By Ross Jackson
As their training camp practices come to an end and the regular season finally approaches, the New Orleans Saints held an open practice in front of thousands of fans at the newly renovated Casesars Superdome. With the crowd in attendance, the Saints focused mostly on situational and red zone drills along with continuing to work through every phase of the kicking game.
New Orleans said a couple of returns that could mean good news for players fighting for roster spots and positioning on the depth chart. One of those players had himself a day, rookie wide receiver Bub Means.
The Big Moment: By All (Bub) Means
Come for the observations, stay for the puns. But Means had a strong day. After a weak start, the surge was a welcomed surprise. He dropped a pass from rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler on a slant and had another, this time from Jake Haener, in the back of the endzone that he bobbled and caught out of bounds. But after that, things started to pick up for Means.
Starting quarterback Derek Carr caught Means on a pivot route to the right side. The former Pitt Panther ran it perfectly and ended up wide open underneath and was able to pick up more yards after the catch. With Haener and the third team, he caught a great pass for a big pickup down the right sideline, keeping both feet in bounds and surviving a little contact in the process.
He would later add a touchdown catch from Haener working toward the sideline. He caught it just before the front pylon and worked his way into the endzone. He had one more catch in the carded offense reps (wherein the team is running the scheme of their upcoming opponent) just short of the end zone.
Means has a chance to steal a roster spot with a good performance against the Tennessee Titans this weekend. Otherwise, he may already be set in the coaching staff’s eyes and will be looking to prove himself and build more connections with his teammates this weekend. Either way, things are looking up for Means.
Attendance Report
- Saints defensive end Payton Turner was back out on the field. That is a very good sign for the young player in what is his most important season. He was not seen at Thursday’s practice due to what head coach Dennis Allen described as a “flare up” of his previous toe injury. That raised a lot of concerns about Turner’s ability to stay on the field, but he answered those calls by indeed finding his way back to the field immediately.
- Preseason star and cornerback Rico Payton was back in team drills today. He has been outstanding in both preseason games. His injury may have derailed his progress a bit, but if he can go this weekend against Tennessee, he may be able to gain a little ground back.
- Linebacker Pete Werner was fully back in team drills today and spoke with the media about his contract extension. More on that when we empty the notebook.
- Players not seen at practice: A.T. Perry (personal reasons), Rashid Shaheed, Marshon Lattimore, Kendre Miller, Kool-Aid McKinstry, D’Marco Jackson, Jaylan Ford, Monte Rice, Nick Saldiveri, Dallin Holker and Mason Fairchild.
- The Saints made some roster moves today by adding defensive lineman Camron Peterson and linebacker Andrew Dowell. The corresponding moves were waiving cornerback Kaleb Ford-Dement and the team also waived/injured Trajan Jeffcoat. John Hendrix reported on the Second And Saints Podcast that there may be some interest to get Jeffcoat back to the practice squad when he is healthy.
Team Drill 1 – Red Zone
The Saints’ defense opened the first drive immediately the way many will hope they will against the Carolina Panthers Week 1: with a sack. Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee continues his impressive second-year leap by splitting blocks and getting to Carr quickly off the snap. After that, Carr completed a pass to wide receiver Chris Olave for about five yards, then could not connect with him on a pass in the back corner of the endzone. Olave then saw a third-straight play go his way with a jet sweep that looked to gain about four yards before cornerback Alontae Taylor got the stop. Carr finished his drive with a touchdown pass to running back Alvin Kamara on a well-executed screen. Offensive weapon Taysom Hill delivered the key block to spring Kamara free.
First-team offensive line: LT – Taliese Fuaga, LG – Lucas Patrick, C- Erik McCoy, RG – Cesar Ruiz, RT – Trevor Penning.
Carr’s stat line: 2/3 and 1 touchdown
Rattler was up next with the second team. He kicked things off with a beautifully placed touchdown pass to tight end Juwan Johnson in the back corner of the endzone. Running back Jordan Mims took the next run inside the five-yard line. Rattler’s drive ended with Means’ drop on the slant.
Rattler’s stat line: 1-for-2, 1 TD
Haener opened with a touchdown on his own to wideout Kevin Austin Jr. who was working toward the sideline. He almost had a second, but Means was not able to reel it in while staying in bounds. Means’s day took off after this play.
Haener’s Stat Line: 1-for-2, 1 TD
Team Drill 2 – Down, Distance and Field Position
For this period the Saints worked through different down and distance simulations as if they were driving down the field. Carr started off with a pitch to the right side for Kamara who was met by a host of defenders after just a couple of yards. On an early first down, that would be a positive play. Carr missed another connection with Olave downfield. Then a slant to wideout Cedrick Wilson Jr. fell incomplete with both safety Will Harris and cornerback Paulson Adebo in coverage.
The Saints then moved to the plus-side of the field to continue Carr’s reps. Kamara had a nice run inside to the right, Carr found Johnson on a comeback route and then Means on a pivot.
Carr’s Stat Line: 2-for-2
Rattler stepped in from there and found wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown for a big gain near the left sideline. St. Brown did a nice job finding a soft spot in the coverage. Mims had a run inside with returning linebacker Andrew Dowell plugging the gap. Rattler then had to scramble on his next play, a boot action to the left side. Finally, James Robinson ran to the right with defensive lineman Kendal Vickers making the stop.
Rattler’s Stat Line: 1-for-1
Haener finished the drive off by first delivering a nice pass to Means on the right sideline. Running back Jamaal Williams took a carry up the middle but was cut off by defensive tackle Khristian Boyd clogging the lane. Rattler then put up a touchdown to wideout Kevin Austin Jr. for the second day in a row, hooking up with him on a play action rollout to the right. Cornerback Rejzohn Wright was in coverage.
Haener’s Stat Line: 2-for-2, 1 TD
Team Drill 3 – Back to the Red Zone
As the Saints continued their focus on situational drills, they returned to the red zone. The first-team series was kicked off with a Kamara run to the left for a modest gain. Carr then found Wilson Jr. in stride on a drag route on the left side of the field. He then found Hill with three defenders around him for an outstanding throw and catch. Kamara took another run to the right. Demario Davis and defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd made sure it went nowhere. Carr then found Olave on a quick out at the front pylon for a walk-in touchdown.
Carr’s Stat Line: 3-for-3, 1 TD
Rattler then took a short series that began with a Mims run, but the tackle was made almost immediately by linebacker Mike Rose who adeptdly shed himself from a block to make the play. Williams then took a run up the middle, and Rattler finished his drive with an incomplete pass to Austin Jr. with safety Ugo Amadi covering him in the endzone. Austin Jr. did his best to use some late hands to bring in the catch without giving Amadi a chance to make the play. His efforts were effective, but he was not able to bring in the catch.
Rattler’s Stat Line: 0-for-1
Haener then wrapped up this period with two plays. Jacob Kibodi ran to the right side then hauled in a pss at the front pylon for a touchdown.
Haener’s Stat Line: 1-for-1, TD
Team Drill 4 – Carded Defenses
The Saints then shifted gears to prepare for what defenses they may see against the Titans this weekend in the red zone by running some of their looks. The offense scorched these looks throughout the period.
The first team started off with two runs, a jet sweep for Means and a run on a toss to the right side by Williams. Then, Carr found Mims for a touchdown on a crossing route and got another to Olave to the left side.
Carr’s Stat Line: 2-for-2, 2 TDs
Haener then bumped up to the second team for this period of practice. Their series began with a run up the middle by Robinson and a quick touchdown pass on an underneath hitch to tight end Michael Jacobson. Newly acquired cornerback Joejuan Williams then made a diving pass break-up in the back corner of the endzone while covering Johnson. Joejuan Williams made a few plays in Friday’s practice. After a re-huddle, Haener found Means for a touchdown to the left side.
Haener’s Stat Line: 2-for-3, 2 TDs
Final Stat Lines
Derek Carr: 9-for-10, 4 TDs
Spencer Rattler: 2-for-4, 1 TD
Jake Haener: 6-for-8, 5 TDs
The Kicking Battle
Things are starting to look a little settled at kicker for the Saints. Blake Grupe again took all the kicks on Friday after also doing so on Wednesday. He made all seven kicks, six of them in field goal drills. He also made an extra point.
Grupe’s kicks were from: XP, 41R, 42R, 42L, 44R, 47L and 54R
Note: R and L denote right and left hash respectively.
Grupe is now 71-for-83 on field goals and extra points throughout camp. Charlie Smyth is 57-for-69.
Perhaps Smyth will get the opportunity to kick in Sunday’s game. But it is curious to have three-straight days without the young player kicking.
The Punting Battle
Ask six local media members who will be the Saints’ punter in 2024, and you will very likely get an even split of differing opinions. No one is quite sure what to expect in this one. Punters Lou Hedley and Matthew Hayball are so tightly competitive that it is anyone’s call as to which will walk away with the gig for this year. Hedley, the incumbent, has the advantage in that the coaching staff loves what he has done for them and how he has grown. There would be value as well in keeping the snap-hold-kick operation together for another year on field goals. But truly, it is a tough one to call right now.
Emptying the Notebook
- The Saints also ran a fifth set of team drills wherein the offense ran some of the Titans looks. A couple of highlights including wideout Shaq Davis making a great jump ball catch in the back corner of the endzone on Williams. Williams came back on the next play and contested an Austin Jr. catch for a breakup. Means also caught another pass in this series from Rattler and was cut just short of the goal line by defenders Millard Bradford and Khaleke Hudson.
- Punt returners: Wilson Jr. Amadi and receiver Samson Nacua.
- The Saints’ new home locker rooms in the Superdome are outstanding. Tons of space and built-in LED strips and party lights that are synched to the very impressive sound system. The team is going to want to win more games just for the sake of the party that will ensue inside. The team also now has upgraded showers, recovery rooms, medical facilities and meeting rooms.
- There are some rumbles that undrafted free agent wideout Mason Tipton could play this weekend. He has not practiced fully at all this week. But with a walkthrough tomorrow and having been involved in the majority of the offensive install before the first preseason game, things could work out.
- Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has called the last two preseason games from the booth. He will be calling plays from the sidelines on Sunday.
- Defensive coordinator Joe Woods called the defensive plays against the Arizona Cardinals and during the second half against the San Francisco 49ers. He will call the entire game Sunday against the Titans. Allen will retain play calling duties on defense for the regular season.
- The quarterbacks had a little fun during kickoff drills today that really got the crowd excited. A lot of fans miss the “Quarterback Competitions” former quarterback Drew Brees and the other signal callers on the roster would host as digital content during training camp. Today, fans got a live version featuring Carr, Haener, Rattler and quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko. Members of the equipment staff placed three trash cans, open side up, in each corner of an endzone. Haener and Rattler were one team while Carr and Janocko manned the other. The goal was to see which team could sink one pass in each of their three cans first. The competition roused the crowd as Carr continued to pump them up and talk back and forth with the fans throughout. Eventually Haener and Rattler sank their three and got the win.
- Safeties Tyrann Mathieu and Johnathon Abram had light days.
