True to form, the New Orleans Saints are rattling off bold headlines during their training camp. They’ve been challenged to tap into that cutting-edge system developed by director of sports science Ted Rath. Our camp currently taking place in Metairie, Louisiana. The team can’t be blamed for going to extreme lengths to increase player output and remain relevant. The Saints gave veteran players a few days off. This decision should let them recover as the team looks ahead to the next season.
The camp has been remarkable for the almost comic participation/absence of key players. On announcement of his retirement, Tyrann Mathieu missed practice. On the other hand, Julian Blackmon and Jonathan Bullard came into the training sessions fired up and ready to learn. Defensive players flexed their muscles during an intense red zone-centric pro-day style practice. They captivated the second day of training camp as they continued to hone their craft.
Quarterback Competition Heats Up
Leading the charge of the Saints’ training camp is a fierce battle for the starting QB job. Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough and Jake Haener. To say that Spencer Rattler had a disappointing 2022 season would be an understatement. Each player brings their special magic to the turf. Rattler was one of the stars of practice. He first connected with tight end Juwan Johnson for a touchdown and then ran in for another score on the ground himself.
Kellen Moore, the team’s offensive coordinator, emphasized the importance of this competition: “Spencer obviously took … all the ones today. Tyler will take them tomorrow and we’ll continue to rotate all these guys.” The rotation allows the coaching staff to evaluate each player’s performance under varying conditions while assessing their fit within specific personnel groups.
Haener, often viewed as an underdog in this competitive landscape, expressed confidence in his abilities: “When you’re the underdog … and your back is kind of up against the wall, that’s when I play my best.” His resolve is a testament to the competitive fire running through the camp as each quarterback pushes one another to claim one of those three prized spots.
Kicking Game Developments
While the Saints fortunes seemingly rise every day on the offensive end, changes and advancements in the kicking game have made significant headlines. Kicker Charlie Smyth hit three-of-five tries in his most recent practice. This makes his total five out of ten for the training camp. Meanwhile, Blake Grupe has taken over kicking duties with an impressive performance, converting four out of five attempts but missing a 49-yarder.
We all know how important the kicking game is to any NFL club. The Saints are using such situations as measuring sticks as they prepare for the regular season. The battle for the job at kicker should only continue as the team looks to settle on a level of consistency and reliability in this all-important field.
On-Field Tensions Emerge
Unlike at home, training camps are not just about skills development, they can create competitive divides as well. The Saints had their first notable on-field fracas when rookie WR Brandin Cooks got caught in the midst of a minor scrum. These types of incidents are not uncommon in NFL training camps as players compete against each other to perform at their best under high-stakes environments.
On the field, which is perhaps even more important, some big absences have been sorely missed. Linebacker Demario Davis was excused from practice, further emphasizing the need for depth in the roster as newer players step up in his absence. The coaching staff is still committed to finding ways to fit all the guys into their systems best while trying to work around the early struggles of doing so.
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