New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - NewOrleansSaints.com Drew Brees/Sean Payton Discusses Day 1 of New Orleans Saints Minicamp

How’d it go out there today?
“It was good. Minicamp is as close to training camp as you get just as far as the schedule of getting here early with the meeting time, getting on the field and putting together a little longer of a practice. Now we’re going back to meetings and going back through a walkthrough. It was just kind of a full day of all football. I thought today was good. We’re in our red zone installation, so (we’re) just kind of making our way through our installation both offensively and defensively. (The) defense is throwing a lot at us and offensively we’re trying to fine-tune some things. It’s competitive and fun watching these young guys develop as well.”

You’ve been through OTA’s so this isn’t foreign to you at this point, but the fans see you and Sean Payton back together going through the offense that you guys do. What is that like for you guys?
“He calls the plays and we execute them. That’s our job, but obviously it’s great to have him back out there. I know everybody wants to keep talking about that, but it’s kind of old hat for us. He’s back and here we go.”

Drew you’re seeing, I’m assuming, a lot less of Joe Vitt than maybe you did last year because he’s back in his element. Do you get the sense that he’s one of those elements that is back to normal?
“Well it’s funny because prior to last year, when obviously he was the interim head coach, you knew he was doing his stuff with the linebackers and just exclusively defense and I’d see him every now and then. But we kind of had our moments where he’d grab me and say ‘man I haven’t seen you in awhile’, and we’d kind of hug it out and talk for a little bit. Obviously, last year the roles were a little expanded and things were a little different. He’s been a ball coach for a long time. He loves the game. He brings a fire and a passion and we all love playing for him. Despite the circumstances that thrust him in that role, I think that being back to just Joe Vitt, linebacker coach and assistant head coach, it helps and everybody’s back into their role now.”

Are there any rookies on defense that have stood out to you so far?
“Kenny Vaccaro has been getting a lot of snaps and a lot of time. I think he can play a big role in this defense. Some of the young guys up front, I don’t really watch them as much. I pay more attention to what’s happening in the secondary. Just seeing guys like Martez Wilson, whom I know isn’t a rookie, but kind of finding a role. Some other guys are starting to stick out and you can see how they can fit into what we’re doing defensively and how we can utilize some of their strengths and it’s fun to see that.”

With Devery Henderson not around can you see a guy like Nick Toonbeing at that level of receiver?
“I think we’ve got a great group of young receivers that really all have a chance to make their mark and find a place in that group. You’ve got Marques Colston and Lance Moore, who are the two veteran guys left. Joe Morgan coming off what he did last season and now what we’ve seen this offseason, I see him continuing to improve. Beyond that I think it’s wide open in those spots left. Andy Tanner is a guy that’s been here for a while that continues to impress. Kenny Stills is showing a lot of promise. He’s a young, talented guy. All those guys understand that they are going to get some opportunities and they have to make the most of them and see how they can fit into this offense. At the end of the day we don’t know how it’s going to shake out but there’s a lot of time between now and cuts at the end of (training) camp. Whoever earns those spots will deserve it.”

Read more: Drew Brees Discusses Day 1 of New Orleans Saints Minicamp

Opening statement:
“We held out Benjamin Watson, Ryan Steed, Keenan Lewis and Terron Armstead, we took in midway through practice, so those are the four guys we are talking about. Overall today (practice) went really well. We installed red zone for the first time today and we got to third down as well.”

How good is it having Charles Brown back?
“I think it’s important with the snaps, that he is able to receive as many as he can, especially mentally, just being out there with the protections and the different looks we are getting from our defense.”

Is it too early to tell if the defense is making any progression?
“I think we have good competition, especially in the periods when we are in the red area and tight red zone and we finished practice with third down so, there was an even flow back and forth, but I thought overall I was pleased with the tempo and the competitive nature of the periods.”

What have been the challenges for Joe Vitt?
“He has coached a lot of time, he has coached and seen a lot of football. He is invaluable to what we are doing. There are so many different ways to skin the cat if you will or call defenses or offenses. Often times there are things that carry over, but his experience is important with what we do, certainly his leadership.

Can you talk about the backup quarterback competition?
“Obviously Ryan Griffin is the young guy from Tulane and then the two other players have both seen snaps in our league and have experience, Seneca Wallace and Luke McCown. I am anxious to see them progress through the offense. They are both picking things up well. Luke has been here before and (this is) Seneca’s first time, but so far they have handled it well.”

What did you think about the aggressiveness of the defense today?

“Well we are working on it a lot, you’ve seen pressures, you are seeing drop eights, and you are seeing a lot of different things that we are trying to begin to install. There are going to be at times some protection challenges and I think the key offensively is to settle in and know how to handle the different looks you are getting, but I think that’s good, especially now. I think the importance of the mental aspect of what we are doing is something we emphasize.”

Read more: Sean Payton's Recap of Day 1 of Minicamp