Irvine, Calif. – If at all Taliese Fuaga had sea legs regarding his change from right tackle to left tackle – it's safe to say he has steadied them when he got closest to the ocean.
The New Orleans Saints' first-round draft pick this year hasn't exactly been a surprise during training camp at Cal-Irvine. Probably closer to the point he pretty much has been what the Saints expected, even after switching from right tackle in college to left tackle in the NFL.
"I think the biggest thing for me with him is, I don't think the game is too big for him," Saints Coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday. "I rarely see him make the same mistakes twice.
"And yet I think he needs to get out there and play football, and play in these preseason games and get some reps and understand what he can and can't do. And until you get out there in games, you really don't know. I think every day is a learning experience for him, much like it is for every other rookie that's out here, but I do see him improving on a daily basis."
Fuaga didn't at all have his best day on the first day of one-on-one drills with the defensive line, when defensive end Chase Young had his way with the youngster on a couple of reps. But since, all evidence (and reps) point to the fact that Fuaga learned his lesson, didn't repeat his mistakes and didn't allow the isolated moment to consume him.
"I think I've progressed a good amount, especially after that first (preseason) game (against Arizona)," he said. "It kind of starts to slow down a bit, especially going against good guys at practice like Chase Young and (defensive end) Carl Granderson."
Fuaga admitted having nervousness and butterflies entering his first NFL game. "But after that first snap it kind of like, it helped me out just to get a bang in there," he said.
"It's just starting to slow down. I was talking to (quarterback) Derek Carr and it was like, 'I bet it starts to slow down after that first game.' And I was like, 'For sure it does.'"
Partly, attribute that to the excellent professors he has had providing lesson plans. Young and Granderson have taken turns in practice welcoming Fuaga to the NFL in their unique ways, and Fuaga has responded in a favorable way for the Saints.
"Really with Carl, he's a physical player," Fuaga said. "He comes out there with a nastiness, comes out with a nasty streak and I like going against players like that because going into a game, other players aren't going to be as physical as Carl.
"Chase Young is just an athlete. You don't see guys that big and being able to move that good."
The same might be said of Fuaga, a 6-foot-6, 324-pounder who knows how to be light on his feet and how to be physical amid the required patience.
"I think just being able to get a lot of reps versus these guys and just being able to sit there and just calm down, like, take a deep breath before you set," he said. "And just being able to stay calm, and knowing you've got to be aggressive also with your hands."
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday, August 14.
