Another story from Gus ! – Thanks Gus, great work !
Defensive backs rule the day at Saints Camp
Cloudy skies helped the team and fans, who at one point started the “Who Dat” chant, enjoy a nice morning practice, while the afternoon workout again was held indoors. While both practices where not as physical as the previous few, the defense once again was the story of the day.
Saints defensive backs had five interceptions, three off of QB Drew Brees. Three picks came in the morning, two by rookie CB Danny Gorrer. Free agent pick up Jabari Greer had the third pick, stepping in front of a Brees pass towards the end of practice. Four plays earlier CB Jason David dropped an interception, two plays before that, Greer bobbled another would be pick. Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams spiked his laminated play list and pen in anger after the Greer dropped interception getting a rousing applause from the fans.
The afternoon practice was more of the same. CB Randall Gay stepped in front of a Brees pass and picked it off in the first set of full team drills. As practice was wrapping up, CB Tracy Porter made a great snag to pick off Brees.
“It was something else,” head coach Sean Payton said of Porter’s pick. “It was low and away. It was kind of an odd ball location and he (Porter) did a great job of getting it in his hands.”
The offense had its moments on Monday with a couple of good runs and a few nice grabs by Saints receiver’s, but again it almost seems as if the defense is having fun playing the part of the aggressor. “I thought this p.m. practice offensively we did some things that was encouraging. In the a.m. the defense really got the better of us,” Payton said following the afternoon workout. “By in large it was a good day. I thought we got a lot done.
“You got to look out. There are a lot of people getting busted up a little bit. I had a little blood in my mouth this morning. It’s a good pace, fanatical pace and I like it,” said safety Roman Harper of the aggressive defense thus far in camp. “It’s up-tempo, upbeat and we’re making coach Payton and those guys defend themselves a little bit.”
AT’A BOYS
CB’s Danny Gorrer, Jabari Greer, Randall Gay and Tracy Porter had interceptions.
DE Charles Grant is having a good camp. Grant has shed some weight and is playing quicker. Monday, Grant’s rush routinely forced quarterbacks to threw earlier than they would have liked, and on one play Grant dropped RB Pierre Thomas just as he caught a toss from Brees on a running play.
CB Jason David continues to play well. David had a few more pass blocks on Monday and a missed chance at an interception. In all, David appears to be WAY more comfortable in Williams’ defense and has constantly been around the ball.
TE Jeremy Shockey perhaps made his best catch of training camp since becoming a Saint. Shockey released from the left side and ran up along the left sideline. Brees, while under pressure, threw a ridiculous pass that was just above LB Scott Shanle’s right shoulder pad who was facing the tight end, drapped all over him. The pas was just high enough for Shockey’s hands to snag and secure it as both players tumbled to the ground a good 30 yards down field.
RB Mike Bell continues to make a push for playing time come the regular season. Bell runs hard and has shown not only power but also an ability to make a cut or two. In the afternoon practice, Bell took a right swing pass and turned up field. Ten yards into the run he mad a cut back towards the middle of the field threw drew “ooohs” from teammates watching the play.
What was Bell’s reward for breaking into the open field? Getting planted on his rear end by cornerback Leigh Torrence who came flying in to make the hit. Torrence’s hit drew “ooohs” as well from teammates on the play.
BUMPS AND BRUISES
Running Back Reggie Bush returned to practice and had a good practice. There were no visible signs that his left knee was bothering him at all as he looked quick in his cuts and showed good speed in both the running and passing game.
Linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar sat out again nursing a hamstring injury. Wide Receiver Adrian Arrington seems to have recovered from his hamstring injury as he practiced in the morning and afternoon on Monday.
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