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On the bubble ... Derek Dimke

Position: Kicker

Years in the NFL: 1

Acquired: Free agency (2014)

College: Illinois

Career highlights: In college, he was the most accurate kicker in Illinois history, making 39-of-46 field goal attempts (84.8 percent). He was 7-of-8 on field goals over the 2012 and 2013 preseasons, kicking for Detroit and Tampa Bay; but he fell short of either roster.

Strengths: He’s shown an accurate leg in training camp, connecting on all his tries.

Must improve on: Strength. At times, it seems veteran Shayne Graham’s kicking a bit stronger than he is.

Projection: Dimke could make it hard for him to get cut if he keeps it up. Graham has missed two kicks. Dimke has missed one.

Ramon Antonio Vargas

Injury report

Physically unable to perform: Jenkins

Did not participate: Brees, Hull, Grubbs,Foster, Nsekhe, Lorig, Bailey, Butler, Weaver, Stills, Hamm

Next three up

TUESDAY’S practice:

7:50 a.m.-10:40 a.m. CDT

wednesday’s practice:

7:50 a.m.-10:40 a.m. CDT

thursday:

Travel to St. Louis

Until Aug. 13, practices are held at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The Advocate will tweet observations throughout. Follow @RVargasAdvocate, @UnderhillAdv, @LewisAdvocate and @EstwickSaints.

Say what?

“I see that he’s zero to 60 real fast. That’s why we took him with the first-round pick.”

— Saints inside linebacker David Hawthorne on the spectacular play of rookie wideout Brandin Cooks


“I leave the weight room when he comes in. He tries to embarrass me. He puts up like 700 pounds of squats.”

— Saints outside linebacker Junior Galette on 6-foot-5, 324-pound teammate Akiem Hicks


Spotlight on ... drafted rookies

n On solid ground: WR Brandin Cooks, S Vinnie Sunseri

Work to do: CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste

Plenty to prove: LB Ronald Powell, LB Khairi Fortt, T Tavon Rooks

Camp developments: Sunseri’s done well observing 1s, working with 2s. Fortt, Powell and Rooks have not stood out.

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