Rookie linebacker Danny Stutsman found himself with a prime opportunity to make a strong impression on Sunday at Saints training camp. He didn't waste it.
With Demario Davis absent for undisclosed reasons, the fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma found himself in a rotation along the first-team defense. He quickly delivered on the second set of team drills, dropping up the seam in the red zone and leaping to pick off a Spencer Rattler pass targeting Cedrick Wilson Jr.
“Danny has done an excellent, excellent job, big-time interception today, matched up on a receiver in the middle of the field and has great awareness and feel and he matches the routes really, really well and made a big-time play," head coach Kellen Moore said, "and so he’s just been making a bunch of consistent plays like that and they’ve been showing up a ton.”
Stutsman just seems to have excellent instincts for a young player. He won't be the most athletic linebacker in the NFL, but the early signs point to the type of player who can make up the gap with a quick first step. He always seems to be in the right place when he needs to be, and that's more important.
Stutsman rotated with Nephi Sewell across from Pete Werner on the day. The Saints will have some intriguing options to turn to if either Demario or Werner has to miss time this season.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
It was another boring day from an attendance perspective, though there was one significant absence in Demario Davis. Moore said that it was an excused absence and there is no issue, which is good to hear.
Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau are still on PUP, but both were in attendance on Sunday. Hill was seen working off to the side with trainers for the first time, but his work appeared to be low-impact.
QB WATCHING
The Saints continued their QB rotation, but this practice was a lot more in the vein of the "one guy per day" plan that Moore teased heading into camp. Today was Rattler's day, and he very much dominated the reps. Shough worked with the second team and Haener was with third team for the third time in four practices. It was another short-yardage day, likely saving up some steps for the first day of padded practice on Monday.
Rattler had 26 reps, including 12 of the final 16. Results were mixed. There was the interception pulled down by Stutsman as referenced above, but there were some really nice moments as well. He found a connection early on with Chris Olave on an out into against tight coverage. He also found Juwan Johnson with a well placed ball in the flat for a touchdown. Those connections will be important for whichever QB lands the starting role.
Rattler took the final eight reps in the deep red zone but only found completions on 2 of 6 passes, one of which was a swing pass to Dante Pettis that was stopped for a loss. Two of the final three attempts were throwaways -- not bad decisions.
Shough took 12 reps on the day, the first three being a handoff, a scramble, then a read keeper. The first run drew some oohs and ahhs from the crowd on hand because I'm not sure everyone was aware he had that type of speed. The second seemed to draw some ire from the fans who were more interested in seeing the arm talent.
He does seem to be settling in and building confidence. Shough had one of the best throws of camp today, in my opinion, even if it doesn't make waves. The ball was snapped from the 10-yard line in 7-on-7s and he rifled it in to Clyde Edwards-Helaire on an angle route for the TD. CEH is a small target, and angle routes require some patience, timing and confidence to throw.
He's struck an interesting balance to this point because he's the only quarterback who hasn't turned the ball over, but sometimes I wonder if he's a bit too risk-averse. The next pass was a "my guy or nobody" over Kevin Austin's head with Quincy Riley in tight coverage and Cedrick Wilson Jr. (out of bounds). Both were single-coverage situations with bigger, physical receivers who you'd like to see get a more competitive ball. There was also a missed connection with Brandin Cooks over the middle that came in a bit low, but probably could've been caught.
Jake Haener had another strong day outside, completing 7-of-7 passes before things moved inside for the developmental period and he threw an interception on a 50/50 ball.
Moore said the rotation would continue, and we'll have to see whether Shough gets the lion's share of the reps in the first padded session. If he doesn't, this might not be as even as they're making it out to be. It sure seems like Rattler is being presented as the leader in the clubhouse, though the interceptions (2 to this point) aren't helping his case.
MEANS SIGHTING
I had high expectations for Bub Means coming into camp, but I'm not sure I'd written down the No. 16 once in four practices until he caught a touchdown on a jump pass from Haener late in the day on Sunday. Hopefully he can assert himself as things go here, because I do like his game.
BLACKMON'S FLASH
The more I watch Julian Blackmon, the more amazed I am that the Saints were able to bring him in this late in the game. He's got legit ball skills at the safety position, which he flashed that today when he outplayed Chris Tyree for a ball in the back of the end zone. It was an impressive play that drew yells of support from DC Brandon Staley. He's still rotating first-team reps with Jordan Howden, but I don't expect that to last much longer. He's the guy.
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STRONG KOOL-AID
This is kind of vague, but Kool-Aid McKinstry has been impressive to this point in camp. He just seems to be playing with a ton of confidence and he's reading things quickly, taking early reads away away and slowing down the offense. That's what allows the defensive line that extra half second to get home, and we saw Chase Young take advantage of some extra coverage time in today's session. Rush and coverage, it's always rush AND coverage.
SMYTH SCUFFLES AGAIN
Jobs aren't won or lost in the first week of camp, but placekicker is starting to look less and less like a true competition. Smyth went 3-of-5 today with misses from 41 and 48 yards, both from the left hashmark and with the ball pulled to the left side. That puts him at 5-for-10 so far in camp, with all five misses inside 50 yards. Conversely, Blake Grupe is 9-for-10 with his miss coming during some significant wind and rain on Friday. I'm still a big fan of Charlie's, but if he doesn't lock in soon this competition might be wrapped up early.
HOT HOT HOT
The unseasonably cool descriptor is gone. Sunday out in Metairie was by far the hottest it's been in camp to this point, and it likely won't relent soon. Get ready to sweat and as Justin Reid always mentions ... salt tablets are a must.