blacksaint

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

101 degrees at 5:30 p.m. Attendance: 436.



IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Defensive ends: The Saints' starting defensive ends make up one of the stronger tandems in the NFL, a mouth-watering combination of speed and power that combined for 16.5 sacks. Will Smith and Charles Grant provided experience for the team and fear for opponents. Behind them? Not much. The Saints like Rob Ninkovich's speed on the edge, but a knee injury has kept him out for much of training camp. Josh Cooper played sparingly last season and showed he can be active at times. Willie Evans can improve in numerous facets, and Anton Palepoi has logged five seasons of experience.

Depth chart

No. | /player | /Ht | /Wt | /Exp.

91 | /Will Smith | /6-3 | /282 | /4

94 | /Charles Grant | /6-3 | /290 | /6

97 | /Josh Cooper | /6-3 | /265 | /2

93 | /Rob Ninkovich | /6-2 | /252 | /2

62 | /Willie Evans | /6-1 | /269 | /1

72 | /Anton Palepoi | /6-4 | /297 | /5

GET TO KNOW:

Matt Baker

Position: QB

Height/weight: 6-3, 212

Experience: 2nd year

Age: 24

College: North Carolina

Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Did you know? The Saints signed Baker during camp this year, following the quarterback's impressive workout. . . . He spent the entire 2006 season on the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys. . . . Won a high school state championship in football and lacrosse. . . . His grandmother, Carol Eckrich, was reared in New Orleans and lives in Diamond Head, Miss. . . . He is a self-admitted huge fan of the Food Network, especially the shows "Top Chef" and "Hell's Kitchen." . . . "I can cook a little bit," Baker said. "My best dish is my salmon. I got the recipe from my mom. It has a little Cajun seasoning to it."

WHO'S HOT

JASON DAVID

The cornerback started in a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Friday night at the Superdome and continues to take snaps with the first team, ahead of incumbent Fred Thomas. On Monday afternoon, he made an acrobatic diving play, soaring in front of Terrance Copper to bat away a Drew Brees pass.

WHO'S NOT:

BRIAN FERENTZ

The Saints signed the former Iowa center, and in his first practice Monday, he botched multiple snaps. While the first string took the field, Ferentz and quarterback Tyler Palko went to the adjacent practice field and worked on snapping.

PLAY OF THE DAY:

Lance Moore leaped and grabbed a Jamie Martin pass in the right corner of the end zone over cornerback Joe Porter -- while staying in bounds.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"#&*$!" -- linebacker Troy Evans, just as Moore slipped past him, caught a ball in the middle of the field and darted for a first down.

INJURY REPORT:

Pos. | /Player | /Injury

DT | /Brian Young | /foot

WR | /Jamal Jones | /knee

DE | /Rob Ninkovich | /knee

WR | /David Patten | /toe

WR | /Devery Henderson | /hamstring

C | /Jeff Faine | /calf

LB | /Scott Fujita | /heel

G | /Dave Yovanovits | /knee

OT | /Jammal Brown | /knee

TODAY'S SCHEDULE:

8:50 to 10:30 a.m. and 3:40 to 6 p.m., field TBA, open to the public.

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