It's the weekend and the final day of padded practices (for now), so I'll keep this on the shorter end, but there's a very important note: The offense lit it up today.
It hasn't always been pretty for Derek Carr and Co. over the first week of sessions out at the campus of UC Irvine, and that wasn't totally unexpected. The Saints are installing a new offense for the first time in more than a decade, they're incorporating new pieces at three spots on the offensive line, and they're trying to contend with an impressive pass rush group.
Still, it felt like a day like today was needed. Carr was particularly impressive, with four touchdown passes across the sets of drills beginning with an extended play and nice connection to Dallin Holker at the corner of the end zone in 7-on-7s.
Carr then unleashed what might be the most impressive ball we've seen from him since joining the Saints, running a play action in the first set of 11s and sending the ball downfield to Chris Olave, who got behind Paulson Adebo and Rod Teamer in coverage. The ball traveled more than 50 yards in the air and dropped in a bucket. Isaiah Foskey did generate pressure from the right side and might've impacted the throw in a real game, but it was a nice moment, regardless.
In the next set of drills Alvin Kamara got loose on a wheel for a long touchdown up the right sideline. The Saints closed out the day with red zone work, with Carr finding Olave for a touchdown to the right edge of the field before the QB scored on a zone read keeper, then chucked the ball out of the field in celebration.
It wasn't all positive vibes, though, on the final pass of the day Carr got a little greedy and tried to fit in a fade to Stanley Morgan in the back corner of the end zone. It wasn't a terrible ball, but Alontae Taylor was able to undercut it and make a nice play on the ball for an interception.
The good vibes, though, won out. When the Saints can protect and give Carr time, he's shown in this offense. Establishing the wide zone runs to trigger play action will be big this season. The Saints did that well on Saturday.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Injuries continue to be a big issue, but we did see a player return today in Cedrick Wilson, who had missed the past several days with a groin issue. We also saw Bryan Bresee get back into full team drills and he looked good.
Here are the players we didn't see participating in practice:
- WR Equanimeous St. Brown (hamstring)
- WR Bub Means (shin)
- WR Rashid Shaheed (hamstring)
- CB Marshon Lattimore (hip)
- RB Kendre Miller (hamstring)
- CB Rico Payton
- LB Jaylon Ford
- LB Demario Davis (hamstring)
- LG Nick Saldiveri (calf)
- DL Trajan Jeffcoat (elbow)
- DE Cam Jordan (rest)
Allen said the absence for Shaheed was more precautionary than anything else. The Saints also made a few roster moves on Saturday, waiving TE Jesper Horsted and WR Jermaine Jackson, who walked off late on Friday with an injury. They've added a pair of tight ends in those spots in the form of Kevin Rader, who has spent time with the Steelers and Titans, as well as UDFA Mason Fairchild out of Kansas.
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BACKUP QB BATTLE
Both Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler have looked good in camp. Yesterday Haener had what was likely his best day of camp, throwing multiple touchdowns with the 3s. I thought Spencer Rattler had an equally impressive day today working with the 3s and throwing multiple touchdowns. His best throw of the day, or I should probably say find of the day, came during his penultimate set of 11s when he found A.T. Perry by himself on a post route.
It's possible that the team has a stronger lean based on film than I've been able to make in real time, but if they did, I have to imagine someone would be taking all of the 2nd team reps. The only change we've seen is the departure of Nathan Peterman, which I think is pretty indicative that the Saints are pleased with both young players.
All this is to say: We're a week from the preseason opener (in Arizona) and I feel like the separator will have to come in live preseason action. If I had to choose today it'd be Haener because he's just looked a little more poised and ready to step into live action if needed, but you could truly make an argument in either direction.
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LAGNIAPPE
RB Jordan Mims keeps flashing (I feel like I write this every day). It seems like there's at least one moment in every practice where I see him disappear into a crowd, make a strong jump cut or spin in traffic and come out clean on the other end. He just seems to have good feet and vision. There's obviously still time, but it's hard to see why you should feel like the RB3 reps would go to Kendre Miller over Mims unless No. 25 is able to actually get on the field and prove something. ... Every time I'm ready to pencil in Blake Grupe he does something to give me a little pause. Today he missed from 39 yards, then pushed his first attempt from 58 to the right, then the second to the left. Grupe knocked down his other five kicks on the day. Charlie Smyth also hasn't been knocking the ball through from deep, so it's not going to be the separator, but I'd have loved to see Grupe hit one of these long kicks to give a bit more confidence. ... Isaiah Foskey has had a nice camp, the only question is whether there are enough reps to get him on the field when everyone is healthy. Today he got through for some solid pressure on Carr's deep ball to Olave, and later he broke into the backfield to blow up a Jacob Kibodi run that'd have been a big negative play. He's playing with confidence right now. ... I don't know exactly what the outlook is for Samson Nacua, but he's easy to like. He's a bigger guy and has already had a few nice moments as a blocker, and he seems adept at using his frame to create leverage and space. He's no Puka, but there's something to like there. Wouldn't be surprised if he's a factor in the preseason and sticks around on the practice squad, particularly with the extra opportunity available with all the injuries right now.