When it comes to the modern NFL kicking game, it's hard to do a ton that will get fans out of their seats cheering. The expectation is perfection, and perfection from all distances.
Enter Charlie Smyth and his cannon leg, one that I'm fairly certain will make a kick from 70 yards at some point. On Tuesday night at Tulane's Yulman stadium he settled for 65 -- with room to spare, only moments after knocking a ball through from 60. A kick from 65 yards is snapped from the opponent's 47-yard line. His lone miss in 8 attempts came from 55 yards out.
The current NFL record for the longest field goal is 66 yards by Justin Tucker, who bounced the ball off the crossbar and through for a game-winner in 2023. Smyth's kick landed in the net behind the goalposts, and a majority of his kicks before that cleared the net entirely.
"Being able to make one from 65, I think that’s great," head coach Dennis Allen said. "But we’re not gonna attempt a ton of 65 yarders, so it’s really, to me, what are we really getting inside of 50."
The question the Saints will have to answer is just how much they value that kicking distance, and will it overshadow the fact that the Irishman is barely a year removed from the first time he ever kicked a football, has shown some inconsistency at shorter distances throughout camp and has, to this point, only attempted one kick in the preseason. That kick was a game-winner against the Cardinals from 37 yards out.
"I think any time you’re going through the evaluation process and the unknown is always difficult," Allen continued. " ... Where he’s at now and where he was back in the spring, he’s much more consistent now than where he was, and so, you know, hopefully he can continue to improve in that area.”
The most likely scenario would see the Saints turn back to Blake Grupe, who doesn't possess that top-end distance but has shown more consistency and has a full season of NFL experience in his corner. Grupe's no slouch from distance either, knocking through a 61-yarder earlier in camp. He made his lone kick from 50-plus yards this preseason with room to spare.
The luxury for the Saints is that they might not necessarily have to choose. Smyth is in the NFL through in International Pathway Program, which means he's currently the 91st player on a 90-man roster. If he was waived and went unclaimed, the Saints could keep him around in a 17th practice squad spot reserved for international players. The standard practice squad cutoff is 16.
Regardless of how this thing ends, there's no question the kid's been turning heads, and deservedly so. He's made sure this competition is going to go down to the wire.
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TAKING ATTENDANCE
There were a few important returns to today's unpadded practice, most notably RB Alvin Kamara (back), TE Juwan Johnson (foot), LT Taliese Fuaga (back) and LB Pete Werner (shoulder), though all four were limited.
Here are the players we didn't see participate in any capacity on Tuesday evening.
- WR Rashid Shaheed (toe)
- CB Marshon Lattimore (hip)
- RB Kendre Miller (hamstring)
- CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (knee)
- CB Rico Payton (shoulder)
- LB Isaiah Stalbird
- LB Jaylan Ford (hamstring)
- LB Monty Rice
- G Nick Saldiveri (calf)
- DL Trajan Jeffcoat (elbow)
- WR Mason Tipton (hamstring)
- TE Dallin Holker (ankle)
- TE Kevin Rader
- DE Chase Young (personal)
The only major addition to the list of absences was Young, but his head coach made it clear he was not in attendance for a positive development. Allen said he'd leave it to Young to break that news when he sees fit.
Both Kamara and Johnson were seen moving around well in drills, but didn't participate in any of the team sessions. The hope is that their workload can be built up gradually. Johnson, whom we've seen rehabbing from foot surgery all throughout camp, was moving around without issue and looked smooth and comfortable. Fuaga, who missed the second preseason game, took part in limited work in drills then got in some running off to the side.
The Saints also made a pair of roster moves today, signing former 2nd round CB Joejuan Williams and waiving C Sincere Haynesworth with an injury designation.
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COMPETITION
One thing the head coach made clear after Tuesday's practice is that there are two spots very much still in question on the Saints offensive line: Left guard and right tackle.
Trevor Penning and Lucas Patrick have primarily manned those spots the last few weeks of camp, but this was one of the first glimpses of those guys getting pushed for their jobs with some reps going to other players. At right tackle it was Oli Udoh taking some reps, while Kyle Hergel worked in some at left guard.
Allen added that Penning did take something of a step forward in Week 2, and that this will be an important week for him to build on that. Udoh is a veteran with a lot more experience under his belt. At this stage it's important for the Saints to have all the options available to them as they move forward.
FANS HAVE FUN
It wasn't exactly a capacity crowd at Yulman Stadium, but it was a fun environment for Saints players and fans who haven't gotten a chance to see the team practice to this point in camp. Players stayed long after practice, including hometown favorites like Cam Jordan, Tyrann Mathieu, Foster Moreau and Tulane alum Rod Teamer. Derek Carr was also among the last to leave the field, signing autographs all around the perimeter of the stadium. It seemed like everyone on the roster was engaging with fans after practice to some extent.
One guy even asked Foster to sign his oyster, and so he did without hesitation.
I always get a kick out of those autograph lines, in a lot of instances with young kids who probably don't know which player is standing in front of them. It doesn't really matter. It's about the event and the environment and that's what makes this game so much fun (even in the humidity). The fans will be back on Friday at the Caesars Superdome.
LAGNIAPPE
Foster Moreau has had a really strong camp, and he capped off today with a touchdown in a 2-minute drill for the Saints offense. His consistency makes it really easy to keep him around. I don't think you necessarily want to go into many games with him as TE1, but he's an easy guy to root for. ... The final 2-minute drill ended in an interception thrown by Spencer Rattler, but it'd be hard to blame him for it. The ball might have been slightly behind, but Kevin Austin Jr. still should've brought it in. Instead the ball tipped up in the air for the pick. ... Jordan Mims keeps making plays. Today he had a touchdown in red zone work and also hauled in a nice over the shoulder grab down the left sideline with Demario Davis in coverage. It's hard to see a scenario where they don't keep that guy around.