Saints Training Camp

[flyinbayou]

I was able to make it out to Airline Drive (that sounds much better than Airline Highway, huh?) to watch the Saints practice this AM.
Here are just a few observations:
The gates to the fields are closer to Airline. Park at the Winn Dixie and use the cross walk to walk across Airline.
I arrived at 820am for a scheduled 840am start and there was plenty of seating. Granted, it was a Monday. There are drinks, beer, hot dogs, jambalaya and Saints paraphernalia for sale. They give you a paper roster as you walk in. Smoothie was giving out towels to the 1st ?? purchasers of smoothies.
The day was pretty cloudy so the temp was not that bad. Maybe that was because Moses was there, in full regalia!



I give him props. I wouldn't be in that garb in Aug in NOLA!

Practice started at 850. They went back and forth between individual position drills and then full team drills.
Not many highlights to report but here they are:

PROs

QBs seemed to click on the 7 on 7 drills. Of course, no one is rushing them.
Pierre Thomas broke a run up the middle for a long TD.
RB Mike Bell seems to be more than capable of spelling PT.
Jabari Greer made some nice breakups.
If you thought trading up for a punter (Morstead) was a bad idea, your thoughts may be validated in the season, but I doubt it. This kid was booming the ball with the greatest of ease! Pakulak didn't come close.
A lot of time was spent on special team drills.
Forget about coffee and donuts for breakfast. Beer and jambalaya are for sale when the gates open!

CONs

Devery dropped 2 or 3 punts. The sound of the ball hitting his pads, not his hands, was audible.
The QBs did NOT look good on the team drills, including Brees. Many poorly thrown balls and 3 interceptions (should have been 5)
The offense still looks terrible on 3rd and <5. Many of those plays were passes, not runs.
Grant had a run stop in the backfield. He still looks heavy though.
DC Gregg Williams tossed his clipboard to the ground when Jason David dropped an interception.
Jason David's number is now 29. I am so used to yelling at no. 42 that I will feel bad for Darren Sharper, who now dons that number, when he screws up at the Superdome.

In closing,
it was a good experience. Bring a camera (I forgot mine and the phone camera is just so-so). Some of the drills are really close to you and depending on where you sit, many of the team drills will be right in front of you.
Also, I was lucky that it wasn't so hot. Next time I will bring a towel. Thankfully I remembered my hat. Afterwards, I had it signed by Pierre Thomas and Lynell Hamilton. (Reggie Bush, Scott Fujita and some other guy were also signing autographs)

I can't wait to go again. It was easy.


ps. I think I speak for most when I say I have nothing but respect for WWL's Jim Henderson. The media is given closer access to the fields than the public. Out of all the reporters there, Henderson, probably the oldest one out there, was the only one to kneel at the edge of the grass as not to block the spectator's view. Pure, and unfortunately rare class!

[edible complex]

is there a schedule for practices?
I was at the W/D this morning and saw the crowd out there. wasn't sure if it was open to public or if it was a team family day.

[flyinbayou]

2009 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE
DATE AM/PM TIMES LOCATION PUBLIC ACCESS
7-31
Morning 8:50-11:00
Outdoor Fields
Open
Afternoon 4:20-5:45 Indoor Facility Closed due to weather
8-1 Morning 8:50-11:00 Outdoor Fields Open
Afternoon 4:20-5:45 Outdoor Fields Open
8-2 Afternoon 3:20-5:45 Outdoor Fields Open
8-3 Morning 8:50-11:00 Outdoor Fields Open
Afternoon 4:20-5:45 Indoor Facility CLOSED
8-4 Afternoon 3:20-5:45 Outdoor Fields Open
8-5 Morning 8:50-11:00 Outdoor Fields Open
Afternoon 4:20-5:45 Indoor Facility CLOSED
8-6 Afternoon 3:20-5:45 Outdoor Fields Open
8-7 Morning 8:50-11:00 Outdoor Fields Open
Afternoon 4:20-5:45 Indoor Facility CLOSED
8-8 Afternoon 2:30-4:30* Outdoor Facility CLOSED
8-9 OFF
8-10 Morning 8:50-11:00 Outdoor Fields Open
Afternoon 4:20-5:45 Indoor Facility CLOSED

Morning 8:50-11:00 Outdoor Fields Open
Afternoon 4:20-5:45 Indoor Facility CLOSED
8-12 Afternoon 3:40-5:45 Outdoor Fields Open
8-13 OFF
8-14 Gameday 7:00 Superdome vs. Bengals
8-15 OFF
8-16 Morning 8:50-11:00 Outdoor Fields Open
Afternoon 4:20-5:45 Indoor Facility CLOSED
8-17 Afternoon 3:20-5:45 Outdoor Fields Open
8-18 OFF
8-19 Morning TBD at Houston Texans
Afternoon TBD at Houston Texans
8-20 Morning TBD at Houston Texans
Afternoon TBD at Houston Texans
8-21 OFF
8-22 Gameday 7:00 Reliant Stadium at Texans
8-23 OFF
8-24 Afternoon 3:40-5:45 Outdoor Fields Open
8-25 Afternoon 3:20-5:45 Outdoor Fields Open
8-26 Morning 8:50-11:00 Indoor Facility CLOSED
8-27 Afternoon 3:40-5:45 Fields Open to the Public
8-28 OFF
8-29 Gameday 3:00 McAfee Coliseum at Raiders
8-30 OFF
8-31 Morning 8:50-11:00 Outdoor Fields Open to the Public
Afternoon 4:20-5:45 Indoor Facility CLOSED
9-1 Afternoon 3:40-5:45 Outdoor Fields Open to the Public