blacksaint

Coach Payton's early assessments of a couple of players during the camp for rookies and free-agents:

Hot Corners: Head Coach Sean Payton was especially pleased with the performances turned in by his pair of draft pick cornerbacks Usama Young and David Jones in their first few practices in New Orleans.

"I think there's a certain comfort level," said Payton. "When you watched Usama early in these practices, you could see that he's someone who's confident. He's been pretty sudden with his breaks on the ball, he's in good shape, and his stature is something that's impressive when you see him.

"In David's case, he's someone who's been fluid. He's got good foot speed, and both of those players have been encouraging.

"Again, you're in shorts and jerseys, so it's hard to truly evaluate these guys until you get the pads on but you do get a chance to see some of their ball skills, footwork and I've been encouraged."

Young was also pleased with his showing so far, but is already looking forward to the full team minicamp that will be held early next month.

"I know that's when it's really going to get turned up a notch," said the rookie from Akron. "I've been going at it as fast as possible and trying to study my playbook whenever we get some down time, trying to talk to players and learn the defense a little faster and learn a little bit more every time we go out there."

Welcome to Louisiana: A common theme throughout the locker room following the Sunday morning workout was the adjustment that many of the players were having to make for the muggy conditions they had been practicing in.

For running back Antonio Pittman, having lived his whole life in Ohio and playing in college at Ohio State, the weather was kind of a surprise.

"I didn't think it would be as hard as it's been," Pittman said. I knew they were going to come in here and work us, but I didn't think the weather would be like this."

Receiver Rhema McKnight, who played his college ball at Notre Dame, also mentioned the climate when asked for his impressions of his first weekend in the professional football ranks.

"The air is kind of thick down here but that's another thing that you've got to adjust to and fight through. Football is a tough sport and it's not made for everybody. You've just got to fight through it and make the best of it."

One rookie who is no stranger to the southern heat was perfectly comfortable in the workout sessions. Offensive lineman Peter Dyakowski may hail from British Columbia, Canada, but he's spent the past five years in Baton Rouge at LSU and knows that the upper 80s are nothing compared to the conditions that await later in the summer.

"I've been down here for five years so I'm kind of used to the heat by now. I've been telling the guys, 'This is spring time and we have a nice breeze. Wait 'til August because it's only going to get worse.' It's been nice weather compared to what it can be like with the still air and 105-degree heat index so it hasn't been bad at all so far."

O-Linemen Working Out: Payton was also pleased in what he saw from young offensive linemen Andy Alleman and Jermon Bushrod, although he did say it's tough to tell a whole lot before the linemen are able to get out on the field in shoulder pads and put in some full-contact sessions.

"He's done a good job early on," Payton said of Alleman. Those guys are swimming in there because we're giving them a lot of offense to learn and then they're getting a lot of defensive fronts. He's handled it well. He's taken reps at the left guard position and he's done a good job of picking up everything we've given him."

The coach did single out Bushrod as one player who doesn't seem to be affected by the heat and humidity that plagued some of his new teammates.

"Bushrod is handling it pretty well. He's come in here and he's carrying a fair amount of weight but carrying it pretty well. He's working at left tackle and we'll probably keep him there for now. I don't want move these guys all around."

Short Stay: Free agent defensive tackle Walter Thomas had one of the shorter stays in Saints camp that anyone around the team could remember. The massive lineman lasted less than 15 minutes into the first practice Saturday before leaving the field and not being able to continue in the warm conditions.

"He had a brief career," said Payton. "It was a situation where from a conditioning standpoint he had a long way to go. I think it was 12 or 13 minutes into practice and he was struggling.

"He was a free agent we signed after the draft and you have no way of measuring where he's at from a conditioning standpoint."

saint4life
(504)

hagan714

Hot Corners: Head Coach Sean Payton was especially pleased with the performances turned in by his pair of draft pick cornerbacks Usama Young and David Jones in their first few practices in New Orleans.

Now this is what I want to hear.

hagan714

“He struggled some. He’s had some blister issues with his feet. He’s overweight,” Payton said following Sunday morning’s practice. “He tweaked his ankle in the morning practice, so it hadn’t been all rosy for him. You know he’s been on that first round tour these guys go on where they visit all these teams and eat a lot of fun dinners, and it looks like it. He’s got a ways to go.”

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Gotta take advantage of fine dinning when you can. He will be fine I am sure. His rep is one of a hard worker. Hope the ankle does not hold up to long though.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

hagan714

Ok you go 5 star dinning, on some one elses wallet and you would order steamed veggies and skinless broiled chicken????????????? skip the desert? I do not think so. These kids are right out of college man. Remember the best thing about a college cafe is the free ice cream machine.

CHACHING

Wasn't Colston Badly out of shape for last years mini's???

These kids will be OK..

papz

It's always good to hear good news on our draft picks... especially our two young corners. Still it's just camp against rookie/free agent camp.

WhoDat205

Good to hear that camp's going well. Hopefully one of our new CBs can make an impact this year in nickle/dime situations. Same goes for the O-Linemen. If we can get some young legs to take a few reps everyone will benefit.

Missle, I agree. If I just got drafted, I would be in the best shape of my life come Rookie Camp. There's just no excuse for Meach or Walt.

PS - Deploying in October??? Can you still watch the games?

scott406

Missle, thank you for your service to this country.

To use the opposite example, if I was 21 and was given several million dollars, a free car, you know free booty. I would be like a pig in you know what. Being in shape for a "minicamp" come on. I would be partying like Michael Irvin in a cheap hotel room. I think once the heat and the coach hit me upside my head I would realize how soon it would all be gone. I think Meachum is the kind of kid to realize that too. That is why character is important and Meachum will be ready in July.

Euphoria

Yeah I agree... you've worked had all year and did the combine, you get to let up a bit. Free meals and limo's, hard to pass that up! Mini-camps are to see what the real world of football is going to be like and thats where you realize ok, I need to get my act together now.

blacksaint

Well one good thing you can say, at lest him didn't get cut 10 minutes in to camp,lol.