blacksaint

The Saints and Bengals practicing against one another is 'a great opportunity' to see some different looks

Friday, August 17, 2007
By John DeShazier

CINCINNATI -- An opponent by any other name is 10 times sweeter, especially in training camp.

So it was understandable that, after the Saints and Bengals have spent the better part of the past three weeks banging helmets and shoulder pads separately against teammates in training camp, each team greeted Thursday's combined practice with a welcome embrace.

"I thought the practice went pretty well," said Saints Coach Sean Payton, whose team worked out twice with Cincinnati. "The big thing, I'm sure we were all pleased with is, I thought we worked real well. It was efficient.

"Getting another look for both teams is good, because you get used to seeing your own defense or offense or kick game, and whenever you're able to switch up the routine like that, I thought both teams did a great job of working with each other. A lot of good reps for a lot of these players, not only veterans but the young guys as well."

"I think, obviously, the intensity picks up," Bengals Coach Marvin Lewis said. "You see some things that you haven't seen before. You play football and you have assignments, alignments and your vision and your eyes have to work. But when it's coming from a little different (team), you may see a different look than (players) have seen. So it was good work. Guys worked well together."

The love will slow today, when the teams work out separately, and disintegrate Saturday night at Paul Brown Stadium, when the Saints (0-2) and Bengals (0-1) play a preseason game that kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Both teams have goals to accomplish and a handful of roster spots to be determined.

But Thursday, the joy that was seeing a different uniform, grabbing hold of an opposing jersey and slapping away a foreign hand made the Saints and Bengals kindred spirits.

"It's just an opportunity," cornerback Mike McKenzie said. "It's almost like live tape for us. Any time you get a chance during camp to kind of break the monotony of just going against one another, it's helpful."

"It was pretty good to get out and see some different faces in practice," defensive end Will Smith said. "It's a mental thing, just to see somebody else. We don't play them in the regular season. We wouldn't see them again unless it's in the Super Bowl. So we get a chance to play them (Saturday night) and kind of move on. . . . So the intensity is heightened. Nobody wants to get embarrassed in this game."

All of them, though, found room to learn. Even Bengals receiver Chad Johnson, who tapped the Saints for 190 yards and three touchdowns on six receptions last season, found the work enlightening.

"I don't know who set up (the practices), but this was big," Johnson said. "(Saints cornerbacks McKenzie and Jason David) were just telling me stuff, little things."

Said McKenzie: "We're just watching any kind of communication that he might have with the quarterback, and what type of situation the quarterback tries to look to him. It's just like getting live footage. Instead of looking at tape, we were actually out there, getting an opportunity to learn some things firsthand."

As much as anything, players and coaches said, it was the break from routine that was refreshing. Each team broke camp early (the Saints from Jackson, Miss., and Cincinnati from Georgetown, Ky.) in order to participate in the sessions.

"Just the opportunity to change the routine of training camp," Payton said. "Our camp was going to break later this week, and I know Marvin and the Bengals were going to break (Thursday), and we thought it would be a good idea if we could get some work together for one day.

"Leave Jackson, get out of the heat a little bit and see a different team. I think with both teams there's a great opportunity to get some good work and some good evaluation for the young guys, as well as the veterans. I just was pleased with the tempo and pleased with both sides. I think everyone understands we're trying to improve and trying to help each other get better, and I thought it went real well."

Lewis said it also provides an opportunity to scout another team.

"That's why you do this," he said. "You get a chance to watch their players and get a feel for some of their guys, maybe, at the end of their roster.

"You're not out here trying to one-up each other. We both want to come out of this a better football team."

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