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2014 Saints Training Camp
We're a week away...
This has been one of the most anticipated training camps especially after the Graham Saga Marathon... Here's the reports I'm looking forward... First - A healthy camp... Second - Integration of Cooks into the offense... Third - Installation of more 34 packages, growth of the defense... Fourth - And particular impact of specific rookies and sophs (second year) battles on the roster: QB Ryan Griffin RB Tim Flanders WR Brandon Coleman, Nick Toon, Steve Hull TE Josh Hill, Je'Ron Hamm OL Tim Lelito OL Terron Armstead DE George Uko LB Khairi Fortt, Ronald Powell DB Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Rod Sweeting, Marcus Ball, Pierre Warren Was curious what y'all thoughts were going into Training Camp... |
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1. O Line as a unit
2. Butler, Bryd & Bailey 3. Cooks and the other 'rooks 4. Rob Ryan's sophomore season 5. Improvement on ST Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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Covers almost everything except kicker
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And Khiry Robinson, can he do all the other stuff running backs do, pass block, pick up blitzes etc.
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JeanPierre your list pretty much sums it all up :)
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Victor Butler, will he be the same player after injury? And how will he fit in this defense? Strictly a third down pass rush specialist or can he be more than that?
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QB Ryan Griffin, I want to see what we have in him.
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Special teams in general...Looking/hoping for major improvement there...
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Offensive line: After ranking among the NFL’s elite units for half a decade, the Saints’ offensive line has suddenly become one of the team’s biggest question marks. It still has a chance to be one of New Orleans’ strengths -- led by Pro Bowl guards Jahri Evans and Ben Grubbs and veteran right tackle Zach Strief -- but the Saints need to clean up the inconsistency they displayed up front last season while also breaking in two new full-time starters at left tackle and center. The line is the key to the Saints’ two biggest priorities on offense this season: running the ball with more consistency and giving Drew Brees time to hit some more explosive plays down the field.
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Actually, thought the coverage units were better than previous seasons... Now the net return yardage for the Saints - needs help! |
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I'm really worried about special teams..............nothing else.
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I'm praying the elevated game on ingram and the o line late last season wasn't an aberration!
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Zero returns for TD |
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Curtis Lofton: Saints training camp will have fewer distractions, less heat at the Greenbrier | NOLA.com
What a wuss...that's what we get for signing someone from Atlanta... |
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Thursday is gonna be our Christmas in July!!!
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I am very hopeful that the O-line has jelled and can protect Drew and open some holes for the RBs
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Homer, the starting Center has to be determined before we get there; and then guys like Armstead have to adjust to another linesman calling protections... |
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First phase of 2014 Saints training camp presented by Verizon begins Thursday
...and so begins another chapter... |
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First, I'm a little bummed about the Saints training in WV, but since I'm in CO, it doesn't bother me that much. Whatever the team needs to get better on the road. I'm also a little confused about TC because IIRC it was said that the Saints rookies were to have reported to camp last Sun. With the vets coming in today. Wonder what was up with that? Over the last several years, I've been very disappointed with the local reporters lack of coverage of our team. Anyway, I'm going to do a little breakdown of my own on the team, or a here's what I think I think kinda thing. Hope y'all like it.
Saints can't win outdoors on the road: Here's what I think I think. When you play a team outdoors, you are facing elements. Those elements are, heat, humidity, rain, wind, cold and snow. We face some of those elements within our division and with other teams we play every year. Tampa for instance is hot, windy and rainy depending on when the game is played. Same thing for teams like Carolina, GB, Chicago, etc., well you get my drift. So, if we face those elements when we go to play these kinds of teams, and cold and cold and rainy conditions as well, then why don't we practice in those conditions before we go play those teams? We have outdoor fields at our practice facility. When it rains, why do we go indoors? Why don't we get used to playing in rainy and windy and sloppy conditions? We may not have snow, but in the winter it definitely gets cold in the NO. Why not practice in the cold, or the cold and rainy and windy days outside? So you're concerned about our offense? Well, Drew Bree's is Drew Bree's, and although I won't say that I've seen any noticible drop off in his play, I have seen him throw some very questionable INT's at some very inopportune moments, but all in all he's still one of the top 3 QB's in the game today, and I'm thrilled to have him. The recent move to sign back the new QB Coach, will be a God send for Ryan Griffin, who starred under his tuteledge, and I think I think Griffin will take a huge step forward this year. I for one think we're in good shape at this position. OL, last year and for several years now, I've been pretty vocal about our LT position. Charles Brown was and is a horrible LT. Chicago will find that out this season. Charles averaged 2.0 seconds of protection for Drew Bree's per pass attempt, and was virtually invisible on run plays no matter where they were directed. I was thrilled when SP benched him and put Armstead in his place. Everyone says he struggled in the first half of our loss to Carolina, but they don't even listen to their own words, ie, THE FIRST HALF. Armstead started getting his act together in that second half and did an admirable job in the second half and on into the playoffs against arguably even better competition. I think I think Armstead has the demeanor and desire to become one of the games best LT's, and I believe he will be. RT: Last year was the first time I was disappointed by Zack Strief. I have been one of his biggest supporters, but I think his previous injury dogged him all year long. I think I think Zack will be much healthier this season and will have a bounce back year. C: Goody's back, and that's a good thing. Problem is, that a lot of fans don't really know about all the players on their team, yet in an effort to sound knowledgable just regurgitate what they've read or heard elsewhere. Some of our own fans express concern over Tim Lelito taking over at C because they've heard it somewhere else, but haven't gone back to watch how he played when he got the chance, so here's some info. Like Armstead, Lelito struggled in his first start, but got noticibley better as he got more snaps. Brian DeLapuenta really fell off last year as teams realized that he was undersized and if they could occupy both guards, he was easily beatable and that is how teams like NE, Carolina, NYJ, St. Louis and Seattle (Holding and PI no calls not withstanding.)beat us. I think I think that with Lelito we will be bigger and stronger at C, and he will handle the position better than expected. I also think I think that the move to re-sign Goody, was a stroke of genius by SP and Loomis. DEFENSIVELY: DL: Here, I have to say, that I finally am happy and even relieved with the talent we've assembled. For the longest time I have kept complaining that our D-Line was incomplete. We seemed to always be missing one starter and one or two backups. I think I think that finally this year, we have assembled possibly the best D-Line this organization has ever fielded. Cameron Jourdan, Broderick Bunkley, Akiem Hicks, Jenkins, Tyrun Walker and Foster is an extremely talented and formidable group, deep enough to get us through the season as well as the playoffs. LB's: It seems every coach in the league has an area that every year it seems that they just cannot improve. For some it's offense, for others it's defense or special teams. For example Mora had trouble getting WR's and CB's. For SP, it's LB's. Right now, we have some weak areas on our defense and they are LB and #2 CB. we've made some moves at LB in the past with Fujita, Vilma etc., all proven LB's with other teams prior to coming to the Saints, but our draft pucks at this position group have been shall we say unspectacular? It has taken SP 8 years to come up with only 1 very good LB in Junior Galette, and we really need to get better here, and fast. We have a few players that may prove to be something more than just average players in Reddick, Forte and another UDFA this year, but this is the area that in the next year or two MUST be improved. CB: Losing Jabari Greer was almost devastating, but acquiring Keenan Lewis was a major stroke of luck and made the loss of Greer a nonevent. Unfortunately Robinson has been a disappointment and White only shows flashes but is wildly irratic. Most teams have multiple holes on their teams to cover up, but luckily we only have arguably 1. The need for a #2 CB. I think I think that Champ Bailey, even in this stage of his career, is better than anyone currently on the roster, and his knowledge will be invaluable to the younger players, especially Stanley Jean-Baptiste, who is the player I hoped we would draft and even in a lower round than I had hoped for. But with Safeties like Byrd, Vaccaro, and Bush, I believe we will be able to cover this weakness this year and allow us to take care if it next season. Sorry for such a long post. |
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White going into his third year has shown his skill set on the inside. last year was really the first time he got ample playing time outside and it showed. he need to take a page out sweeting play book. keep the play in front of you! I like what i have seen and i have tempered my hopes of him playing outside till he proves he can track down the football and improve his positioning down field. I think this year he will benefit greatly from the Bailey signing. Baily and White will man the nickle and dime positions and improve the play there. Champ getting the quicker WR assignment and White doing what he does best. RB, not so quick WR and run support. Remember he was a Safety in college. Quote:
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Sorry, I dont know to post pics.
Enjoyed the first day, the guys are amazing! |
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Looking forward to seeing Cooks justify the move to get him, but do we have to overreach on the adjectives?!? I mean "spectacular catch" ? C'mon...just let it build on its own...
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Overall, its kinda sad but the first practice there was only about 300ish fans there, about a 5th from New Orleans it seems. Second practice even less, maybe 150. The players were nice, friendly, taking time to sign for people and pictures. Today I am going to a "Picnic with the Saints", where we get to grab autos and pictures, and have hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon, cookies, and drinks for $10
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Hanging out with Ryan at a BBQ would be a trip!!! |
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Would love to see some of those snapshots. Please upload and share with us if you can. I have yet to see any coverage on NFLN. |
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From your list, JeanPierre, I don't see Tim Flanders making the team. I'm sure he's a serviceable back though. Brandon Coleman is an interesting prospect as is Steve Hull though Hull has a serious uphill battle unless he can be a special team contributor. He did play safety in college so I'm sure he could cover kicks or return em. Gotta love Brandon Coleman's size but does he have good enough hands to be an NFL possession receiver? Toon is probably better than either of these guys. I'm pulling for Ryan Griffin but not overly interested. Stanley Jean Baptiste better be good because Jarvis Landry was on the board when we picked him.
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how are these two guys looking?
S Pierre Warren CB Brian Dixon |
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Some more.
Sorry I dont have any action shots, I dont have a good camera on my phone. Had to borrow a friends to take these. But I will have an amazing camera for the scrimmage on Saturday. Of course, Jimmy and Drew get surrounded like crazy. Guys I am aiming for (besides them two) are Colston, Jahri, Junior, and Kenny. I have the main rest of them. Drew is looking solid, I am loving Brandon Coleman, Champ is running with the 1sts as of now, Vinnie is getting some nice work in as well, Cadet, Ingram, Flanders, and PT23 all trying to get carries (Ingram looks to be catching the ball more), some wrinkles I have noticed that when I asked certain players about, they say that cant confirm nor deny about it. |
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Hearing that Flanders is looking good is awesome news. I guess my mindset is that they can't land another good UFA back. I am not big on Cadet so if he takes his spot I'm cool with that but could he seriously pass up Robinson, Ingram or Thomas? And are they in full pads yet because lots of guys can shine in limited contact drills?
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