papz

Seated in a dugout during a charity softball game Wednesday night, Saints quarterback Drew Brees reflected on his team’s offseason workout program, which since April 21 had mostly consisted of physical conditioning and individual drills.

Fast approaching, however, was Tuesday’s start to organized team activities at Saints headquarters, in which 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills that are non-contact but more closely resemble real football are permitted. And Brees could hardly hide his excitement.

“We’ve been working out in the weight room long enough,” he said. “It’s time to get to ... some actual football.”

The voluntary activities, commonly called OTAs, consist of 10 practices from Tuesday to Thursday, June 3 to 5 and June 16 to 19. There will be a mandatory minicamp from June 10 to 12.

Media can access the three-day minicamp and the Thursday, June 5 and June 18 OTAs.

Due to the lack of live contact, it’s highly unlikely any players battling for spots will secure one. But it’s a chance for some players — especially newcomers — to show they can learn the Saints’ systems and philosophies.

And it’s an opportunity to demonstrate their potential to contribute ahead of training camp beginning in July, exhibition games starting in August and the devising of the 53-man roster that will kick off the regular season in September.

Here are five key issues facing the Saints:

1. Cornerback: One spot is open. Who will get it?
Stanley Jean-Baptiste, the rookie second-round pick out of Nebraska, enters crowded auditions for the spots at cornerback under entrenched starter Keenan Lewis.

His 6-foot-4, 218-pound frame has folks physically comparing him to Seattle All-Pro Richard Sherman, but he’s part of a New Orleans group that heading into OTAs includes Champ Bailey, a 12-time Pro Bowler picked up in free agency; Corey White, a third-year player who started eight games for the Saints in 2013, among them a win and loss in the playoffs; and Patrick Robinson, a first-round draft pick in 2010 who missed most of last campaign with a knee injury.

By virtue of their experience, all of them are more accomplished than Jean-Baptiste, who has only played cornerback since 2011. But Jean-Baptiste can begin carving out his role by quickly mastering his assignments during OTA drills, even if it’s in nickel and dime packages and not at the No. 2 spot opposite Lewis.

According to Jean-Baptiste, his more-established teammates are already helping him adjust. “Everybody is taking everybody else in with open arms,” he said. “(I) appreciate that a lot ... (as) I’m trying to learn something new every day.”

Read more: Saints to return to football with OTAs this week | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

Attached Thumbnails

 

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

All little common sense goes a long way.