By Ross Jackson
IRVINE – Each day of New Orleans Saints training camp, we will bring you the five most important pieces of information that you need. From big plays, to notable comments and important health updates, you will have everything you need to know from Saints camp each day in a quick and easily-digestible five-point list.
- This was quarterback Derek Carr and the offense’s best day of camp yet.
Carr went 11/16 for five passing touchdowns and one interception on Saturday. He also ran a zone read keeper in for an additional score during red zone drills. It was Carr’s best performance this training camp and perhaps his best practice performance since joining the Saints last year. His timing was great His throw selection and ball placement were, as wel,l and he looked to be able to anticipate his pass-catchers better than ever before. Even the short throws on slants, outs and digs were on time and in the right place. A couple of his incompletions were from screen plays that did not set up properly, leading to him dirting the ball rather than trying to force the issue, a smart choice in a game environment.
The Saints did a lot of work with down and distance in mind. This seemed to benefit Carr and the entire offense quite well. Even the offensive line, which has drawn a lot of scrutiny thus far through camp, had its second-straight positive performance of the week. It was the day the Saints offense was desperately in need of and now the question will be whether or not they can extend it with consistent performances over the next few days.
- Wide receiver Chris Olave is becoming the bona fide number one receiver the Saints need.
The third-year wideout is walking into a season built to amplify his profile into stardom and he is bringing the attitude necessary to answer the call. Olave had a fantastic day at camp on Saturday with a 55-yard touchdown strike along the right sideline from Carr. Beyond that, his trademark route-running has been crisp, his speed has been off the charts and his attitude has been nothing short of alpha-like.
A lot of questions tend to circulate around Olave as an “alpha” on the football field. Those folks probably just have not been close enough to the field to hear him in action. The pass-catcher is constantly talking trash and challenging his competition. He clearly views himself as better than anyone that lines up across from him, and so far this camp – he has been.
- Wideout Rashid Shaheed missed practice with “hamstring tightness”, per head coach Dennis Allen. The absence was precautionary.
A surprise absence from Saturday’s practice, Shaheed does not sound like he will be gone for long. Allen clarified quickly that he was dealing with some “hamstring tightness”, stopping short of calling the issue a true injury. He said that keeping him out of practice for Day 9 was precautionary and they hope to have him back on the field on Sunday.
- New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is doing a great job putting running back Alvin Kamara in position to make plays.
Wheel routes, slot fades for touchdowns, option routes, outside runs and more, Kubiak is not confused on how to maximize Kamara. This should be welcome news for Saints fans that have taken in the running back’s usage over the past few years with disdain. Kamara looks to be back in a system that deploys him in a variety of ways from a plethora of different areas. This should be a big bounce-back season for him, if he is able to stay healthy.
- This is the most competitive training camp has felt in many years.
At the end of team drills, Carr put up a pass that was intercepted by cornerback Alontae Taylor. It was an athletic, leaping play that was more of a great play by Taylor than a bad throw by Carr. But the Saints defensive coaching staff was not interested in settling for just the interception. Taylor came down with the pass in the end zone and looked to be ready to accept the faux touchback and get back to work. That is until a shout came from the sideline:
“GO GET A TOUCHDOWN!” a couch demanded.
Taylor then turned on the jets and sprinted down the right sideline for a would-be pick-six. Offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga showed some surprising speed and may have actually been able to push Taylor out of bounds. But, nonetheless, the push from the coaching staff for more was notable. They were not interested in just taking the touchback. This was a great indicator of the competition level of training camp thus far. Everyone wants more, no one wants to settle. It is driving a ton of back-and-forth and is pushing the players to go for it all. A good way to be in training camp while trying to develop the best you can get from your talent.
