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Saints Training Camp Day 7: Physicality, excitement tick up with big plays all around

Jul 30, 2025 | 3:01 PM

New Orleans Saints

By Ross Jackson

METAIRIE, La. – Day seven of New Orleans Saints training camp was easily the most physical and exciting day yet. With Big throws, takeaways, two-minute drills and long field goal attempts, there was something for everyone in attendance as fans returned after Tuesday’s closed walkthrough.

First One-on-One Reps of Camp

To kick it off, the Saints started with one-on-ones for wideouts and cornerbacks on one field, as well as tight ends, running backs, safeties and linebackers on another.

While quarterbacks Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler were with the receivers and corners, rookies Tyler Shough and Hunter Dekkers were with the other group. With the split-field practice, I focused on wide receivers and corners. 

These were the biggest plays to come from the one-on-ones, which will not be factored into final throwing stats.

  • Haener connected with Bub Means deep for a touchdown with Rico Payton in coverage. Means pulled off a stellar double move to create separation.
  • Rattler connected with Rashid Shaheed while Isaac Yiadom was blanketed over him in coverage. It took strong hands to make the catch, but Shaheed corralled it.

  • Haener found Moochie Dixon down the sideline against Dalys Beanum on a back shoulder throw. Excellent ball location.
  • Rattler went deep to Kevin Austin Jr. with Jayden Price in coverage for another big completion.
  • Dixon had a big series with another deep catch, this time on a post for a touchdown against Price. Rattler with the delivery.

Biggest Plays of the Day

  • Haener found wide receiver Chris Olave down the right sideline for a deep pass off of play action. Was signaled a touchdown on the field, but would have been down short.

  • Kool-Aid McKinstry had a clutch pass breakup against Rashid Shaheed down the left sideline during two-minute drills to force a third and long.
  • Spencer Rattler had a huge run to the left side off of a zone read keeper in first team drills. This was a part of the install on Wednesday, designed runs for the quarterbacks.

  • During 7-on-7s, rookie cornerback Quincy Riley corralled his second interception of camp, second in the endzone against Rattler.
  • Rattler found Mason Tipton deep during team drills for a diving touchdown. Tipton got behind a pair of defenders.

  • Velus Jones Jr. had a 35-yard touchdown run to cap off a successful two-minute drills to end practice.

Today’s Focus

The day spent a lot of time working on drive starters and included some two-minute drill work. 

Specific focuses included:

  • 1st and 10 and second and middle from the 35.
  • Midfield passing concepts during 7-on-7s
  • Downfield progressions
  • Drive starters and mid-range yards to go work
  • End-of-half two-minute drills
  • Quarterback run play installation

The Quarterback Battle

On Wednesday, Haener worked with the first team, Rattler was with the second and Shough ran with the threes. This is now the second time for Haener to receive first team reps, his time in padded practice. Rattler has still never seen third team reps. Shough also received developmental reps following practice with the other young players.

Haener Rep Charting

First Series of Team Drills (Drive starters and mid-range second downs from the 35-yard-line)

  • First-and-10: Haener incomplete to Alvin Kamara on swing pass, off target.
  • Second-and-five: Kamara run right, big run, the day’s first chunk play.
  • First-and-10: Kendre Miller run middle, Davon Godchaux on the short stop.
  • Second-and-five: Haener completion to Chris Olave (Alontae Taylor in coverage) play action, big play down the right sideline. This was signaled a touchdown by the practice officials, but likely would have been stopped short.

7-on-7s (Midfield passing concepts – all snaps from the 50-yard-line)

  • First-and-10: Haener completion to Jack Stoll.
  • Second-and-seven: Haener incomplete to Kamara, high throw down the left sideline.
  • Third-and-seven: Haener completion to Stoll (Yiadom in coverage) Yiadom punched the ball out after the catch, recovered by Olave.
  • Fourth-and-four: Haener complete to Dante Pettis (Taylor in coverage) middle of field, first down.

Second Series of Team Drills (Incremental yardage progression – this was likely laying the foundation for the later simulated drives)

  • First-and-10 (24-yard-line): Haener completion to Treyton Welch (Pete Werner, Demario Davis closest defenders) play action rollout right, Bryan Bresee and Alontae Taylor with pressure.
  • First-and-10 (34-yard-line): Kamara runs right.
  • First-and-10 (44-yard-line): Kamara runs middle for a big gain.
  • Second-and-eight (46-yard-line): Haener completion to Stoll (Chase Young in coverage), stepped up in the pocket and delivered on the middle. Good pocket mobility by Haener
  • Third-and-eight (46-yard-line) Haener in complete to Moliki Matavao (Yiadon in coverage) dropped on the left side.

Third Series of Team Drills (Same as previous)

  • First-and-10 (41-yard-line) Haener completion to Stoll (Danny Stutsman in coverage) quick pass to the left side.
  • First-and-10 (49-yard-line across midfield): Cam Akers runs right, Demario Davis on the stop.
  • First-and-10 (Plus-39-yard-line): Haener completion to Stoll (Stutsman in coverage) intermediate area seam.
  • Second-and-five (Plus-35): Kamara runs middle.
  • Third-and-five (Plus-35): Haener completion to Kamara middle, Chase Young pressure.

Fourth Series of Team Drills (End-of-half two-minute drill)

  • 1:40 – First-and-10 (30-yard-line): Haener incomplete to Stoll in the left area.
  • 1:33 – Second-and-10 (30-yard-line): Haener completion to Olave (Kool-Aid McKinstry in coverage) short left area for a gain of seven.
  • 1:02 – Third-and-three (37-yard-line): Haener completion to Kamara middle of the field for four yards, first down.
  • 0:47 – First-and-10 (41-yard-line): Haener completion to Kamara left sideline for two yards, Kamara gets out of bounds to stop the clock.
  • 0:42 – Second-and-eight (43-yard line): Haener incomplete to Shaheed (McKinstry in coverage) McKinstry with the pass breakup on the left sideline deep.
  • 0:35 – (43-yard-line): Haener completion to Austin (McKinstry in coverage) left area for a gain of 12. First down on the strong catch by Austin. Davon Godchaux with pressure on the throw, but Haener did well getting the ball out with the lineman bearing down. Time out called.
  • 0:28 – First-and-10 (Plus-45) Penalty: False Start. Trevor Penning out, Dillon Radunz in.
  • 0:28 – First-and-15 (50-yard-line) Haener incomplete to Brandin Cooks (Julian Blackmon in coverage) scramble by Haener, tried Cooks on the left sideline, but out of bounds.
  • 0:22 – Second-and-15 (50-yard-line): Haener completion to Cedrick Wilson Jr. (Taylor in coverage) in bounds, gain of five.
  • 0:06 – Third-and-10 (Plus-45) Haener spike.
  • Charlie Smyth’s 63-yard field goal attempt NO GOOD. Wide right.

Rattler Rep Charting:

First Series of Team Drills (Drive starters and mid-range second downs from the 35-yard-line)

  • First-and-10: Velus Jones Jr. right left.
  • Second-and-five: Haener completion to Shaheed (Jordan Howden nearest defender) play action right sideline for a big gain.
  • First-and-10: Rattler completion to Austin (Rico Payton in coverage) play action scramble, found Austin to the right side.
  • Second-and-five: Rattler zone read keeper left run for a huge gain.

7-on-7s (Midfield passing concepts – all snaps from the 50-yard-line)

  • Second-and-10: Rattler completion to Michael Jacobson, left side catch and run.
  • Second-and-seven: Rattler intercepted by Quincy Riley, intended for Means.
  • Third-and-seven: Rattler completion to Matavao (D’Marco Jackson in coverage) left side, first down.
  • Fourth-and-four: Rattler completion to Mason Tipton (Payton in coverage) quick left, first down.

Second Series of Team Drills (Incremental yardage progression – this was likely laying the foundation for the later simulated drives)

  • First-and-10 (36-yard-line): Clyde Edwards-Helaire runs middle.
  • First-and-10 (46-yard-line): Rattler completion to Cooks (Payton in coverage) right side, Chris Rumph II pressure.
  • First-and-10 (Plus-44): Rattler completion to Tipton (Riley and Howden in coverage). Play action deep bomb down the left side. Diving touchdown reception by Tipton.
  • Second-and-eight (Plus-42): Rattler completion to Devin Neal (Nephi Sewell in coverage).
  • Third-and-eight (Plus-42): Rattler completion to Olave (Riley in coverage) left side short. Isaiah Foskey with pressure.

Third Series of Team Drills (End-of-half two-minute drill)

  • 1:40 – First-and-10 (30-yard-line): Rattler completion to Miller on a swing pass to the right for one year.
  • 1:35 – Second-and-nine (31-yard-line): Rattler completion to Pettis (Payton in coverage) left sideline, nice catch-and-run by Pettis who slipped the wrap up of Payton and picked up several extra yards before getting out of bounds to stop the clock. Real heads-up play by Pettis. 22 yards on the play, about 17 estimated after the catch.
  • 1:27 – First-and-10 (Plus-47): Rattler completion to Miller for two yards, Foskey pressure again.
  • 1:22 – Second-and-eight (Plus-45): Rattler sacked by Jackson, loss of five.
  • 0:53 – Third-and-13 (50-yard line): Rattler scrambled up middle for another big run of 15 yards, first down.
  • 0:30 – First-and-10 (Plus-35): Rattler incomplete to Neal over the middle.
  • 0:28 – Second-and-10 (Plus-35): Jones runs left for a 35-yard touchdown.
  • Charlie Smyth’s Extra point attempt GOOD.

Shough Rep Charting:

First Series of Team Drills (Drive starters and mid-range second downs from the 35-yard-line)

  • First-and-10: Shough zone read keeper up the middle, ran into Josiah Ezirim, no gain or maybe a short gain.
  • Second-and-five: Shough completion to Shaheed (Rejzohn Wright in coverage) for a tough catch on the left sideline by Shaheed.
  • First-and-10: Shough completion to Tipton (Beanum in coverage) right side.
  • Second-and-five: Shough zone read keeper left. Just barely stepped out of bounds, but could have been a massive play.

7-on-7s (Midfield passing concepts – all snaps from the 50-yard-line)

  • First-and-10: Shough completion to Jacobson (Sewell in coverage) quick left after looking defenders off of coverage by moving eyes from running back in the flats to Jacobson. Impressive no-look by Shough.
  • Second-and-seven: Shough completion to Pettis (Wright in coverage) quick left.
  • Third-and-seven: Shough completion to Jones (Sewell in coverage) short right area.
  • Fourth-and-four: Shough incomplete to Cedrick Wilson Jr. (Wright in coverage) great pass breakup by Wright on the slant.

Third Series of Team Drills (Same as previous)

  • First-and-10 (45-yard-line) Shough completion to Cooks (Beanum in coverage) great sideline catch by Cooks.
  • First-and-10 (Plus-46): Miller runs right.
  • First-and-10 (Plus-36): Shough incomplete to Shaheed, slant.
  • Second-and-five (Plus-31): Neal runs right.
  • Third-and-five (Plus-31): Shough incomplete to Shaheed (Elliott Davison in coverage) out of bounds down the right sideline in the endzone.

Quarterback Rep Distribution (excluding re-huddles and penalties)

  • Haener: 28
  • Rattler: 21
  • Shough: 13

Passing Attempts/Completions (Running Total)

  • Haener: 14/20 (43/63, four passing touchdowns, one interception)
  • Rattler: 12/14, one touchdown, one interception (52/71, seven passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and three interceptions)
  • Shough: 6/9 (30/50, three passing touchdowns)

Charlie Smyth Bounces Back

With Smyth back up for field goals on Wednesday, he was looking for a bounce back and he’s started to capture it. After going 5/10 over his first two opportunities, he went 4/5 on day seven. But then added a miss on the 63-yard attempt in first team two-minute drills and a good extra point with the second team, finishing his day 5/7.

Makes from: Extra point, extra point, 39 yards, 45 yards and 51 yards.

Misses from: 49 yards and 63 yards.

Smyth is now 10/17 through camp while Blake Grupe holds strong at 14/15.

James Burnip Punts

The Saints might have tried out a pair of punters Tuesday, but there’s no rush to move on from Burnip nor incumbent leg Matthew Hayball. Burnip’s hangtime was a little less impressive than normal, but that comes from punting at midfield and focusing on directional work.

4.47s, 4.44s, 4.46s, 4.22s, 4.69s, 4.50s, 4.50s, 4.60s, 4.37s, 4.47s, 4.28s, 4.66s

Returners: Shaheed, Pettis, Ugo Amadi and Donovan Peoples-Jones

Gunners: Yiadom, Prie, Wilson, Tipton, Austin, Wright, Jones, Jonas Sanker, Beanum, Chris Tyree, Riley and Dixon

Blackmon Holding First Team Reps

Head coach Kellen Moore said that there will be a rotation at safety next to Justin Reid still, but it is notable that Blackmon has quickly begun to command first team reps on defense less than a week into his arrival. It’s been an impressive ascension for the sixth-year safety.

Attendance and Additions

All non-PUP players were present except for J.T. Gray who is nursing a hamstring injury that has him designated as week-to-week. Tight end Foster Moreau made an appearance partway through the day and several players left early.

Tight ends Juwan Johnson and Treyton Welch, as well as defensive tackle John Rigdeway III, left practice with injuries. Moore said that nothing is glaring right now, but updates from further evaluation will be made available on Thursday. 

The Saints signed rookie offensive lineman Jonathan Mendoza. The versatile lineman has over 800 collegiate snaps at both tackle spots, more than 230 at right guard and spent 2024 with Shough at Louisville. Before that, he was a teammate of Tipton’s at Yale.

Ross Jackson Signature

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