It goes without saying that this is an important week for Saints right tackle Trevor Penning, and it got off to an inauspicious start.
There was no hiding some of the struggles the former first round pick had in the preseason opener, but that's what training camp is for. Identify the mistakes. Fix the mistakes. Take steps in the right direction.
In the first practice after a day off, 1-on-1 drills didn’t go his way. On one rep Isaiah Foskey won with a strong bull rush. Next rep it was Niko Lalos winning on an inside move.
After the final rep a veteran teammate went to give an encouraging fist bump. Penning, head down, returned the gesture half-heartedly before walking to the sideline. It was an image of a frustrated young player that looks to be facing a crisis of confidence. It’s something that's all the more concerning when you consider how his last run as a starter ended.
Penning seemed to bounce back in team drills. He was a bit more aggressive than I've seen and maybe dealt out some of his frustration on run blocks. He held up reasonably well in pass protection and Derek Carr had one of his better days of camp, going 11-for-11 in team drills.
It all boils down to one of the biggest questions that was always facing the Saints this offseason: Can Penning be the guy at right tackle? The team is clearly not giving up on the former first round pick yet. If they were, he wouldn’t be getting all the first team reps. If and when that plan changes, it won’t be difficult to spot. That’s why the final three practices of the week and Sunday's preseason matchup against the 49ers might be an inflection point. If he can build some confidence and show progress ... fantastic. That's what this time of year is all about, and as you actually start scheming up protections you'll be able to help him out a bit more in pass sets. Right now it's more about seeing what he can and can't handle.
Penning isn't the only player having some issues on the offensive line right now. He just happens to be the player living under a microscope and having every rep scrutinized by people outside of the building. No player is perfect, and on the OL mistakes are high-profile and basic, quality reps don’t get talked about enough. Remember, this is a team that’s also relying on a rookie left tackle. Taliese Fuaga is a young player who’ll make mistakes, but there’s belief that he can get the job done so you’ll let him play through those. Left guard looks like another question mark. Journeyman Lucas Patrick has manned that spot since Nick Saldiveri limped off the field with a calf injury earlier in camp. Head coach Dennis Allen couldn't say today whether the second-year pro out of Old Dominion was expected to return prior to the start of the regular season. When Patrick has shifted to center, we’ve seen one of Kyle Hergel, Oli Udoh or Landon Young in that role. Things aren’t exactly set in stone.
Still, if there’s a clear adjustment that needs to be made, it’s on the coaching staff to be ready to make it if and when it becomes necessary. If Penning regresses and can’t trust his technique when the lights come on, specifically this weekend against the 49ers, the Saints might have to figure out another plan. The season-opener is less than a month away.
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TAKING ATTENDANCE
It was a mixed day on the injury front for the Saints, with a handful of players getting back for the first time since going down with their respective issues, but also a few new absences to track.
Here are the players we didn't see practice today:
- DB Ugo Amadi (groin)
- LB Pete Werner (shoulder)
- CB Marshon Lattimore (hip flexor)
- RB Kendre Miller (hamstring)
- CB Paulson Adebo (groin)
- S Millard Bradford
- RB Alvin Kamara (back)
- CB Mac McCain
- LB Isaiah Stalbird
- LG Nick Saldiveri (calf)
- DL Trajan Jeffcoat (elbow)
- WR Mason Tipton
The big name added to the list is Alvin Kamara, who was spotted early on but did not participate due to what head coach Dennis Allen described as back stiffness. The issue is not believed to be significant, and it's something that he's been managing throughout camp. Kamara was in attendance for Sunday's practice.
A few other names are not on the list but are worth noting, including A.T. Perry, who left early with what the head coach described as an ankle sprain. The severity of the injury is unclear. It's a bummer for Perry, who has been coming on strong recently. Hopefully the injury doesn't keep him out too long.
On the bright side, a trio of wide receivers made their return on a limited basis after extended absences. Rashid Shaheed (hamstring), Equanimeous St. Brown (hamstring) and Bub Means (calf), all practiced in some capacity, though they were wearing red, non-contact jerseys and none participated in team drills. It's an important development, particularly for Means and St. Brown, both of whom are fighting for a roster spot.
We also saw LB Demario Davis return in a limited capacity after missing time with a hamstring injury of his own, and we spotted Pete Werner working off to the side with trainers for the first time since he left with a shoulder injury last week. WR Mason Tipton was also on hand late in the day, at one point playing catch with Shaheed, but he didn't participate in practice.
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THE QB CONVERSATION
All three quarterbacks participated in Tuesday's action, with Derek Carr having what I thought was one of his better days. He was 11-for-11 in team action, including a touchdown on a shovel pass to Taysom Hill during red zone work. There was a good amount of play action and he got the ball out on time and on target. He’s looked solid this camp overall, and it would be nice to see him put together a quality drive in Week 2 of the preseason to showcase that (assuming he plays) and build some confidence around the offense.
Spencer Rattler worked with the 2s this day, but it's probably not a day he's going to look back on fondly. He missed practice on Sunday with what was described as a thigh bruise, and I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it was still bothering him for today's session. He just looked a bit off and didn't seem to have his typical mobility. By my count he was 1-for-5 passing in team reps, including an interception by Rezjohn Wright on a pass targeting Dallin Holker up the seam. It was the first interception by any Saints quarterback in several practice. Two of the incompletions came during red zone drills inside the 10-yard line. One third down pass was targeting TE Michael Jacobson. The other was targeting Chris Olave, though Kool-Aid McKinstry gets credit for breaking it up.
It just didn’t look like the typical Rattler we’ve seen throughout camp. I expect him to bounce back quickly.
Haener got limited reps with the 2s, going 2-for-4, but with one completion going for a touchdown in the red zone targeting RB Jordan Mims on a fade. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a banner day for the offense, but red zone execution is always good to see.
LEGENDS ON HAND
The Saints have been no stranger to former players and coaches attending practice. We've already seen Malcolm Jenkins and Jim Mora at sessions. But today was the big visit.
Several Super Bowl legends were on hand for this practice, including Drew Brees, Scott Shanle, Scott Fujita, Roman Harper and Rodney Leslie. Head coach Dennis Allen joked that he was working to get them bitten by the coaching bug. Either way, it's not a terrible group to help impart wisdom on this year's roster, even if the original plan was to have them in town for joint practices against the 49ers.
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LAGNIAPPE
Payton Turner has become somewhat of the forgotten member of this year's defensive end group, but I think he's had a solid camp. His issue is always going to be staying healthy, but he's been able to do that so far with just one practice missed. He's showcased his typical blend of speed and power both inside and outside, which should serve the Saints well if they ever have to be without the top end guys. He had one impressive move today where he sidestepped a guard trying to get out for the block and got into the backfield for a TFL. The guy works hard and has had a string of bad luck. Hopefully he can change that narrative this year in whatever role he has. ... On that same subject, Cam Jordan spoke today and told the media that he made a concerted effort to slim down this offseason, maybe even a bit too much. He said he touched 269 pounds on the scale for the first time since high school. Then he arrived at camp and learned he'd be getting more reps at defensive tackle, so he's had to put some of that bulk back on. The nice part: He gets to eat whatever he wants. Playing DT isn’t exactly Cam’s favorite thing in the world, but he'll do what it takes to win. The first glimpse of the NASCAR package with Carl Granderson, Cam, Bryan Bresee and Chase Young was mighty impressive. ... Charlie Smyth kicked again today, and I think we've seen what we need to see to make the clear assessment: His leg strength is remarkable, but he's a bit too inconsistent right now. Today he went 5-7, with a pair of misses from 51 (left) and 59 (right). In all he's 42-52 in camp and preseason action (81%).