More splash plays for a New Orleans Saints offense that appears to be steadying

Carr provides three notable touchdowns in Saturday's practice

Aug 03, 2024 at 04:57 PM

John DeShazier

Senior Writer

Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Saturday, August 3.

Irvine, Calif. – Taliese Fuaga's teammates repeatedly have said that Fuaga is a quick study, and the New Orleans Saints' rookie left tackle has done his best to back their words.

In Saturday's one-on-one matchup against defensive end Chase Young , Fuaga held his own on two reps, a 180-degree turn from a few days prior, when Young did the teaching while the rookie learned a few harsh lessons. His play steadily has improved as camp has progressed, though all will acknowledge that there's still a ways for him to go.

Fuaga's teammates have spoken of his strength, patience and use of hands, and Erik McCoy said Fuaga probably can play any offensive line position except center (which, ahem, happens to be McCoy's position).

Overall, the offense has strung together two strong days. Saturday's signature plays were a 55-yard, in-stride touchdown pass down the right sideline from Derek Carr to Chris Olave that traveled 60 yards in the air, another perfect touchdown pass from Carr to running back Alvin Kamara from about 20 yards down the right sideline (both during team drills), and a Carr keeper from about 5 yards out for a touchdown (untouched, red zone drill; in celebration, the fired-up Carr threw the football off the field, over the sideline railings).

The touchdown to Kamara was a reminder of some of what Kamara has done and remains capable of doing.

"He's an outstanding route runner and is a matchup issue on linebackers, safeties, whatever the case may be," Coach Dennis Allen said of Kamara. "So we're going to try to utilize him in that way and put him in a lot of different spots."

PRECAUTIONARY SEAT: Receiver Rashid Shaheed sat out Saturday's practice. "He's dealing with a little bit of hamstring tightness," Allen said. "I think it was a little bit more of a precautionary measure today, so he took the day off today. We'll reevaluate him and see if we can't get him back out here (Sunday)."

Linebacker Demario Davis (hamstring) sat out his second consecutive practice.

CAMP IS CAMP: Running back Jamaal Williams didn't mince words when presented with the narrative that, because the Saints are in 80-to-85-degree weather in sunny Irvine, Calif., and away from 110-degree-heat-index New Orleans, training camp might not be as taxing.

"People don't even know what we do every day," said Williams, who admitted that he’s sore and irritable these days. "I barely show my schedule to my family and they're like, 'What are you doing?' 'I'm in meetings.' I'm literally working every day. Training camp is not fun.

"Training camp is a strain on your mental every day. We literally get into the grind every day. Some players, (this is) their hope of making the team. I see a lot, just from being on special teams and being around dudes all day, seeing rookies and making sure their bodies are ready to go and making sure their mentals are ready to go, they're not scared about making a mistake.

"I just try to make sure to keep them calm, let them know, 'You can do it, keep your mind-set right. Don't let the criticism, don't let what coaches say to you deter how you play and what got you here.'"

All-Access Photos: 2024 Saints Training Camp practice 8/3/24