One of the biggest surprises of the New Orleans Saints offseason so far is not that they have a rookie taking significant tackle work, but where they've been aligned.
After two years of Trevor Penning at left tackle and Taliese Fuaga expected to come in and play the right side after doing that in college, that has flipped through rookie minicamp and the first set of organized team activities. And, at least through one full practice, the former Oregon State standout looks at home on the left side, explains WWL's Mike Detillier.
"When I watched Fuaga’s footwork and his body balance, just because I had not seen it on that left side," Detillier said. "He looked very comfortable there that, you know, his body movement skills, his lower body adjustments. We’ll see with the pads on and how all that kind of works out."
Hear more OTA breakdowns from Mike Detillier in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
The move was one that the Saints first tried at rookie camp, and head coach Dennis Allen said the team liked what they saw.
"I think we want to evaluate it a little bit more," Allen said. "I wouldn’t say anything is permanent, you know, but I think we like that direction and we’ll see how it goes.”
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Two other players that stood out to Mike?
- Safety Ugo Amadi
"They had some difficulties throwing the football over the middle. If you watched today, they had some difficulties making those connections, linebackers, safeties converging quick. I thought Ugo really, really played well."
- Punter Lou Hedley
"Who taught Lou Hedley how to kick the ball? Man, because we’re used to seeing these Australian kicks and he popped this thing up in the air like five straight times, straight up a good 45 yards downfield. So that was a surprise to me, because we’re used to seeing him with these Australian-style kicks.”
The Saints will be back in action for two more practices this week, followed by OTA sessions each of the following two weeks, then a mandatory minicamp in June.