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Loomis and Payton discussed the team's plan for OTAs at the Saints Hall of Fame golf tournament

The New Orleans Saints began organized team activities on Tuesday. At the Saints Hall of Fame Golf tournament on Monday, Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis and Head Coach Sean Payton talked about the work ahead:

Sean Payton

On starting Organized Team Activities this week:
“In the last five weeks, I think we had a really good turnout, we are at 100 percent (participation) right now with the offseason program. Tomorrow (Tuesday) we start with the OTAs (Organized Team Activities), it’s good to see these guys and last week we had the rookies in. That’s kind of a crash course for those guys to bring them up to speed as quickly as possible. But everyone is here so we are looking forward to getting started. Tomorrow is the first time we are really kind of doing some football team activities and I think guys are excited about that. The weight room and the conditioning element have gone very well.”

On what’s it like to be back:
“It’s obviously exciting, it’s good to be back around the coaches and the players, and there are a lot of new faces. But I think now, it’s been a number of months, so you kind of get into a routine. Certainly I’m anxious to have a chance to see some of these guys on the field that I haven’t seen.”

On Will Smith playing at linebacker:
“One of the challenges with the transitions right now is trying to make sure we put the players that were on the roster a year ago in the right spots, but there is where we will start him at and you know how much those guys (outside linebackers in a 3-4) rush, so we can play him strong and weak, and we can play him right and left. But I think initially that right outside position would be very similar to what he has played for us in the past.”

On players switching positions:
“I just think there is going to some flexibility when it comes to a transition. There is going to be a handful of players that as we begin the process we look closely at and then all of a sudden decide, hey, are we better off putting him at another position? There will be a few players that will dual-learn, they will learn more than one spot.”

On the possibility on Jonathan Vilma switching positions:
“Well, I think it’s a little easier for Jon, that inside linebacker position, there are two of them and certainly we see him as one of those guys.”

On Akiem Hicks:
“He’s got position flexibility and is a guy that probably would be more prone to being one of those guys that I just talked about, could be end or could be nose. He certainly is someone that I am anxious to see on the field.”

On Drew Brees saying workouts have been intense so far:
“There is always a sense of urgency. It’s competitive to begin with in our industry and I think the players understand that, certainly (just as) we do as coaches. In each offseason you are trying to gain an advantage, improve and get ready for the upcoming year. So, I am sure the players, just as well as the coaches, myself, (are) disappointed with the past season. That’s kind of behind us and guys are anxious and yet understanding it’s going to be pretty competitive coming into this training camp.”

Read more: Mickey Loomis and Sean Payton Talk About OTAs

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