Practice Report: Defense continues strong start

Michael Bacigalupi

It’s not out of the ordinary to see a defense start stronger than an offense during training camp, and that has been the story of the New Orleans Saints’ first stretch of practices. After a day off, the trend continued as the team returned for its final day of work before pads go on Monday. 

A slow start for the offense, some ballhawking big plays by the defensive secondary and continued pressure from the defensive line are among the highlights of Saints camp day four.

Offense’s Slow Start Shouldn’t Concern

With so many new pieces on offense, it’s especially unsurprising to see this rhythm for New Orleans, and even though a lot of incomplete passes are charted right now, there is a lot to like about the concepts being utilized, the cleanliness of the operation and the decision making along with a rushing attack that will become more clear in coming days.

When things begin to click for the group, it should become a fun and high-flying offense very quickly. The devil really is in the details for the lack of rhythm in the passing game so far. 

It can be easy to overreact to the numbers alone. For instance, the Saints’ starting offense successfully connected on only three of 13 passing attempts in full team drills (11-on-11). But the context and nuance matters here.

One piece of that is that quarterback Tyler Shough is in position during these installation practices to try new things or throw passes a quarterback wouldn’t usually risk in game – something soon-to-be-inducted Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees often highlighted as an important part of the camp process. 

The other is that some passes are on-time and in the right place, but other factors present themselves. A drop by the pass-catcher, a great play at the catch-point by a defender, even a deep ball trying to take advantage of an offsides call are all factors throughout Sunday’s practice.

The road will eventually smooth out for the offense as things settle in even though the travel started bumpy. 

For now, the defense is doing a very good job of not just benefiting from the offense’s struggles, but turning those miscues into costly mistakes.

Defense Playing Opportunistic

STAR/slot defender Jonas Sanker’s diving pass breakup at the goal line against wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, Safety Julian Blackmon’s red zone interception and a number of pressures and possible sacks coming from edge rusher Chase Young all continue the great start for the Saints’ starting defense.

The unit has been on fire since camp opened. Players are flying around and have been able to make the plays in camp that can change games in the regular season. When a pass has a chance to fall harmlessly to the turf, defenders are finding a way to get under it and turn an incompletion into an interception. When an opportunity presents itself to make a missed connection costly, the defense has been taking advantage.

Kool-Aid McKinstry Returns To Team Drills

After a day of observing and a Saturday off, McKinstry was back on the field, fully participating on Sunday. With his return to the boundary for the first team, veteran corner Isaac Yiadom reassumed his role as the team’s No. 2 outside corner on the boundary side.

Attendance

There were no new absences for the Saints in day four. Instead, progress was the story of attendance. Tight end Cody Hardy was back at practice after starting the offseason on the Non-Football Injury list. Starting on the same list, defensive tackle Zxavian Harris was also seen observing the early portion of practice, but was not yet participating.

Undrafted rookie defensive lineman Keshawn Silver, who started camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, was also observing the early portion.

Otherwise, the players not seen were:

Update on Bresee’s Injury

After seeking a second opinion, Bresee is headed to surgery in the coming weeks, head coach Kellen Moore confirmed in his post-practice media availability. Bresee’s season will come to an end before it starts as he will eventually be placed on Injured Reserve. The seeking of a second opinion with ACL tears often delays the process of surgery but can be necessary as it can help to determine partial tears from complete tears, which are approached differently, as well as seeking information on any additional damage. With clarity now seemingly gathered, Bresee’s surgery is on the way.

Kicker Battle

It was time for former UFL kicker Tanner Brown to continue the rotation of kickers on Sunday, getting an opportunity to do so in the indoor facility thanks to inclement weather changes. He rebounded from his first round of attempts by going 5/5 on the day from extra point distance to 49 yards out.

Charlie Smyth: 10/10

Tanner Brown: 9/10

Team Drill Session 1

Shough:

  • Shough incomplete to WR Chris Olave (CB Quincy Riley in coverage) deep down the right sideline off of play action. The result of this one was contested, but was called incomplete.
  • RB Travis Etienne Jr. run up the middle, Young with the stop.
  • Etienne run up the middle for a nice gain.
  • Shough incomplete to RB Alvin Kamara (Sanker in coverage) quick pass to the left side, dropped.

Rattler:

Wilson:

7-On-7s (Red Zone)

This period included snaps of:

  • First-and-10 from the plus-20
  • Second-and-5 from the plus-15
  • Third-and-Goal from the plus-8
  • Third-and-Goal from the plus-5

Shough

  • Complete to TE Noah Fant (LB Pete Werner in coverage) on a quick pass to the short-right area.
  • Complete to Kamara (S Justin Reid in coverage) in the middle of the field, enough for the first down
  • Complete to Etienne (LB Kaden Elliss in coverage) on a quick pass to the short-right area
  • Complete to WR Ronnie Bell (Sanker in coverage) on the short-middle area of the field, called a touchdown by officials.

Rattler

  • Complete to WR Barion Brown (LB Isaiah Stalbird) in the short-middle area.
  • Complete to Miller (LB Danny Stutsman in coverage) in the short-right area.
  • Complete to Lance (Price in coverage) in short-left area, just shy of the goal line.
  • Complete to Lance (CB Martin Emerson Jr. and S Jordan Howden in the area) in the back corner of the endzone for a touchdown. Great timing on this route on the throw, excellent job navigating both congestion and space on the route.

Wilson

  • Complete to Means (DGE Mike Heldman in coverage in the short-left area.
  • Complete to WR Trey Palmer (LB Jaylan Ford in coverage) in the middle of the field for a first down.
  • Complete to Palmer, open on a crosser to the right
  • Complete to Donaldson (LB Chris Rumph III in coverage) on a dumpoff to the right. Donaldson and Rumph met at the goal line, play was called a touchdown.

Team Drill Session 2

This appeared to be where the rotation of even snaps for Shough, Rattler and Wilson broke convention, leading to a greater amount of the day’s snaps going to Shough.

Shough

  • Young sack, Shough played through with a completion to Etienne.
  • Etienne run up the middle.
  • Shough complete to TE Juwan Johnson (Riley in coverage)
  • High snap, Shough wrangled and ran for a first down on Third-and-2 from the plus-17

Rattler

  • Rattler complete to TE Oscar Delp (Emerson in coverage) in the short-left area
  • Rattler complete to TE Moliki Matavao (Ford in coverage) in the right area.
  • Miller run right
  • Fumble at the mesh point with RB Audric Estime, recovered by Jennings, who didn’t miss the opportunity to run down the field for a touchdown return with Bell pursuing after.

Team Drill Session 3 (And-Goal)

Snaps here included:

  • First-and-Goal from the plus-10
  • First-and-Goal from the plus-8
  • Second-and-Goal from the plus-6
  • Third-and-Goal from the plus-4

Shough

  • Shough incomplete to Olave (Riley in coverage) down the field to the back corner of the end zone. Took a shot here with Young called for offsides.
  • Kamara run up the middle.
  • Shough incomplete to Tyson (Sanker in coverage) at the front pylon, left. Sanker with a diving pass breakup. This looked like the same concept that turned into a touchdown on the second day. Sanker was on it this time.
  • Shough incomplete to Kamara, scramble drill to the right area.

Wilson

  • Wilson complete to Hardy on the right side.
  • Wilson incomplete to TE Treyron Welch (Sirmon in coverage)
  • Neal run up the middle for a touchdown
  • Heldman sack, Wilson played through with a shovel pass that fell incomplete to Palmer with CB Mike Reid in coverage.

Team Session 4 (Red Zone)

At this time, Shough and the first team units remained on the near-side of the field to media while Rattler and Wilson were with the second and third team units at the opposite endzone. This allowed each Rattler and Wilson to see four plays each while Shough ran a similar script on the near-side, getting eight reps.

Shough

  • Shough incomplete to Etienne (Wenrer in coverage) ball delivered on target, but punched out by Werner. Play was called a catch and fumble, but likely would have been incomplete after review.
  • Etienne run
  • Shough incomplete, Sanker with pressure
  • Shough run left on option keeper
  • Shough complete to Tyson, on a quick pass in the flats
  • Shough incomplete to Johnson, ball low at the goal line
  • Shough intercepted by Blackmon, pressure also there by Young.
  • Shough incomplete on throw out of bounds

Rattler

  • Rattler incomplete to Delp (Jennings in coverage) nearly intercepted by Jennings, who drew a roar of celebration from the defense.
  • RB Ty Chandler run up the middle.
  • Rattler complete to Bell (Stutsman in coverage) on a quick pass to the right.
  • Chandler option toss left from Rattler.

Wilson

  • Donaldson run up the middle
  • WIlson incomplete to Palmer (Hall in coverage) left side
  • Wilson complete to Estime (S Lorenzo Styles Jr. in coverage) to the left-short area.
  • Wilson incomplete (Reid in coverage) pass broken up in the left area.

Lagniappe

  • Special teams work included downing coffin corner punts, not something the team has had the chance to take advantage of in past years.
  • Punt returners included: Brown, Palmer, McKinstry, Riley, Tyson, Price and Means.
  • Saints working on much more than base looks, mixing in 6-1 penny fronts, nickel looks and more on defense.

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Ross Jackson

Ross Jackson

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