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It seems like this has been one of the better practices I’ve seen offensively and defensively.

“One of the things that I felt about today’s practice just on the field watching it is there were moments for each side of the ball. When momentum started in one direction, the other side of the ball was able to come up with a stop or a play. We will look at the tape. I am sure, like it always does, when you feel like it was really good there will be things you know you have to correct. I was pleased with the tempo. I was pleased with how guys were moving around.”

Do you consider the bubble screen to be a long handoff?

“There’s two elements, the bubble itself is the little throw behind the line of scrimmage where he is running wide. The middle screen is typically in the slot or out wide and he is getting in behind the linemen. Today we ran a middle screen, a wide receiver middle screen, and he (Brandin Cooks) was able to find his landmark. But no, that is a way to control pressure and pass rush.”

Is Brandin Cooks as fast as you thought he would be?

“Yes, he can run. It is our job to get him in space and let him do that.”

Take us through the back shoulder throw from Drew Brees to Brandin Cooks and the coverage by Champ Bailey?

“We’re not the first. When you start getting the bump and run coverage we get, it is hit or miss with the deep go route. Pretty soon you begin to locate a little bit behind him. The team that does a great job of defending that in press coverage is Seattle. They are really good with their eyes around. They play a couple different techniques that can fool you and kind of bait you into that throw. I thought Drew (Brees) and Brandin (Cooks) made a real good play handling the bump. And Champ, like you said, was in position (to defend it). It’s tough to stay on top, stay on top when you’re in press and be able to handle that type of throw which if you went way back it was like that underthrown go route where everything stopped and came back to the ball and it puts the defender in a tough position often times the potential penalty is called.”

What did you know about Seantavius Jones before?

“So many times we sit in those meetings and it’s the area scout that has a background. This goes back to even drafting Jimmy Graham. Someone has a passion for a player and believes strongly in a player whether it is a draft pick or a highly sought after free agent because when the draft ends we’re not calling every free agent. There’s an order. The guys that are in those areas year round they will have a player or two they really want to stand on the table for. We’ve done a good job with later round (draft picks and) free agent players. We’ve been able to develop those guys and they’ve found their way on the roster, no different than with him (Jones). An area scout starts with a recommendation and then it is us really creating the vision.”


Read full interview: Quotes from Sean Payton's press conference on Day 5 of Training Camp presented by Verizon

papz

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Five days into Saints training camp, first-round draft pick Brandin Cooks is starting to earn NFL respect.

It’s what occurs after making receptions like Cooks did Tuesday morning at The Greenbrier Resort, where he used speed, quickness and the ability to transition from one to the other to catch a Drew Brees pass near the sideline.

Cornerback Champ Bailey was in bump-and-run coverage, the future Hall of Famer doing all there was to be done to defend Cooks, a rookie receiver from Oregon State.

Still, it wasn’t enough.

“Man, watching his explosive ability, kind of navigating those blocks then hit a seam — if he hits a seem, he’s gone,” Brees said later.

“I think that just gives you a taste of what we have in him.”

Later, Cooks caught a bubble screen pass on the left side of the field. He then made a narrow opening in the defense look huge, the way he burst through it faster than you can say NFL Rookie of the Year candidate en route to a clear path to the end zone.

Read more: CAMP REPORT: Brandin Cooks




I'm getting real real real giddy about Cooks. I'm starting to have some homeristic, over optimistic expectations about him this year.

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

All little common sense goes a long way.

QBREES9

“Man, watching his explosive ability, kind of navigating those blocks then hit a seam — if he hits a seem, he’s gone,” Brees said later.

Now i'm getting excited.

Utah_Saint

I love it when that happens.

billyt81

Not gonna make the practice squad