Saints Sideline Blog

SO FAR….SO FIT

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011      Email Print

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DATELINE: METAIRIE, LA 8/8/11 (Camp Brees was anything but)

Sure the Eagles have their Dream Team but so far they are just getting to know each other. The Packers may be the Defending Champs but they didn't huddle up like these Saints did in the offseason.. The same can be said for other playoff contenders like the Falcons, Bucs and Cowboys. Some of the aforementioned may be getting more hype heading into the season, but the Saints know who put the most work in and its already paying off.

Camp Payton took a timeout on Monday. A day off for the players after five straight days where let's face it---this camp isn't nearly as tough as it used to be. Gone are two a days and with it the amount of practice with full pads has decreased as well.  Heck due to the rain, these Saints have the joy of escaping the heat as well. The good news for these guys is that they were hard on each other the past few months, as a result--they haven't lost a beat..Even with no mini camps and OTA's---these Saints appear in camp mode despite the lack of a normal offseason. The Saints head coach agrees, "I do feel like they are in good shape," Payton told me Sunday. "There are a few areas that you have to pay attention to. We've got time, but I am pleased with their conditioning level." Its clear this team is ahead of the curve compared to most and there are several reasons for that.

First and foremost the leadership of Drew Brees who served as the Saints surrogate Head Coach this offseason, where he led arguably the best lockout workouts in the NFL at Tulane beginning back in May. Labeled "Camp Brees" by some, the participation and organization in these "voluntary" sessions were impressive, So impressive this team feels as a result they were the most organized team in the league."I'd like to think so," Brees told me earlier in this camp. " I think we got a lot of young guys ahead of the curve during that process so that walking into camp, its not that big of a shock to them when they get the playbook." Sure looks like its paid off for the New Orleans newbies as Mark Ingram has been spectacular early.

On defense fellow first rounder Cam Jordan and linebacker Martez Wilson have also impressed where the credit has to go Jonathan Vilma who was the leader on the other side of the football in these player led lockout practice sessions. Vilma like Brees thinks the Saints work even though they were locked out of team headquarters was better than any team in the NFL. "Very very much so," Vilma told me. " You looked across the league and you had team that maybe had the offense show up or the defense show up. They had three or maybe four days a week, max. We were there for the whole thing: the whole month of May, the first half of June. We got our workouts in. If the coaches would have been there, we wouldn't have skipped a beat." These players talks in the offseason and they know the drill, as a result these guys feel good about their offseason.

The work is evident with camp approaching the first preseason game. Keeping the core together has also helped as the likes of newly signed Saints Roman Harper, Lance Moore, Jermon Bushrod and Scott Shanle were hoping to be back and practiced at Camp Brees as if they would be. Shanle talked after Sunday's practice with confidence of how impressed he is of how this team is practicing as if they had a normal offseason.So the Saints feel like they are ahead of most, now the plan is to pad their lead. In an offseason like no other, the black and gold have high hopes to make it a regular season of superiority as well.

AROUND THE CAMPFIRE

PORTER'S PREDICAMENT: Tracy Porter still hasn't practiced yet but didn't seem worried when we talked to him. He says while he's anxious to get out on the field, he is sticking to his timetable of possibly playing in the third preseason game against Oakland. Payton also said he expects him back after the Houston game as well. I asked him what he thought of Gregg WIlliams comments that resurgent Patrick Robinson may be pushing him for playing time. Porter laughed and gave me the ole we will wait and see line.

"FULL" of FULLBACKS: Payton also confirmed the team is moving on without popular fullback Heath Evans. It seems he is content with keeping newly signed FB Korey Hall from the Packers and the team is also high on Jed Collins.

DOUBLE TROUBLE? Sunday marked the third straight absence for WR's Marques Colston and Adrian Arrington. Colston is still nursing a sore knee while Arrington is dealing with an ankle injury.

WHAT ABOUT BOB? Robert Meachem has had a steady camp and is feeling world's better than a year ago where he entered camp with a toe injury and then underwent ankle surgery last February. WR Coach Curtis Johnson tells me he would like to see more consistency out of his fifth year veteran but has never seen him this healthy.

KEEP AN EYE ON: Watching undrafted rookies make this team has been a positive trend in the Payton years but this year's its gonna be tough to crack this veteran laden roster---especially at receiver. I liked Jarred Fayson early on but he has been hurt. Two guys who have looked the past week are WR's John Chiles and Joseph Morgan---long shots but let's see what they can do in the coming weeks.

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT: I admit to being a sensitive guy, so I'm a sucker for these emotional Hall of Fame speeches. This year's group might have been the best collection. New Orleans native Marshall Faulk's story is full of inspiration where he credited Saints WR Coach Curtis Johnson for getting him noticed at San Diego State and getting him out of the Ninth Ward projects. Shannon Sharpe's tribute to his grandmother who raised him and eight other kids was very emotional. Say what you want about Deion Sanders but Prime Time's time at Canton lived up to the hype where he gave great advice. "If you're dream ain't bigger than you, there's a problem with your dream." Well said!

UNTIL NEXT BLOG,
Mike Nabors
CST

By: Mike Nabors

An Emmy award winning sports reporter who covers a wide variety of events for CST. Primarily, Mike serves as the network's reporter for Saints coverage.

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