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Bush’s knee and skirmish highlight Day 6

It was an interesting day at Training Camp for the Saints. The Black and Gold worked under a cloudless sky and humid conditions in the morning, with the team getting a break with a scheduled practice indoors in the afternoon.

Running back Reggie Bush caused a stir locally and nationally by having an ice bag taped to his left knee in the morning workout, causing a number of reporters to speculate something was wrong with his knee.

In the afternoon, another skirmish broke out on the last play of practice again involving a large number of players. Due to the amount of bodies forming a massive circle it was impossible to tell who started it or was involved. After it appeared the extra curricular activities ended, round two broke out a feet away prompting another grouping of players. Coaches then had had enough and blew the air horn twice ending it.

“I’d be hard pressed to even begin to comment on how it started and how it ended up. They figured it out finally when we hit the horn and we ran a little extra,” Saints head coach Sean Payton said following practice who sat the team down on one knee and had some words of wisdom for his players. “I just don’t want to get someone hurt here in an important part of the year as we’re evaluating these guys and stop progress over something like that. I understand skirmishes will break out occasionally. I don’t want to really see them escalate but we’ll handle it.”

BUSH SHOWS KNEE IS FINEA day after having one of his better practices of training camp, Saints running back Reggie Bush missed Wednesday morning’s workout due to swelling in his left knee.

“Obviously it’s going to be a little sore after a practice like that. I’m still just getting back into the swing of things you know getting back used to the work load and the long practices and strenuous work that I’m putting on it. That’s really it,” Bush said following the end of practice.

Bush came out in shoulder pads with the rest of his teammates but went back inside shortly after, reemerging with a bag of ice taped to his left knee. Saints head coach Sean Payton told media at the start of camp that on two a day’s, Bush likely would only practice in one of the workouts as a precaution. Back in December, Bush underwent surgery to repair cartilage and insists this is just what happens when you come back from that type of injury.

 “It’s not frustrating at all it’s just more of a maintenance thing. Its kind of the schedule we’ve decided right now so. It’s not frustrating at all it’s just the protocol right now.”

The recent swelling did however warrant the team to make sure the knee is okay, having Bush undergo an MRI three days ago. “We did an MRI a few days ago actually and everything came back great. It looked good and really now it’s just about getting myself back to football shape and getting my knee back used to carrying the load again.”

Payton like Bush says he isn’t worried and if a game had to be played today, Bush would be in that number. The proof was in the pudding as Bush did practice in the afternoon and had another good practice, busting out a couple of nice runs up the middle.

Bush had some fun with all the earlier media reports about his knee possibly being hurt worse than being reported. At the start of the afternoon workout, Bush walked up to reports and grabbed his knee saying “oh my knee, oh my knee.”

HERE’S CHUCKY

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach and now Monday Night Football analyst John Gruden is at Saints Camp at the request of Payton. Gruden hired Payton as the quarterbacks coach while Gruden was the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia. “He’s been a huge influence on my life coaching offensive football. He’s probably one of the best coaches I’ve been around. To this day some of the roots of what we do started from what I learned in those early years in Philadelphia with him,” Payton said Wednesday.

Gruden will spend time in meetings talking about offensive theory and philosophy. Payton said he’d talk to the team and spend time with the quarterbacks, as well as observe practice through Friday.

“He spends a ton of time on football. He loves it. If you’re around him for just a few minutes you’ll get that sense.”

BUMPS AND BRUISES

CB Randall Gay will miss the next three to four days due an inflamed left Achilles tendon. Gay suffered the injury in the morning workout and an MRI revealed the inflammation.

TE Dan Campbell again missed practice with an injured knee.

WR Adrian Arrington again was limited for the day.

A day after having one of his better practices of training camp, Saints running back Reggie Bush missed Wednesday morning’s workout due to swelling in his left knee. “Obviously it’s going to be a little sore after a practice like that. I’m still just getting back into the swing of things you know getting back used to the work load and the long practices and strenuous work that I’m putting on it. That’s really it,” Bush said following the end of practice

Bush came out in shoulder pads with the rest of his teammates but went back inside shortly after, reemerging with a bag of ice taped to his left knee. Saints head coach Sean Payton told media at the start of camp that on two a day’s, Bush likely would only practice in one of the workouts as a precaution. Back in December, Bush underwent surgery to repair cartilage and insists this is just what happens when you come back from that type of injury.

The recent swelling did however warrant the team to make sure the knee is okay, having Bush undergo an MRI three days ago. “We did an MRI a few days ago actually and everything came back great. It looked good and really now it’s just about getting myself back to football shape and getting my knee back used to carrying the load again.”Payton like Bush says he isn’t worried and if a game had to be played today, Bush would be in that number. The Saints have an afternoon practice left and Bush said he expects to participate.

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.

More news from GusKattengel !    Thanks Gus for keeping us informed !

Defense rules again; Bush shows temper

The Saints wrapped up the weekend with just a single afternoon practice indoors thanks to yet another lunchtime rain shower. Once again the indoor work was spirited as the intensity level seen the last two days in team drills spilled over to one on one work.

BUSH FIESTY

The new aggressive, win on every play mentality defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has brought to the defense, is providing for some solid non-tackle contact. During a pressure one on one pick up drill, where a defender bull rushes off the end and an offensive players picks him up, some big time hits occurred.

Media took notice as LB Jo-Lunn Dunbar ran over TE Billy Miller laying him out flat en route to destroying the tackle dummy with a football taped to an inflatable fake right arm.

Two plays later with everyone’s attention now on the drill, LB
Marvin Mitchell lined up against RB Reggie Bush. At the whistle, the two engaged with Bush holding his own until getting feet from the dummy. Mitchell then picked up Bush with two arms locked onto his chest and pile drived him onto the dummy, simulating a move out of the pro wrestling arena.

“It’s just one of those periods, one of those drills where you know it’s kind of a tough man competition and you don’t want to lose and be shown up,” said Bush after practice. “I felt like I didn’t do what I wanted to do. It’s a competition period and everything we do is competition. I felt like I didn’t get the most out of it that I could have.”

Bush jumped back up and immediately slammed his helmet on the ground hard enough to spill out some of the padding. Throughout practice it seemed that the defense, though not a full contact day, put some good licks on Bush and other backs. After every play Bush was involved in, he would then throw the football at defenders attempting to tackle him or utter a few choice words.

One play, DE Charles Grant hit Bush pretty good, who was being stood up by other defenders stuffing a running play.  Bush then shoved Grant in the helmet and threw the ball at him. Grant and Bush then jawed at each other well after the play.

The constant pulling and punching at the ball, and standing up of backs and receivers while it happens is creating a little tension that seems to be building a bully mindset on defense and forcing the offense to toughen up.

“I love the physical nature of our defense and it’s only going to help us as an offense and it’s only going to help them for game time situations,” Bush says. “I think those are some of the areas we were lacking the last few seasons. I think they’re going to do really well. I’m excited to see what our defense is going to do this year.”

AT’A BOYS

A pair of Saints cornerbacks had interceptions Sunday afternoon. CB Jabari Greer picked off QB Drew Brees on a third and nine play as the team worked through seven on seven third down drills. Greer was first to the break and beat WR Devery Henderson to the ball. In the team’s final full team drills, Greer almost picked off a Mark Brunell pass, bobbling the ball as he went towards the sidelines.

CB Randall Gay stepped in front of Marques Colston in the team’s final team drill period to secure the defenses second pick.

WR Robert Meachem, in full team drills near the end of practice, caught a pass deep over the middle on a crossing route. Meachem then turned the ball up field along the left sideline outrunning the secondary for a 65-yard touchdown.

BUMPS AND BRUISES

WR Adrian Arrington again worked on a limited basis as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. WE Lance Moore was limited. DT Kendrick Clancy did not practice due to back spasms again. He is expected to be back on the practice fields tomorrow. A pair of players suffered some bumps in Sunday’s practice. LB Jo-Lunn Dunbar suffered a mild hamstring injury and TE Dan Campbell suffered a finger injury.

————Another great article from Gus ! ————————-

Tempers flair in Day 2 of Saints camp

Perhaps it was the air conditioning or the fact that they had a practice under their belts, but the Saints in Friday afternoon’s practice were quicker and showed spirit. Saturday morning the heat and humidity took a toll. Players after going through a play lacked the pep in their step, often times walking back to the huddle or to the sidelines. Water bottles were in constant action as were towels as everyone tried to keep cool and hydrated.

The afternoon practice, which was moved indoors due to rain earlier in the day, was very spirited. Halfway through the practice T Zach Stief got into a shoving match with S Chris Reis following a play. A few plays later a pair of scrums broke out.

 WR Parris Warren caught a ball and was being tackled by CB Reggie Jones and S Person Prioleau was making the tackle and trying to strip the ball. CB Leigh Torrence then came in from the left side of the pile and came flying into T Jermon Bushrod. Torrence then threw a right swing to the helmet of Bushrod causing a large numbers of players to join in.

At the same time to the left of the fight, another scrum or fight was taking place, also involving a large number of players. DE Anthony Hargrove was seen being talked to by a member of the coaching staff following the break up and afterwards told reporters, “It was a poor decision on my part.”

“Practicing hard is good as long as we learn to practice without losing a player,” Payton told reporters following Saturday afternoon’s workout. “They’re practicing hard, intent is good, and it’s things you like to see.”

Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams was seen smiling and pumping his first during the scrums. Williams has ordered his defense to strip the ball out of offensive players grasps every single play. This morning, that tactic caused RB Mike Bell to receive and accidental punch in the midsection.

FANS VOCAL AND OPINIONATED

The stands were again packed with Black and Gold followers who weren’t timid at times in letting those wearing shoulder pads know what they thought about their play. “Not again!” yelled one fan, as CB Jason David was beat on a completion.

“Ya gotta hold on to that!” also coming from a few in the crowd on a play where WR Devery Henderson failed to hold on to a ball coming across the middle. Henderson’s chances at the completion were greatly diminished by the great play CB Tracy Porter made on the ball. Porter swatted at the ball and arms of Henderson as the receiver touched the ball.

Many cheered however as players made plays, most of the noise coming on one on one pass catching drills, pitting a receiver against a defensive back. Tyler Green, Robert Meachem and Courtney Roby were receivers catching deep passes in the end zone. Meachem, who has seen little action on the field since being selected in the first round back in 2007, drew the loudest ovation with his touchdown catch. The former Volunteer made the catch falling down in the end zone, cradling the ball as the Saints defender was draped over him.

AT’A BOYS

The defense gets top billing right now. Through the first two days of practices, defensive backs are knocking down plenty of balls, swarming to the ball limiting forward progress and on running plays making contact almost immediately with a gang of hats.

In Saturday morning’s workout during 7-on-7 passing drills, Saints quarterbacks repeated went to the check down receiver. Three times the defense made the Saints quarterback scramble after waiting a long time for an open receiver.

The offense battled back in the afternoon workout Saturday as the group handled the pressure and QB Drew Brees was perfect in the workout, completing every pass he threw. The highlight of the practice came on a flea flicker where Brees connected with Robert Meachem for a big gain down field.

CB Leigh Torrence had a good Friday afternoon practice with a couple of pass deflections, one being a 30 yarder, knocking the ball away while diving.

RB Herb Donaldson had the best run of the morning workout. The rookie free agent pick up out of Western Illinois ran hard through the line picking up a solid block, then bouncing it to the right side breaking a few arms tackles for what was at least a 30 yard gain.

CB Tracy Porter continues to have a strong camp batting a few more balls down. Porter shows excellent quickness to the point of reception after the receiver makes his break or cut for the ball. Swatting at the hands, arms or pulling on the receiver’s upper torso as the ball touches his hands seems to be his trademark.

LB Scott Shanle had one of the best hits of the day coming in on run support. RB Reggie Bush was running towards an apparent hole behind the left guard, that’s when Shanle shot to the gap like a rocket and stopped bush in his tracks.

NOT AT A’BOYS

WR Devery Henderson dropped few passes both in Friday afternoon’s workout and Saturday morning. Bobbles were also a problem as he failed to secure catches before being forced out of bounds. Henderson did make a nice grab towards the end of practice, hauling in a 70 yarder for a touchdown.

WR/KR/PR Skyler Green had a rough day during punt catching drills. The former Tiger dropped a pair and misjudged one, the ball bouncing and touching his leg which would have made it a live ball.

BUMPS AND BRUISES       

RB Reggie Bush was held out of Saturday afternoon’s workout as a precaution. Bush is recovering from left knee surgery and head coach Sean Payton said that there is a plan in place to hold out the back occasionally when the practice schedule calls for two a days.

DT Kendrick Clancy also did not practice due to back spasms.