————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.
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