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WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — At the end of last season, Saints rookie cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste, the team’s second-round draft pick, bemoaned: “I really don’t know what the plans are for me. I’m feeling lost right now.”

Fast-forward to Wednesday’s morning practice session at The Greenbrier.

Jean-Baptiste — spender of 12 weeks on the inactive list in 2014, with only a single special-teams tackle to show for the four games in which he did suit up; generally tabbed the biggest bust in the Saints Lost Boys draft class of ’14 — was taking snaps with the first-team defense.

To be sure, it was mainly because Keenan Lewis left practice early with an undisclosed injury.

But even before Wednesday, the much-maligned Jean-Baptiste had muscled his way past Brian Dixon and Terrence Frederick, free agents who earned starting jobs late last year while SJB looked on, veteran free-agent signee Kyle Wilson and 2015 draft picks P.J. Williams and Damian Swann to earn regular second-team reps.

So maybe now we know.

Or not.

“It’s nothing to get too excited about,” said Jean-Baptiste, whose eight non-special-teams snaps last year all came in the Detroit game. “But it was another chance to show the coaches what I can do out here and hopefully what I can do on Sundays.”

Obviously, it’s too soon to say that this will last.

But just as obviously, it was too soon to write SJB off.


Read more: Lewis: Stanley Jean-Baptiste gets his chance to reward the Saints’ faith | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Danno

I hope the light has come on, he certainly has the physical ability.

Halo

Come on, these guys need to have more than a heart-beat to collect a check. Camp is one thing, but I want to see it during an actual game.

halloween 65

Me to. His draft status was a little high but if it ever clicks he's going to be good.

K Major

Hmm...interesting but we will see. I hope to see huge improvement year 2 with Dennis Allen in the mix. There is always a sense of urgency when guys like Breaux, Frederick, Dixon, Mr. PJ, Swann etc are competing at the same position.

spkb25

It would be nice to have him really perform well for us. We'd then have 4 pretty good cb's.

QBREES9

He was a project. Time to shine.

Rugby Saint II

SJB has the tools.........and Browner to mentor him now. Oh yes, and Dennis Allen to coach him up.

Crusader

As allready stated, I think Allen will be the key in him developing.

darksoul35

It seems like this might be the deepest we have ever been in the defensive backfield. Im still anxious and worried at the same time about the safeties but it is going to be interesting.