blacksaint

by Zach Strief, NewOrleansSaints.com
Monday, August 13, 2007


This time last year, Zach Strief was a rookie seventh-round draft pick doing everything he could just to make the roster. After a successful rookie season that saw him step in for a key performance against the Buccaneers, he finds himself playing with the first-team offense at left tackle following starter Jammal Brown’s injury last week. Holding down the spot until the All-Pro lineman gets back to full health, Strief is protecting Drew Brees’ blind side, so he’s got an important job as the Saints head to his hometown of Cincinnati for a preseason game against the Bengals this weekend. The young tackle turned in this journal entry to NewOrleansSaints.com after Monday’s morning practice.

We were in full pads and still shaking some of the rust off from the game, but practice went well today. We got a little bit of heat out here and I think guys responded well. We are hitting on everything out here at practice still – you kind of have to, it’s preseason so we have to get all the little pieces of the puzzle together. We’re installing some new stuff and working some new plays in, but for the most part we’re improving on the things we’ve been working on.

As of now we haven’t done much of anything with respect to Cincinnati besides talked about them a little – right now we’re concentrating more on ourselves and the things that we need to improve on. We’ll probably get a little more in depth on Cincinnati stuff as the week goes on.

We’re about three weeks into camp and I’m finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel – and that’s always a good feeling. Guys are starting to get their legs underneath them again and the initial shock is over, so guys are starting to feel a lot better. Personally I’m feeling pretty good; I make sure to stretch well and to get in the cold tub so I’ll be fresh for the next practice.

The offense still has things we have to work on, but we’re looking good overall. We got into a little bit of a rhythm this week and we’re trying to build off that. We’re keeping the tempo high and getting some good energy out here. Everyone is working well together and there’s improvement every day.

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