JOESAM2002

CAMP CONFIDENTIAL
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Temperature: 90 degrees.

Heat index: 98 degrees.


Attendance: 150.


In the spotlight: Left defensive end.

Depth chart

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

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

96 Melvin Williams | 6-2 | 278 | 2 |

92 Tony Bryant | 6-6 | 282 | 5 |


Charles Grant led the Saints with 10 sacks last season and has enjoyed a strong offseason. He has responded well to new line coach John Pease's mentorship. Melvin Williams is a good pass rusher but lacks the size to play the run effectively as a starter. He'll be part of the rotation, but he'll probably fall behind rookie Will Smith in the pecking order. Tony Bryant has the talent to play in the NFL but might be caught in a numbers game. He's a long shot to make the final roster.


GET TO KNOW:


RONNEY JENKINS

Position: Running back

Height, weight: 5-11, 199

Experience: 5

Age: 27

College: Northern Arizona

Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.

Did you know: As a rookie with the San Diego Chargers in 2000, Jenkins returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown in a 28-27 loss to the Saints, Jim Haslett's first win as coach. . . . He led the NFL and set a Chargers season record with 1,541 kick return yards in 2001. . . . He was a parks and recreation major at Northern Arizona. . . . He lettered in football, basketball and track and field at Hueneme High School in Oxnard, Calif. . . . He ranks with Michael Lewis, Donte' Stallworth, Devery Henderson and Fred Thomas among the fastest players on the roster.


WHO'S HOT: Cornerback Fakhir Brown continues to shine in passing drills. He's playing with confidence and has emerged as arguably the best cover corner on the roster. Veteran Ashley Ambrose still has the inside track for the starting spot opposite Fred Thomas, but Brown is pushing him daily.


WHO'S NOT: Wide receiver Germane Crowell missed his eighth consecutive practice because of recurring problems with his left knee. Crowell, who sat out last season rehabilitating the injured leg, could be in jeopardy of being released if the injury doesn't improve.


PLAY OF THE DAY: Johnathan Sullivan showed the kind of run-stuffing ability that made him the No. 6 overall pick in the 2003 draft during goal-line drills. On second-and-goal at the 2, he fought off a pair of blockers, slid parallel to the line of scrimmage to his left, filled the hole and stood up Ronney Jenkins for no gain.


QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Just a little R and R." -- Saints running back Deuce McAllister, when reporters inquired about his absence at practice.


INJURY REPORT:

WR | Nathan Black | groin

QB | Todd Bouman | abdominal strain

QB | Aaron Brooks | quadriceps

CB | Keyuo Craver | sprained left ankle

WR | Germane Crowell | left knee

LB | Cie Grant | left knee

S | Steve Gleason | broken left thumb

TE | Lamont Hall | knee

TE | Zach Hilton | groin

S | Tebucky Jones | groin

LB | Roger Knight | knee

WR | Derrick Lewis | hamstring

RB | Deuce McAllister | knee

FB | Nate Schurman | sprained left toe

CB | Maurice Tucker | groin

DL | Willie Whitehead | right knee


TODAY'S SCHEDULE: Practice, walk-though, no pads, 9 to 11 a.m.; practice, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Superdome, open to season-ticket holders.


[Edited on 11/8/2004 by JOESAM2002]

biloxi-indian

It is sure nice not to see Donte Stallworth name...NOT on the injury report. This could get interesting.

CheramieIII

I like the fact that we keep hearing good things about Brown, maybe Haz was right not to sell his soul for a CB.