Due to restrictions in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Saints tight ends coach Dan Campbell has only had contact with rookie tight end Adam Trautman through video conferencing.
Despite that, Campbell said there’s something that’s caught his attention and has him excited to get on the field with the former Dayton standout.
“To this point, he’s really shown…this kid is a little bit more than a level one thinker,” Campbell said. “He’s an advanced thinker and he wants to know and loves talking football and from that perspective you feel pretty good about it. Because mentally you’re like, man that makes me want to get to camp and see what this guy can handle.”
Campbell said he'd already had high expectations for Trautman, who the Saints traded all of their original Day 3 picks to move up and select in the third round 2020 NFL Draft, as throughout the scouting process the 6-foot-5, 255-pound Michigan native flashed his potential often.
“He’s just got this twitch about him,” Campbell said. “He’s got some quickness. He can beat man coverage, he did it repeatedly. He’s good in zone, good with the ball in his hands and then you see him line up and put his hand in the ground and get after people in the run game.”
Campbell said those traits were what initially excited him about working with Trautman when the Saints drafted him. Now that he’s seen how quickly the rookie learns, he’s eager to see if Trautman will “sink or swim” in training camp.
“He can handle it mentally,” Campbell said. “So from that perspective I’ve been excited about him. Mentally he’s been everything and more that I hoped for. “
Trautman’s college coach Rick Chamberlin expects his former player to swim.
“One of the questions that was consistently asked of me by the scouts when they would come through was 'How does he learn?’” Chamberlin said. “‘How quiclkly does he learn things and is there still room for growth?’
“And I told all of them ‘Absolutely!’ Because the progress I saw Adam make from his freshman year through his fifth year was just… each year he got better and better and better.”
Chamberlin said Trautman, who converted to tight end after playing quarterback in high school, was always very prepared when it came to football. That trait made it easy for the Flyers coaching staff to trust Trautman on the field.
“That’s a big part of our program, can we trust you?” He said. “Can we count on you when things are tough or when we need someone to step up. And Adam was that individual right from the start.”
So far, Trautman’s given his new position coach a few reasons to trust him, but that doesn't mean Campbell isn't expecting the rookie to face some challenges adjusting to the speed and strength of players at the NFL level.
“He will be going against Cam Jordan at some point (in training camp),” Campbell said. “Cam Jordan is arguably the best defensive end in the game right now, as a total player, and the first day we have a drill and he has Cam one-one-one right in his face, you know, it’ll open his eyes quickly.”
Campbell added that Trautman will also have to quickly adjust to the Saints' complex offense.
“With the exception of Drew Brees, nobody has to know more about this offense than our tight ends do,” he said. “They have to know everything from the run, pass protection, you got to know the defense, the secondary, what we’re doing, what are the calls, you’ve got the shifts and the motions, is it one or two. What’s the situation?
“Those things will all be on his plate mentally. Those will be something new for him.”
But, so far, Trautman’s demonstrated he may be up to that challenge and Campbell is eager to see how he adjusts when immersed in the offense.
“I think he’s smart enough and I do think he’s got the type of attitude where he’s going to get out and compete and he’s going to want more and he wants to show he can do it,” Campbell said.