debuts in the form of Mark Ingram and PJ Williams, but otherwise the names and faces in attendance remained largely the same as the prior two practices. Tyrann Mathieu returned after an absence in the second set of OTAs, Jarvis Landry was back for a second consecutive week and Marcus Maye continued to get in limited work as he recovers from an Achilles injury.
ABSENCES
- RB Alvin Kamara
- TE Taysom Hill
- WR/KR Rashid Shaheed
- WR Michael Thomas
- OT James Hurst
- DE Taco Charlton
- CB Marshon Lattimore
- CB Bradley Roby
- S CJ Gardner-Johnson
- LB Demario Davis
- DE Payton Turner
OTAs are voluntary, and head coach Dennis Allen had said at the opening session that none of the absences were problematic and he had heard from everyone who is not in attendance. He said he expects to see everyone for the upcoming mandatory minicamp next week, though Thomas is not expected to be on the field with the goal for a return at training camp in July.
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PENNING ON THE GRIND
Things haven't been perfect for Trevor Penning to this point, but that's OK. Taking your lumps is part of the process, as is getting pulled aside by a coach to help explain what went wrong. That was the case for the Saints' rookie lineman late during the team's closing drills when he appeared to jump early. Assistant OL coach Zach Strief, who is working most closely with the younger linemen, could be spotted going over what went wrong as they went back to the sideline. that's OK.
Both Allen and veteran Ryan Ramczyk applauded the young player's work ethic and what they've seen thus far. Penning himself said the large focus has been on technique. He says he's gotten better already, and there's more to go. It's a good bit of technical work that he hadn't gotten at Northern Iowa because it wasn't necessary.
"A lot of different stuff being taught that I wasn't taught in college," Penning said. "You didn't need it in college. And here you're going against everybody that's just as physically gifted as you, so you've got have good technique."