Another minicamp is in the books, and the Saints waited until the final practice to create a bit of drama with some key players.
Scroll below for what stood out from the final practice leading up to this year's training camp in July.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
We knew one key offensive player wasn't going to be in attendance, but the other absentee was a bit of a surprise. More on that below. Here's who we didn't see on the field during the final minicamp practice this week:
- CB Alontae Taylor
- CB Faion Hicks
- RB Alvin Kamara
- LB Nephi Sewell
- RT Ryan Ramczyk
- TE Juwan Johnson
- TE Tommy Hudson
- DT Jack Heflin
- DE Chase Young
For Johnson, the news isn't good. The Saints' top tight end is dealing with a foot injury that developed at some point over the last month. Head coach Dennis Allen couldn't pinpoint a specific time that the injury occurred, but did confirm it's expected to keep him out for a while. That will cast a more significant spotlight on a TE room that isn't particularly deep.
The lone new absence of the day was Kamara, who was present during the walkthrough but departed early without telling the head coach. The decision is stemming from an impasse with the star RB seeking a new contract.
Otherwise there was really no attendance news to speak of. CB Kool-Aid McKinstry continues to work back into the action, but he was held out team drills as he has been all week. WR Stanley Morgan has also been seen working off to the side with trainers each of the last two days. Guard Nick Saldiveri also left practice early due to a lower body injury that is believed to be minor.
HOLKER'S TIME
The Saints will head their own separate ways until training camp, so it was a good day for UDFA Dallin Holker to have his best day. Without Johnson or Hudson there was plenty of work for him, and that resulted in several targets, including a pair of catches from Derek Carr during 7-on-7 work in the red zone.
The second catch was the most impressive, with Carr pumping to the right before working back up the seam and finding a leaping Holker for a touchdown over Demario Davis in coverage. Holker also caught passes from Jake Haener and Nathan Peterman during 11-on-11 work.
We'll have to wait and see if the Saints bring in any more bodies to the TE room -- it's likely they will -- and it's tough to make any determinations until the pads come on. Holker is also more of a move tight end, and his blocking at the position could be limiting, particularly early in his career. Still, he's a young player with a lot of upside and he'll be intriguing to watch during camp.
DON'T SLEEP ON UGO
Another player who took advantage of absences this week is Ugo Amadi. With neither Kool-Aid McKinstry, the presumptive top options at slot corner, participating, it was the veteran taking the bulk of those snaps and delivering.
He had good coverage on a shot to the end zone targeting Cedrick Wilson and took it away. He just seems to show up around the ball a lot. With his versatility, special teams upside and familiarity with the scheme, he feels like a safe bet to land on this year's roster.
RED ZONE HEAVY
There's really no frame of reference for the new offensive scheme, but we've seen a significant amount of red zone and situational work already. We also saw the Saints repping plays inside their own 10 yard line.
Red zone struggles were a major topic last year, and once the team added emphasis earlier in the week, things improved. It's clear they're making it an emphasis early and often this time around.
CLOSING CARR
For the third consecutive day we saw Derek Carr take the ball in a scenario where the offense needed a touchdown to take the lead in the final minute. In both situations he calmly led the team downfield for that go-ahead score.
It's obviously nothing that will hold a candle to live NFL action, but you're kidding yourself if you don't think the defense was doing all it could to avoid that outcome. Here's how today's drive went:
- Carr to Wilson, left flat 5-8 yards
- Carr to Jamaal Williams left flat, 5-8 yards, first down
- Carr incomplete (Holker), Pete Werner in coverage (possible flag)
- Carr incomplete (Olave), Marshon Lattimore in coverage (potential sack by Carl Granderson)
- Carr to Wilson over the middle, 10-15 yards ... 21 seconds remaining
- Carr incomplete to Moreau over the middle (low ball off the hands)
- Carr to Williams, left flat out of bounds ... 9 seconds remaining
- Carr to Wilson, left flat out of bounds ... 4 seconds remaining, ball inside 10
- Carr to Olave, TD crossing left to right for a leaping grab in back of the end zone (Lattimore in coverage)
Yesterday's drive featured Taysom Hill and Kamara, so we've had a good split of playmakers and pass-catchers making an impact.
We saw the Saints fail in a pair of situations like that a year ago in back-to-back weeks (at Texans, vs Jaguars). If the Saints pull out either of those games they get to 10 wins and host a playoff game. It's good to see that part of the offense looking confident thus far.
GRUPE PERFECT AGAIN
There's going to be interesting question to answer in terms of directional kicking on kickoffs, but it's really tough to see a legitimate kicker battle developing with Grupe looking as confident and effective as he has this week.
Not only did he go 5-for-5 again today, all five kicks were well within the uprights. There were really no close calls. That's significant. Charlie Smyth has the stronger leg, but he's been a bit erratic. For now I'm not going to spend too much time talking what-ifs at that spot.
LAGNIAPPE...
Jake Haener was back with the 2s for the final day of minicamp, and I expect we'll continue to see him and Rattler alternate throughout camp. We might not get any real answers until the preseason games. I wouldn't say this was Haener's best day, with his own potential go-ahead drive bogging down after four plays. I'd still give him the edge, but the competition feels a lot closer than it did going into the week. ... CB Rezjohn Wright seems to be No. 5 beyond the obvious options at WR, but he missed a few opportunities to cement that status today. He perfectly undercut a ball to the back of the end zone from Rattler but the pass -- a bullet, for what it's worth -- went through his hands and was caught for a TD by A.T. Perry. Later he panicked on a deep ball and fouled Mason Tipton for what'd have been a 30-plus yard penalty. He's got time to cement his status, but he might've opened the door for some other players to move up that ladder. ... FIGHT! It took the better part of three practices, but we finally saw our first camp fight. This one was between center Lucas Patrick and DE Trajan Jeffcoat. It was broken up quickly, but it was just a sign of some of the chippyness that develops after a few days of hard practices.
