SmashMouth

Brees tosses two INTs; Morstead has booming night

The Saints practiced Sunday night under the lights at Tulane’s Yulman Stadium.

The estimated 12,000 fans in attendance were treated to a show, as big plays on both sides of the ball were set to the tune of classic rock-n-roll songs on the PA system.

Here are Sunday’s observations:

Linebacker A.J. Klein, linebacker Demario Davis, defensive end Mario Edwards and guard Larry Warford returned after missing Saturday’s practice.

After an impressive start to camp, Butler has missed four straight practices since leaving Tuesday’s workout. Kirkwood has missed three straight practices after leaving Thursday’s workout.

Defensive end Cameron Jordan and wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. were on the field for stretching and conditioning, but then the two players took off their pads and watched the night’s practice in what appeared to be a veteran’s day off for each.



OFFENSIVE-DEFENSIVE LINE SWAPS

With Armstead out, left guard Andrus Peat slid to left tackle. Michael Olah came in at left guard.

Edwards, who did not practice Saturday, took Onyemata’s spot inside the defensive line alongside Malcom Brown.

BUCKYEYE BATTLE

One of the more fun things to observe at any Saints practice is how hard wide receiver Michael Thomas and cornerback Marshon Lattimore go at it.

A couple of days ago, Lattimore got the best of Thomas on a slant pattern when the cornerback stuck in his arm to knock away a Drew Brees pass.

Sunday night, though, Thomas beat Lattimore deep down the left sideline, and Brees connected on an estimated 20-yard connection.

Both players have said in the past that going against each other makes them better, and it’s easy to see why when two of the NFL’s top players at their respective positions compete on a daily basis in practice.

PICK AWAY

After being mostly free of turnovers through the first eight days of training camp, Brees threw two interceptions in the same series of 11-on-11 drills.

Brees’ first pick went to rookie Saquan Hampton, who picked off a pass down the seam intended for tight end Jared Cook. This marked the second straight practice that Hampton recorded a pick, the first coming Saturday when he intercepted Teddy Bridgewater.

Brees’ second interception came on another pass intended for Cook. This time, cornerback Eli Apple tipped the ball, which linebacker Demario Davis secured for the turnover before running the other way. Apple has enjoyed a solid training camp.

FIVE STRAIGHT DAYS

Rookie Erik McCoy once again started off the 11-on-11 team drills at center with the first-team offense.

For anyone keeping count at home, this marks McCoy’s fifth straight practice working with the first-team offense. The Saints started off camp with a rotation between McCoy, Cameron Tom and Nick Easton, but it's been McCoy since Tuesday.

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