1. Thursday Quick Hits
Thursday's practice was shorter than usual, going from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Pacific time by design. The team has been working until 11:30 a.m. for most of camp, but with the preseason game Sunday coming up and the team taking a day off Monday, the Saints have been going hard all week and the coaches backed off Thursday, and Coach Dennis Allen mentioned after practice that Friday's practice will be even shorter. --- Linebacker Demario Davis was on the practice field and participated briefly in team periods before leaving early and hitting the blocking sled. --- Cornerback Marshon Lattimore was seen on the side field working with a trainer for the second straight day. Marshon has missed the last 14 practices with a hip flexor. --- Left tackle Taliese Fuaga left practice early with what Allen described as "back tightness" and did not return. Landon Younggot the reps at first team left tackle in Fuaga's absence. --- Running back Jamaal Williams missed practice with a vet day. Former Saints quarterback Jim Everett was in attendance. Everett was the Saints quarterback from 1994-96. --- Former Saints kicker John Carney was also at practice and was working with kickers Blake Grupe and Charlie Smyth. --- Smyth had another good day, going 7 for 8, with his only miss coming from 44 yards on the right hash, which he missed wide right. Smyth is now 49 for 60 this camp and preseason game one.
2. Haener on the bootleg
Until the final two reps of practice Thursday, this was undoubtedly going to be the play of the day. During the red zone team period, the ball was at the 10-yard line with each quarterback getting reps. Derek Carr picked up three touchdowns with passes to Rashid Shaheed, Dallin Holker, and Foster Moreau on a 2-yard shuttle pass. Spencer Rattler was held out the end zone on his four reps. Jake Haener was held out the end zone on his first three reps. On his final rep, third-and-goal, from the 1, the set was a power look, and everyone expected Haener to hand the ball off to running back Jacob Kibodi up the middle. Haener went rogue. He faked to Kibodi, then rolled left on a naked bootleg and could have cartwheeled into the end zone for the easiest touchdown during this entire training camp. Haener then handed the ball to the back judge and accepted the flowers from the rest of his offensive teammates.
3. Play(s) of the Day
The final period of practice was a bit underwhelming for the offense. There were two situations for Carr in the final drill. First situation, down 6, 1:40 left, two timeouts with the ball at the minus 30-yard line. The offense didn't collect a first down, turning it over on downs in four plays. The situation then changed to down 6, 1:08 left, two timeouts with the all at the minus 38-yard line. After a third down conversion to running back Jordan Mims with 23 seconds left, Carr passed to Mims who got out of bounds at the plus 33-yard line with 15 seconds left. An incompletion directed to Chris Olave left nine seconds on the clock. Then lightning struck twice. Carr dropped back and fired a pass deep down the left sideline, a last-gasp effort since a touchdown was needed to win. The ball was headed for the front left pylon and appeared to be in a crowd and no chance for a completion. Wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. had other ideas. Using his 6-foot-2 frame, Austin reached up and plucked the ball between defenders Tyrann Mathieu and Johnathan Abram, then stepped out of bounds at the 3-yard line with two seconds left. Quite possibly the best catch of training camp. However, one play was left. Carr dropped back and fired over the middle but the ball was tipped by defensive tackle Bryan Bresee and fluttered to the back of the end zone where Moreau made the catch with no time left on the clock for a most improbable touchdown, touching off a wild celebration from the offense. Smyth added the extra point and the offense walked off happy.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, August 15.
