The New Orleans Saints got into the Caesars Superdome for practice Friday morning, and the cool temperatures didn't stop tempers from flaring.
During the penultimate set of 11-on-11 drills there was a dustup and a dogpile downfield that involved multiple offensive and defensive linemen. People with a better angle on the fracas than myself gave some differing accounts, but it appeared that C Erik McCoy and DT Nathan Shepherd got into an altercation, with LT Trevor Penning and DE Carl Granderson joining.
The fight didn't last long and no one was any worse for wear. McCoy and Granderson were taken out of the drill but Penning remained. If nothing else, it served as a reminder of the three consecutive days of fights at last year's training camp -- all involving Penning -- that drew major headlines before the team cleaned it up. We haven't really seen that this year.
Head coach Dennis Allen gathered his team at midfield and defused the situation with a simple message: If you want to practice boxing, we can prepare like boxers (and that'd mean a whole lot of running off to the side).
That appeared to be the end of it at an entertaining practice filled with big plays on both sides of the ball.
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TAKING ATTENDANCE
The list of absentees at Friday's practice is long, but there was no indication that any major injuries had been suffered.
Here's who we didn't see at the Dome:
- WR Tre'Quan Smith (groin)
- WR Michael Thomas (rest)
- WR Keke Coutee (waived)
- WR Rashid Shaheed (groin)
- RB Kirk Merritt (hamstring)
- LB Demario Davis (calf)
- OL Nick Saldiveri
- RT Ryan Ramczyk (rest)
- LG Andrus Peat (calf)
- TE Jimmy Graham (rest)
- TE Jesse James (groin)
- TE Lucas Krull (tailbone)
As noted above, WR Keke Coutee has been waived to create a roster spot for newly signed linebacker Jaylon Smith (No. 59), who made his practice debut Friday morning.
The practice ended somewhat abruptly after depth OL Landon Young went down with an apparent knee injury and was tended to on the field. Allen said the injury is believed to be an MCL sprain, which would be a favorable outcome considering what it looked like it could be initially.
OLAVE BOMB
There was no question about the play of the day in team drills, and it was a familiar duo. Carr extended the play and found Chris Olave streaking up the right sideline with Alontae Taylor in good coverage. But, as we've seen so many times this offseason, Olave went up with strong hands and plucked the ball away from Taylor for what would've been a 40-plus yard touchdown.
Taylor has gotten plenty of wins in each of his matchups, too, but the big takeaway is the chemistry between Carr and Olave. We talk about it seemingly every day, but it's phenomenal. Olave could be in for a monster season based on how things are looking right now.
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KIRKWOOD'S GOT HANDS
It was in a 2V2 set so it's hard to count it as the play of the day, but the most impressive catch easily goes to the veteran Keith Kirkwood. With Paulson Adebo in coverage, Kirkwood went up with one hand to snag a high ball from Jameis Winston that'd made Odell Beckham proud. I'm not sure if he makes the roster, but No. 18 is confident as ever and has been showing well this camp.
PICK ... PICK
Derek Carr made it through 13 practices before his first interception in team drills, but Jordan Howden got him in this one. The rookie was aided by the situation, which was a late-game scenario where a touchdown was needed and the ball just had to be sent out. That's what happened, with Carr putting a ball up to Olave in triple coverage that went over the receiver's head and into the waiting arms of Howden. It's not the best example of ball-hawking you'll ever see, but after the lack of turnovers a season ago, I'm not scoffing at anything.
We didn't have to wait long for the next interception, because on the very next play Winston put a ball up in traffic to Taysom Hill that, again, was overthrown and landed in the waiting arms of Troy Pride. The defensive secondary has been solid all offseason and there are some intriguing position battles, those plays won't go unnoticed.
VERSATILE NEPHI
The Saints might have signed Jaylon Smith, but I don't think he's a lock to make the roster. One interesting thing we saw today was Nephi Sewell getting reps at mike. I'm starting think that depth role is his to lose, and Anfernee Orji with be a practice squad player. I just don't see Smith as a viable option at the will, and I'm genuinely not sure he's got the movement ability to play the mike at a high level. Time will tell.
CARR WANTS THE PRESEASON
We don't know exactly how long the head coach will leave his starters in on Sunday against the Chiefs -- we asked, he wasn't telling -- but one thing is for sure: Derek Carr plans to play. It's an unfamiliar situation in more ways than one, because he can't even remember the last time he actually suited up in the preseason. But in a new offense and on a new team, there's a whole lot of value and time pressure to get everything as smooth as it can be before Week 1. Reports indicate that Pat Mahomes will start as well on the opposite side, so this could end up being a fun preseason matchup after all.
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