The first week of 2023 Saints training camp is officially over, and in honor of a well-earned day off, we'll have a short version of camp observations in solidarity.
All that said, it's very clear the Saints are taking rest seriously this camp. Look no further than a host of veteran days off after just a handful of practices. Ryan Ramczyk got Friday off. Jimmy Graham got Saturday off. There's a planned day off for everyone on Sunday.
Why bring this up? Well, the Saints have been among the most injured teams in the NFL for what feels like the last decade. Something wasn't working. Will this more rest-friendly camp schedule help in that regard? Time will tell. But either way it's good to see the team being proactive to try to change their injury fate. Better luck on that end could have changed the Saints' fate significantly over the past few years.
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TAKING ATTENDANCE
As mentioned above, the only absences on Saturday appear to have been rest related. The only players not seen were:
- DE Jabari Zuniga
- TE Jimmy Graham
- G Trai Turner
Turner's absence is obviously health related after he was carted off the field with a season-ending quad tear on Friday. The only question left for Trai is whether the team stashes him on injured reserve or terminates his contract. Either way he won't be helping the Saints this year, and I'd expect another body to be added for competition on the interior line.
Cesar Ruiz and Trevor Penning continue to be worked into the equation somewhat sparingly, taking the first two reps of team sessions before giving way to depth options. Penning in particular looks like he's still working his way into shape, but that's nothing to be concerned with. He wasn't able to participate in OTAs or minicamp and he's a big boy battling extreme temperatures. It showed in some less-than-stellar reps late in the practice, but as long as he's on the field getting work in, I won't be complaining.
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PRIDE SHOWING
It's still early in camp and there are a lot of mirages this time of year, but defensive back Troy Pride Jr. has been impressive to watch and could end up pushing for a roster spot. He's frequently been around the ball, forcing a pair of fumbles and logging some PBUs over the first week of practice.
One particularly impressive rep came in 7-on-7s, when Jake Haener held the ball a bit longer than is fair on the DBs in a drill with no pass rush. Pride was locked up with the speedy Rashid Shaheed, who looked to be running an out before working his way back to the QB. Pride covered the initial route, then stayed plastered and knocked the ball away. The ability to keep composure and make plays off-schedule is important for a DB, and he's shown well thus far.
Did you know that Pride tried out for 10 different NFL teams last year and didn't latch on with any of them? That's a rough way to spend a season. He's continued to work hard and he's found a home in New Orleans. It's a fun story.
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KENDRE'S GOT HANDS
There's only so much analysis you can do on RB drills with no pads, but the hands don't change, and that's where I've been most impressed with Kendre Miller thus far. He was anything but a receiving back at TCU, but he and his new coaches have maintained that it wasn't for a lack of ability. He's been targeted early and often in the first week of camp and other than a tough fumble on Day 1, I haven't seen a ball sent his way hit the ground.
Miller caught a pass from Derek Carr on the first set of team drills and flashed his speed up the right sideline, then hauled in a ball from Jake Haener late in the day. It remains to be seen just how much he can be trusted as a rookie, but having trustworthy hands is a good start.
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HAENER TO BOWDEN
It's a connection! At no point in Haener's first four training camp practices has he looked more confident then when he's slinging the ball in the direction of Lynn Bowden Jr. The rookie has hit No. 84 for big plays up the right sideline each of the past two days, and it's good to see chemistry developing.
I was asked today whether I expect Bowden to make the 53. My answer is: It's possible, but it won't be because he's got chemistry developed with the third-string QB. For Bowden to make the roster, it'll be because he's a trusted veteran and has shown well on special teams (particularly as a returner).
All that said, if you believe Haener is the future at the position, being one of his favorite targets now certainly won't hurt down the road.
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COUNTING TARGETS
As I explained after Day 1, something I'll be doing this season isn't so much tracking completion percentage, but the numbers of targets and catches from each quarterback to each receiver. It'll be something that I think will help to ID who each passer is most comfortable with. I'll plan to tally up each Week 1 total heading into Week 2, and do that regularly throughout camp. Here's how that broke down on Saturday.
DEREK CARR
- Chris Olave: 2 target, 2 catches (Carl Granderson would've had sack on second target if at full-speed)
- A.T. Perry: 2 target, 2 catches
- Juwan Johnson: 2 targets, 1 catch
- Taysom Hill: 2 targets, 2 catches
- Rashid Shaheed: 2 target, 1 catch (nice ball downfield, Isaac Yiadom PBU)
- Kendre Miller: 1 target, 1 catch
- Lynn Bowden Jr.: 1 target, 0 catches
- Tre'Quan Smith: 1 target, 0 catches
- James Washington: 1 target, 1 catch (screen)
- Alvin Kamara: 1 target, 1 catch
JAMEIS WINSTON
- Jesse James: 1 target, 1 catch
- Rashid Shaheed: 1 target, 0 catches
- Shaq Davis: 1 target, 0 catches
- Taysom Hill: 2 targets, 1 catch
- Chris Olave: 1 target, 1 catch
- Tre'Quan Smith: 1 target, 1 catch
- Michael Thomas: 1 target, 0 catches
- Lynn Bowden Jr.: 1 target, 1 catch (Payton Turner would've had sack at full speed)
- Foster Moreau: 1 target, 1 catch (screen)
JAKE HAENER
- Rashid Shaheed: 1 target, 0 catches (Pride PBU)
- Lynn Bowden Jr.: 1 target, 1 catch
- Kendre Miller: 1 target, 1 catch
- Keith Kirkwood: 1 target, 1 catch
- Lucas Krull: 1 target, 1 catch (really nice grab in traffic)
- Bryan Edwards: 1 target, 1 catch
- A.T. Perry: 1 target, 1 catch
- Rashid Shaheed: 1 target, 1 catch
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PAD DAY BAYBAY
The Saints have a day off on Sunday, then get into pads for the first time for Monday's practice. Realistically speaking, that's the first day of football. But how much will be visible to fans? It's supposed to be crazy hot next week. Will the action move inside? One way or another the tempo will move to thud, and we'll finally be able to get actual insight on a lot of things -- like the line play -- that we've been guessing at thus far.
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