tiggerpolice

Saints coach Sean Payton wastes little time getting his new team acclimated to his style
Saturday, April 08, 2006
By Jimmy Smith
Staff writer
Wearing a long-sleeved gray shirt, khaki shorts, a black-and-gold visor and a whistle around his neck, new Saints coach Sean Payton had his free hand in just about every aspect of his team's offensive effort at Payton's first minicamp practice Friday morning.

The right hand, though, was almost always occupied by the day's printed practice plan, folded alternately horizontally or vertically.

Whether it was offering advice on running a certain pass route, or upbraiding another receiver for cutting off a route too soon against bump-and-run coverage, Payton's stamp was all over the New Orleans offense as he saw his football team on the pitch for the first time.

And after 90 minutes, it was safe to say he wasn't totally enamored with what he witnessed.

"We're not in real good shape right now," Payton said after the morning session. "I think we've got a lot of work to do. We've got a lot of guys struggling with the reps. And we've got to get some of these heavy guys up to speed. Quick."

For a perfectionist such as Payton, an out-of-shape team is doomed to failure at worst, mediocrity at best.

"I think a poorly conditioned football team gets penalties," Payton said. "A poorly conditioned football team holds. A poorly conditioned football team turns the football over. The other way to look at it is if you're not in shape, you can lose games. So I think being in shape is a must. You need to have stamina to play, strength and endurance. You need to be able to have some staying power in the fourth quarter to win football games. If you're not, you're going to lose."

Yet aside from getting his charges into shape, Payton hopes to accomplish a lot more.

"From the very beginning," Payton said, "this gives us a chance to see our team for the very first time on the field as a coaching staff. It gives us a chance to evaluate them. It also gives us a chance to install the offense and defense and things we want to do on special teams. We're anxious to put a player to what we've seen on tape out on the field."

For running back Fred McAfee, a 15-year NFL veteran who has spent his entire career playing under defensive coaches (Jim Mora, Bill Cowher, Buddy Ryan, Tony Dungy, Jim Haslett), his first practice under offensive-oriented Payton was an eye-opening experience.

"It's refreshing, actually," McAfee said. "To have an offensive-minded guy in your meetings, to come into the huddle, that's good. There have been very few coaches I know, and not saying anything against them, but most defensive coaches don't know when a play gets messed up unless there's a fumble or an interception. They don't know if the play was actually run wrong. He's a coach who cares. And if he cares, we should pick that up, too."

Payton said he didn't make note of the first-practice milestone until meeting with the media after the morning workout.

"I was probably thinking more about this afternoon's practice and some of the things we've got to change and correct from this practice," Payton said. "We've got a lot of little things to do. The sidelines are crowded. You get through your first practice and there are six or seven notes you want to get cleaned up before the next practice. We'll do that."


BREES UPDATE: Newly signed free-agent quarterback Drew Brees attended, but did not take part in either practice. He said afterward he was tempted to jump in.

"I was getting excited out there. I was calling the plays in my head, picturing myself under center, trying to see what they see. Obviously it's not the same as taking the snap, going through the read and throwing the ball and completing the pass. But it's as close as I can come to it right now. It'll come."

Brees said he expected to be cleared by his rehabilitation team to throw in two weeks, and is aiming for the June minicamp to possibly be able to fully participate.

"You start off (throwing) short, maybe 10 yards," he said. "You gradually build it up, monitor the number of throws. You've got to be careful, especially starting it off. You don't want to push it too hard too fast. We have a lot of time here. We've got four months."

Brees, who signed a six-year, $60 million contract last month, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his throwing shoulder Jan. 5.


NO-SHOW: Defensive end Will Smith did not attend Friday's workouts. Payton said Smith had recently undergone an arthroscopic procedure on his shoulder. "He'll be back soon rehabbing," Payton said. "We won't have him for this minicamp, but we'll have him in time for the next minicamp. It was something that was bothering him. We decided it was better to have it done earlier than later so that it wasn't overlapping into the more important mandatory minicamp in June."


LEWIS UPDATE: Kick returner Michael Lewis, coming off a season-ending knee injury and an unrestricted free agent, was also missing from the minicamp, but Payton said the team was still in contact with Lewis' agent.

Greg Johnson, Lewis' New Orleans-based representative, said Friday afternoon he thought the two sides were close to a deal. "We're optimistic about it and we're looking forward to getting him out there soon," Johnson said.


NO GOING BACK: Payton said the move of right tackle Jammal Brown to left tackle wasn't an experiment. "No, no, no, no. It's permanent," Payton said. "I know there'll be a lot speculated about the draft and how that move pertains to Jammal. But that move to left tackle is permanent."

ETC: Several players who are rehabbing injuries attended but did not work out, including Brees, running back Deuce McAllister (knee), receiver Donté Stallworth (shoulder), tight end Ernie Conwell (knee), and receiver Nate Poole (knee).

http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...7234309480.xml

spkb25

you know when i listened to the man talk he sounds so rough. he sounds like don't give me any shiit cause i am not about to take any. i don't even play for the guy and have never met him but the mans voice scares me a little. i don't expect the same stuff that has been going on under haz to continue. i like this man as our coach

BJSim

It's nice to see the injured players were on the sidelines and not at home relaxing. Part of being a team is being there and not making excuses. So many players would say it's not worth going, but our guys didn't they showed. I like it.

gandhi1007

So if Jamaal Brown is our new permanent left tackle & Stinchcomb is our guy at right tackle, does the Brick House still look like our pick? The more I hear Payton talk about our O-line, the more it looks like Hawk is our guy in the first round. Either way, I'm happy. Both would be solid 1st year contributors.