2008-07-24 (Thurs) Afternoon

For more pictures of this practice session go to: 2008-07-24 Afternoon

Nice to be back at camp. It’s just like putting on an old pair of shoes; or a gray 50/50 cut-off. It was hot, but hazy and breezy. Two noticeable differences: More signs around campus letting you know you’re at Saints training camp, and a Corporate Fans Tent over by the observatory. Oy, the caste system.

What I did today (and will have to do everyday) is change into a pair of shorts in the bathroom at work, and race out the door. If my weekday reports seem brief, it’s because I’m only catching about 50 minutes. But hey, you’ll see the pen is never recapped and the camera never goes into the pocket.

We’re at the two upper fields (the soccer field) and the guys are in shorts and shoulder pads. When I walk up they’re in an 11-on-11, and Brunell (#11) is at QB. And I’ll notice throughout the practice the he has a riffle and not a soft touch. He chunks a nice one at Meechum in stride that goes for ~40 up the right sideline. Tyler Palko (#3 in jersey and pecking order) eventually rotates in. He gets a nice dump to Lynell Hamilton (#30) who beats everybody to turn the right corner for a sweet breakaway. Skyler Green (#10) gets a crisp bullet ten yards down as he runs out of bounds on the left – also from Palko. Hamilton also nabs a delayed under route, in the middle, with no one around him.

Water Break [Que elevator version of “Girl from Ipanema”]

For the next period they break into position drills over the two upper fields – everything is very fundamental. LBs are working on running straight over blocks with a six-foot dummy – and I don’t mean me. Backs are working on blocking with each other. DBs are working on changing direction with cones. OL and squad guys are working on 11-on-11 PKs. DL is working on lowering their shoulder to avoid blocks. And the QBs are pretty much taking the period off and chat. [*air horn*]

Everybody makes their way to the north upper field. On the west side, the O skills vs. D skills at full speed. But right in front of us is OL vs. DL in full speed pass rush and blitz schemes. This is fun for me. Kendrick Clancy (#71) and Orien Harris (#92) both looked quick. Zach Streif (#64) had a solid period. Tim Duckworth (#75) looked tired. At one point Demario Pressley (#90) impressively schooled Jermon Bushrod (#74). Coach O was leading this by the way. He was intense, but not going crazy – more focused. [*air horn*]

They stayed on the north upper for some more 11-on-11. Three squads of both O & D rotated through twice. Brees opened with a nice pulling screen to Bush. By the way Ronnie Ghent (#85) was TE for O1. I don’t think Deuce got any plays this period, either. Drew also got two out routes to Reggie and Pierre that would’ve been TDs. On Brunell’s second play in, a blast bounced off of Adrian Arrington’s (#87 – one of the new Trees at 6’3”) numbers and into the hands of fellow rookie Jo-Lonn Dunbar’s (#56) for the pick-6. Unfazed, he next found a wide-open downfield Mark Campbell (#80) that was a presumptive score. Palko scrambling for a score on his first play got a cheer from the crowd. [*air horn*]

They finished practice in a way I’d never seen. The entire squad lined-up, one-deep on the sideline. At least four times they ran across-and-backs. I don’t ever recall them finishing with conditioning. They looked tie-yerd.

Autograph Props for time spent: McKenzie (who didn’t practice, but still) and Fujita.