2023 Saints OTA Thread

[K Major]

Bump ...

Saints OTAs: What to Watch For and Storylines

FYI, this is voluntary but some of these guys (Payton Turner, Ruiz, Roach, etc) need to be there.

This is the time for Team bonding. See Chiefs, Niners & Eagles OTA's.

[Rugby Saint II]

Originally Posted by K Major

Bump ...

Saints OTAs: What to Watch For and Storylines

FYI, this is voluntary but some of these guys (Payton Turner, Ruiz, Roach, etc) need to be there.

This is the time for Team bonding. See Chiefs, Niners & Eagles OTA's.

Ruiz needs to show us that last years growth can be reproduced and expounded upon. Payton Turner may as well clean out his locker if he doesn't show up for OTA's. If anyone needs to establish a rhythm it's him. Roach will be there because he wants that starting spot opposite Cam Jordan. Last years team was noncommittal. This years team needs to be heavily committed.

[AsylumGuido]

If I'm not mistaken the Eagles had several players miss some OTA's last season.

Observations From Eagles First Open OTA

ED KRACZJUN 3, 2022 5:56 PM EDT

PHILADELPHIA – It was the Eagles’ first open practice of the offseason on Friday.

It didn’t last long. About 50 minutes.

Even as abbreviated as it was, there was some buzz. It was, after all, a chance to see some individual drills as well as some seven-on-seven.

Attendance was far from 100%.

Some of the players not on the field – and remember, OTAs are optional – were offensive linemen Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, and Jordan Mailata. Perhaps they were of attending the wedding of their OL teammate Brett Toth since Toth is supposed to be getting married this weekend.

Also not on the field were receivers Jalen Reagor, Quez Watkins, and Zach Pascal. On the defensive side of the ball, Haason Reddick and Fletcher Cox were absent.

[K Major]

Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II

Ruiz needs to show us that last years growth can be reproduced and expounded upon. Payton Turner may as well clean out his locker if he doesn't show up for OTA's. If anyone needs to establish a rhythm it's him. Roach will be there because he wants that starting spot opposite Cam Jordan. Last years team was noncommittal. This years team needs to be heavily committed.

Lol, I wouldn't go that far with Turner .

Roach is a rotational player (hence the Saints brought him back on a 1 year FA deal) & now has competition.

One thing in his favor though is that he was reliable in 2022.

We shall see. Camp awaits

[SaintFanInATLHELL]

Originally Posted by K Major

Bump ...

Saints OTAs: What to Watch For and Storylines

FYI, this is voluntary but some of these guys (Payton Turner, Ruiz, Roach, etc) need to be there.

This is the time for Team bonding. See Chiefs, Niners & Eagles OTA's.

Overrated IMHO. Let's not forget what this actually is. From the article:

These will not have live contact and are strictly voluntary. The practices are allowed to have 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills without contact.

It's one thing if this were a new coaching staff installing a completely new scheme with new players. But honestly...



There's only a single mantra for the Saints this time of year: DON'T GET HURT!

SFIAH

[Boston Saint]

Originally Posted by SaintFanInATLHELL

Overrated IMHO. Let's not forget what this actually is. From the article:

It's one thing if this were a new coaching staff installing a completely new scheme with new players. But honestly...



There's only a single mantra for the Saints this time of year: DON'T GET HURT!

SFIAH

Health is obviously the main thing. But I can’t think of an advantage (to the team or individual) to NOT being there. Team building, setting a good tone for younger players, etc…there are advantages to being around teammates IMO. When you are trying to rebound from a losing season I like seeing players showing up as a fan.

[SaintFanInATLHELL]

Originally Posted by Boston Saint

Health is obviously the main thing. But I can’t think of an advantage (to the team or individual) to NOT being there. Team building, setting a good tone for younger players, etc…there are advantages to being around teammates IMO. When you are trying to rebound from a losing season I like seeing players showing up as a fan.

It was a losing season that was almost 100% driven by injuries. The needs of fans to see team building doesn't override the fact that the Saints need healthy players for the season.

Any player that isn't absolutely 100% injury free right now can come and watch OTAs from the sidelines. There's nothing that going to happen in the next month that's going to define the 2023 season for the Saints other than injuries. I'm just being honest when I say that right now I personally don't want to hear anything other than DON'T GET HURT!

I'll sing a different tune for training camp. More work is required then. But still keep an eye on the injuries. That is what has devastated the Saints for the last 3 years.

SFIAH

[Boston Saint]

Originally Posted by SaintFanInATLHELL

It was a losing season that was almost 100% driven by injuries. The needs of fans to see team building doesn't override the fact that the Saints need healthy players for the season.

Any player that isn't absolutely 100% injury free right now can come and watch OTAs from the sidelines. There's nothing that going to happen in the next month that's going to define the 2023 season for the Saints other than injuries. I'm just being honest when I say that right now I personally don't want to hear anything other than DON'T GET HURT!

I'll sing a different tune for training camp. More work is required then. But still keep an eye on the injuries. That is what has devastated the Saints for the last 3 years.

SFIAH

These aren’t contact drills, and nobody is advocating for injured players to participate. I’ve heard interviews where QBs have said it’s helpful to learn receivers tendencies on routes and receivers learn when and where to expect the pass on their breaks. That comes with practice and repetition. Are you saying it’s better not to practice?

[SaintFanInATLHELL]

Originally Posted by Boston Saint

These aren’t contact drills, and nobody is advocating for injured players to participate. I’ve heard interviews where QBs have said it’s helpful to learn receivers tendencies on routes and receivers learn when and where to expect the pass on their breaks. That comes with practice and repetition. Are you saying it’s better not to practice?

It is better not to practice if a player isn't 100% ready to go. For example, Salderveri is a rookie and needs the practice. But he has a calf injury. He was on the sidelines, exactly where he should be for the moment.

Practicing in shorts in late May has minimal reward and a moderate risk in OTAs. Every season we see a player tear an ACL or pop an Achilles in OTAs. Don't think that because there's no contact that there's no risk for injuries. And especially for players who are coming back from injuries.

I need to see players on the field in November, December, and January when the games actually matter. Not in a glorified practice in May. The specific players listed in the initial post, Turner, Ruiz, and Roach, are no longer snot-nosed rookies that need reps. They are veteran players of which 2 of the 3 have had injury issues in the past. So, just like Ram, Davis, Mattieu, MT13, and others who were not on the field yesterday, it isn't critical for them to be practicing right now. This isn't the last week of training camp with the season starting next week.

Staying healthy for as long as possible is the #1 goal. And if that means not practicing in May, then so be it.

SFIAH

[Boston Saint]

Originally Posted by SaintFanInATLHELL

It is better not to practice if a player isn't 100% ready to go. For example, Salderveri is a rookie and needs the practice. But he has a calf injury. He was on the sidelines, exactly where he should be for the moment.

Practicing in shorts in late May has minimal reward and a moderate risk in OTAs. Every season we see a player tear an ACL or pop an Achilles in OTAs. Don't think that because there's no contact that there's no risk for injuries. And especially for players who are coming back from injuries.

I need to see players on the field in November, December, and January when the games actually matter. Not in a glorified practice in May. The specific players listed in the initial post, Turner, Ruiz, and Roach, are no longer snot-nosed rookies that need reps. They are veteran players of which 2 of the 3 have had injury issues in the past. So, just like Ram, Davis, Mattieu, MT13, and others who were not on the field yesterday, it isn't critical for them to be practicing right now. This isn't the last week of training camp with the season starting next week.

Staying healthy for as long as possible is the #1 goal. And if that means not practicing in May, then so be it.

SFIAH

Did you miss where I said “ nobody is advocating for injured players to participate.”?

It sounds like you are arguing just to argue. I agree that we want to avoid injuries. I agree that no players with health questions should participate.

But we have a new QB throwing to (mostly) new receivers for him. Just like pitchers throw to catchers early in spring training, QBs and receivers work on their timing running pass routes. If you think Carr is not gaining experience, throwing to Olave, Thomas, Johnson, Hill etc by participating in these drills then fine. I disagree. I think they are learning basic trends about how they work best together.