JOESAM2002

Saints News


CAMP CONFIDENTIAL



Saturday August 09, 2003





Temperature: 87 degrees (11 a.m.)

Heat index: 100 degrees (11 a.m.)

Attendance: 250 (est.)


IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Right cornerback: Fred Thomas has responded with his best training camp since joining the Saints in 2000. Thomas is working exclusively on the right side while Ashley Ambrose fills in for injured Dale Carter at left cornerback. Lynaris Elpheage, a rookie from Tulane, and Deveron Harper, who played in NFL Europe this past spring, are battling Fahkir Brown for the fifth roster spot at cornerback.

Depth chart

No. Player Ht. Wt. Exp.

22 Fred Thomas 5-9 184 8

33 Ashley Ambrose 5-11 190 12

39 Lynaris Elpheage 5-9 170 R/

41 Deveron Harper 5-11 187 2


GET TO KNOW:

GREG WHITE

Position: Defensive end

Height/weight: 6-3, 268

Experience: 1

Age: 24

College: Minnesota

Hometown: Newark, N.J.

Did you know? Was a seventh-round draft pick of the expansion Houston Texans in 2002. . . . As a member of the Texans, he had four sacks against the Saints in an exhibition game a year ago. . . . Waived by the Texans during camp and signed to the Tampa Bay practice squad in September. Released by the Buccaneers two weeks later. . . . Participated in inner-city gymnastics club as a youth in Newark. . . . Can be seen doing backflips on the practice field.

He said it: "Houston ran a 3-4 defense and they said I didn't fit the linebacker spot. I'm a better pass rusher than I am a linebacker for the most part."


WHO'S HOT

CB FRED THOMAS

Thomas continues to shine, breaking up a potential touchdown pass from quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan to wide receiver Jerome Pathon during the morning session. Pathon appeared to have a step on Thomas on a deep post route but Thomas recovered to bat the ball away.


WHO'S NOT

G CHAD SETTERSTROM

Injuries are an unfortunate reality of training camp. No one knows that better than Setterstrom, a rookie free-agent guard from Northern Iowa who had arthroscopic knee surgery Friday night to repair cartilage damage. He is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.


PLAY OF THE DAY

Saints offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy went to his bag of tricks during the morning session. Backup quarterback Todd Bouman threw an overhand lateral to wide receiver Derrick Lewis in the left flat. Lewis then lofted a pass down the left sideline to fellow rookie wide receiver Kareem Kelly, who made the catch before going out of bounds.


QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Yeah, in the streets of New Orleans. But it would always hit the power lines." -- Lewis when asked if he had ever thrown a wide-receiver pass. Lewis prepped at McDonogh 35.


INJURY REPORT

Out

OT Scott Sanderson (hernia)

RB Tavian Banks (hamstring)

G Peter Heyer (shoulder)

CB Dale Carter (tendinitis)

TE David Sloan (shoulder)

LB Darrin Smith (groin)

DT Henry Ford (ankle)

DE Darren Howard (hamstring)

G Melvin Paige (hamstring)

G LeCharles Bentley (pectoral)

DT John Schlecht (back)

LB Curtis Holden (knee)

G Chad Setterstrom (knee)

DT Jovon Bush (knee)


TODAY'S SCHEDULE

Morning, weightlifting; afternoon, practice from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (open to the public)

-- Compiled by Brian Allee-Walsh