Another day, another big play from New Orleans Saints rookie wide receiver Barion Brown. The former LSU Tigers wideout has taken camp by storm and is doing so in a convincingly consistent way.
He is, again, the biggest story coming out of day seven of camp, but so is a continuously impactful defense and a rebound opportunity for starting quarterback Tyler Shough.
Brown Shines Again
Hopefully no one is getting tired of hearing this, but there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight for just how electrifying the rookie wideout has been. On Thursday, the lore grew with a 46-yard deep ball completion from backup quarterback Spencer Rattler, who has clearly built some strong chemistry with the speedster.
On a third-and-9 play in the team’s end-of-game two-minute simulation, Rattler rolled left to avoid pressure and uncorked a deep pass down the left sideline that Brown was able to get under after an adjustment to create separation from veteran cornerback Isaac Yiadom.
The play was the highlight of the day for the offense and is, without a doubt, the throw and connection of camp, so far.
Defense Wins the Day
While the offense put up the highlight of the day, it was another strong performance by the Saints’ defense, especially the first unit. Sacks, pass break ups and a pair of interceptions help tell the story of what has been a dominant defensive performance throughout camp.
While the offense found moments to punch back, especially in the run game and the aforementioned touchdown strike, the defense continues to impress.
Shough’s Two Interceptions
One of the biggest talking points coming out of the day will be a pair of interceptions coming from Shough.
The first of which came in red zone drills. Shough dropped back on a 1st-and-goal from the 5-yard line after play action and fired to the endzone. The ball was either underthrown on an attempt to throw it away out of the back of the endzone or it was overthrown to wide receiver Devaughn Vele. In any case, cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry made the second-year quarterback pay by tipping the ball back to himself at the boundary line to secure the interception.
The second turnover, however, came on a 3rd-and-10 from the 30-yard line following a sack, which left the clock running. In that situation, the only option is to put the ball up to give receivers a chance to make a play. Shough did just that and the ball came down instead with cornerback Quincy Riley.
Not all interceptions are created equal and while the second one likely stings less than the first, what comes next is what’s most important. Shough now has a chance to respond after the day off, which will be a key opportunity for the passer.
Kicker Battle
It was a rough day for incumbent kicker Charlie Smyth. For the first time, we saw consecutive field goals missed as the Irish leg missed three kicks in a row from 39, 35, and 51 yards out. After missing the trio of kicks, Special Teams Coach Phil Galiano moved the ball back to the 39-yard range, allowing Smyth an opportunity to rekick from that distance.
He then made his second attempts from 39 and 51. He also made a kick from extra point distance, going 3/6 on the day. That leaves the door open for his competition, kicker Tanner Brown, to perhaps create some distance the next time he kicks.
Running Totals
Smyth: 18/22 with misses from 39, 44, 45 and 51.
Brown:17/19 with misses from extra point distance and 39 yards.
Team Drill Session 1 (Early Downs)
- 1st-and-10
- 2nd-and-7
- 1st-and-10
- 2nd-and-5
Shough
- Shough complete to/WR Chris Olave (Riley in coverage) in the middle of the field off of play action for about 12 yards.
- Shough complete to RB Travis Etienne Jr. (LB Pete Werner in coverage) in the short-left area.
- Shough keeper on a read option to the right.
- Etienne run right, McKinstry with a great stop short.
Rattler
- Rattler complete to WR Kevin Austin Jr. (CB Jayden Price in coverage) on the right sideline, great catch by Austin.
- Rattler keeper on a read option to the left.
- Rattler complete to WR Jalen Cropper (CB Martin Emerson Jr.) on the short-right sideline.
- RB Devin Neal run middle
Wilson
- QB Zach Wilson complete to WR Bub Means (CB Rejzohn Wright in coverage) in the middle of the field off of play action.
- Wilson complete to TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden (LB Isaiah Stalbird in coverage) down the seam on the right side.
- Wilson keeper on a read option to the left, S Lorenzo Styles Jr. showed some hustle here, chasing the play down from the backside of the defense.
- Wilson incomplete to WR Trey Palmer (CB Dalys Beanum in coverage) over the middle off of play action.
Team Drill Session 2 (Drive Progression)
- 1st-and-10
- 2nd-and-5
- 3rd-and-1
- 4th-and-1
Shough
- Shough complete to TE Noah Fant (LB Danny Stutsman in coverage) on a quick pass over the middle of the field.
- Etienne run left, EDGE Chase Young took up a double team that set the edge for Riley to get around for an open-field tackle.
- Etienne run middle, EDGE Cameron Jordan sliced through the offensive line for a potential tackle for a loss.
- Shough complete to TE Juwan Johnson (Riley in coverage) in the short-right area off oc play action.
Rattler
- Neal run up the middle into a pile at the line of scrimmage.
- Neal run up the middle for a short gain.
- RB Audric Estime run up the middle of a nice gain after a defender leapt offsides.
- Rattler keeper on a read option to the right.
Wilson
- Wilson complete to Means (CB TJ Hall in coverage) in the intermediate-right area for a first down.
- Wilson incomplete to Palmer (Hall in coverage) deep down the right sideline.
- RB CJ Donaldson run up the middle.
- Donaldson run up the middle for a first down.
Team Drill Session 3 (Red Zone)
- 1st-and-10 from the 20-yard line
- 2nd-and-5 from the 15-yard line
- 1st-and-10 from the 11-yard line
- 2nd-and-goal from the 8-yard line
- 1st-and-goal from the 5-yard line
- 2nd-and-goal from the 2-yard line
Shough
- Shough complete to Etienne on a dumpoff to the right side.
- Etienne run up the middle.
- Shough complete to Johnson in the short-left area, reversed field in search of more yardage but the play was blown dead.
- Etienne run left, DL Nathan Shepherd got into the backfield, LB Kaden Elliss met Etienne at the line of scrimmage.
- Shough intercepted by McKinstry on a target in Vele’s area off of play action.
- Shough incomplete to Vele (Riley in coverage) on a quick pass to the right.
Rattler
- Rattler incomplete to Brown (Emerson in coverage) on a quick pass to the right side, Emerson with the pass breakup.
- RB Ty Chandler run to the left for a first down.
- Chandler run left for a short gain, tackled by LB Jaylan Ford
- Estime run left, EDGE Anfernee Jennings with a tackle for a loss coming from the backside of the play.
- Rattler scramble left for a touchdown.
- Rattler incomplete to Austin (Emerson in coverage) Emerson disrupted the catch on a quick target.
Wilson
- Wilson complete to Chandler (LB Jackson Sirmon in coverage) short pass to the right after a low snap. EDGE Tyree Wilson with pressure.
- Estime right up the middle for a first down.
- Wilson complete to Donaldson on a swing pass to the right, may have gotten the first down at the 1-yard line.
- Donaldson run up the middle.
- Donaldson run up the middle to the 1-yard line
- Wilson complete to Mean (Beanum in coverage) on the right side for a touchdown.
Team Drill Session 4 (End of Game, 2-Minute Drill)
- Offense down 24-20 and starting at the minus-35 with one timeout.)
Shough
- 1:40, 1st-and-10 from the minus-35: Shough complete to Johnson (Jordan in coverage) for three yards. Johnson got out of bounds to stop the clock
- 1:33, 2nd-and-7 from the minus-38: Shough complete to Johnson (Granderson in coverage) on a shovel pass in the middle of the field. First down.
- 1:09, 1st-and-10 from the minus-45: Shough complete to Etienne (Elliss in coverage) underneath.
- 0:50, 2nd-and-5 from the minus-46: Shough complete to Olave (Riley in coverage) on the left side for nine yards.
- 0:42, 1st-and-10 from the plus-45: Shough complete to Brown (McKinstry in coverage) for 15 yards and another first down.
- 0:27, 1st-and-10 from the plus-30: Shough spikes the ball to stop the clock.
- 0:27, 2nd-and-10 from the plus-30: Shough sacked. Pressure by both Jordan and Granderson.
- 0:04, 3rd-and-10 from the plus-30: Shough intercepted by Riley on a Hail Mary heave toward Olave. Granderson with pressure.
Rattler
- 1:40, 1st-and-10 from the minus-35: Rattler complete to Austin (S Terrell Burgess in coverage) in the middle of the field.
- 1:27, 1st-and-10 from the minus-45: Rattler complete to Chandler in the middle of the field.
- 1:00, 2nd-and-4 from the plus-49: Rattler scrambles to the right for a first down, gets out of bounds to stop the lock.
- 0:53, 1st-and-10 from the plus-47: Rattler complete to Austin (Burgess in coverage) in the middle of the field.
- 0:37, 2nd-and-4 from the plus-41: Rattler incomplete to Austin (Ford in coverage) dropped.
- 0:32, 3rd-and-4 from the plus-41: False start by TE Oscar Delp
- 0:27, 2nd-and-4 from the plus-41: Shough sacked. Pressure by both Jordan and Granderson.
- 0:32, 3rd-and-9 from the plus-46: Rattler complete to Brown (Yiadom in coverage) for a touchdown. Ford with pressure.
Attendance
- Not present: Wide receiver Mason Tipton (leg), running back Alvin Kamara (rest), defensive linemen Keeshawn Silver (calf) and Bryan Bresee (knee)
- Running back Kendre Miller (back), Guard Jeremiah Wright (shoulder) and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris (foot) were all spotted observing practice.
- Two players did not finish practice: running back Devin Neal (hamstring), linebacker Chris Rumph III (ankle) and wide receiver Ronnie Bell was sidelined after getting poked in the eye.
Lagniappe
- Punter returners: Palmer, Tyson, Brown
- Kick returners: Chandler, Palmer, Brown, Cropper, Smith, Styles and WR Bryce Lance
