JOESAM2002

CAMP CONFIDENTIAL



Sunday July 27, 2003





Temperature: 86 degrees (morning practice).

Heat index: 95 degrees (morning practice).

Attendance: 2,500.

In the spotlight: Left tackle. This position is solid. Veteran Wayne Gandy is the Saints' third different starter at the position in three years. He has the spot locked down. Veteran reserve Scott Sanderson, who is sidelined for a couple of weeks with a hernia, and rookie Jon Stinchcomb are the backups.

Depth chart

No. Player Ht. Wt. Exp.

72 Wayne Gandy 6-4 308 9

74 Scott Sanderson 6-6 295 7

78 Jon Stinchcomb 6-5 302 R


Get to know: Kareem Kelly.

Position: Wide receiver.

Height/weight: 6-0, 186.

Experience: Rookie.

College: Southern California.

Hometown: Long Beach, Calif.

Did you know: Kelly was chosen with the draft pick (sixth round, No. 203 overall) obtained from the Seattle Seahawks in the trade for veteran defensive tackle Norman Hand. . . . He is the 14th Southern California player drafted by the Saints, moving USC past Nebraska as the school with the most all-time Saints selections. . . . Kelly set a Trojans career record with 204 receptions, breaking the previous mark of 201 set by Johnnie Morton from 1990 to 1993. . . . He won the 100 meters (10.47) and 200 meters (20.76) at the 1999 California state meet. . . . In 2000, he set a world junior record and American collegiate mark with a time of 5.67 seconds in the 50-meter dash at the Los Angeles Indoor Invitational. . . . His cousin, Rashard Cook, played safety for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999-2002.

Who's hot: Linebacker Derrick Rodgers. The New Orleans native has taken the lead in the competition for the starting weak-side linebacker spot. Rodgers made a couple of plays during 7-on-7 and team drills that drew praise from defensive coordinator Rick Venturi. Rodgers is expected to miss the season opener at Seattle because of a league suspension, but he should assume the starting job in Week 2.

Who's not: Defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan. The rookie first-round draft pick is the lone camp holdout. Even though the defensive tackle position is relatively easy to learn, he needs to be in camp to get in playing condition. Sullivan is scheduled to start at nose tackle, but could risk losing his starting job if his holdout is prolonged. Martin Chase and Grady Jackson are working with the first- and second-team units.

Play of the day: Donté Stallworth made a leaping catch in traffic between two defenders to draw cheers from the standing-room-only crowd during the morning workout. On the play, backup quarterback Todd Bouman found Stallworth down the middle of a zone defense for a 25-yard gain.

Quote of the day: "We had only one problem today. Both sides were really facing the 12th man on the field, and that was that big ole sun out there." - QB Aaron Brooks.

Injury report: DE Melvin Williams (right knee), OT Scott Sanderson (hernia) out.

Today's schedule: Morning, weightlifting; afternoon practice (helmets and shorts), 3-5 p.m.

Jeff Duncan