The New Orleans Saints completed day one of minicamp Tuesday in a session open to the public at the team's practice facility. The practice was the first session available to the team's fans since the end of last season. The midday practice marked the first of three scheduled for this week and also the start of mandatory participation for the 2017 NFL season. Here are some observations from the more than two-hour long workout:
- One player I am often asked about is tight end Coby Fleener and I get it. There may have been some moans from the crowd when Fleener dropped an open pass midway through practice, but that changed to a roar when he ended the day with the highlight. Fleener reached out and caught a well-placed Drew Brees pass with one hand, while ripping down the seam and scoring a 25-yard plus touchdown. That's the Fleener I'm expecting more of during his second season with the team.
- Get ready for Alvin Kamara. I'm watching him more than any other young player, and that will certainly carry into full training camp. The explosive rookie running back out of Tennessee seems to possess a very full tool box, and jaw-dropping quickness in tight spaces. He's going to be a big story. I'm not sure how big yet, obviously, but he may be the steal of the NFL draft.
- Cornerback Delvin Breaux looked great Tuesday. In fact, so did cornerbacks De'Vante Harris and Arthur Maulet, a Kenner native trying to make the team as an undrafted free agent from Memphis. It was hard not to notice the Saints defensive secondary.
- Lastly, this is the time to start setting some observation points for next month's start to full training camp. I will be watching closely to see if A.J. Klein, Alex Okafor, and Craig Robertson are ready to be "load-bearing" fixtures with Cam Jordan on the Saints' defense.
