hello everyone Jeff Duncan along with Josh Katzenstein and we were at the Jack
Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa California
where the Saints and Chargers have just concluded a joint practice against each
other about 2 and 1/2 hour workout and Josh you were here last year when these
same two teams went at it to this very site and it seemed to be after talking
to the players they feel a little better about how things went today but what did
you think well I agree with the players just because last year it was a week
earlier during the preseason process so you know now that they have two
preseason games under their belt the Saints have a much better idea of what
roles players are gonna be playing you know how to put guys in the right spots
and really they have a much better camaraderie as a team and I think that's
something that you know we knew even before today's practice just because
last year there were so many question marks about which rookies were gonna
start which you know poorly performing veterans were on their way out so I do
think the Chargers actually looked better today now don't freak out at home
I mean it's just one practice and I'm sure we said the exact same thing last
year but there were definitely you know more positive signs or take more good
takeaways from the Saints this year than last year
yeah and Sean Payton alluded to the fact that at this time of year ago neither
one of these teams was very well thought of around the league and both of them
ended up having decent seasons of course the Chargers came on after a slow start
and look there's been a lot of these joint workouts around the NFL they get
very intense sometimes a fights break out we saw a couple of incidents today
where the intensity boiled up and it got close but I thought overall it was
really just a lot of good work and a lot of good competition yeah absolutely the
closest thing to a fight that I saw was when you know both teams actually did
the you know pose for a picture after getting a turnover the chargers did at
first and then the Saints did it and then both of the defense is sort of like
came together faked as if they were gonna fight and then it just turned into
a love fest and I'll actually have a story on that up soon at NOLA.com just
about you know the Chargers actually claim that they started it because they
were doing it in training camp last year but the Saints obviously did it in a
game first but yeah you're right I mean I know Michael Thomas you know and
defensive back you know had a little stare down little stare yeah but I mean
it was it was nothing crazy and I think it helps that you know you have two
coaches that are familiar with you with them with with each other
because Sean Payton and Anthony Lynn were on the same staff with the Cowboys and
then obviously you know Drew Brees and Philip Rivers had this long-standing
relationship so as competitive as practice well as tensions weren't that
high in a few highlights just to mention Marcus Williams
with an interception on a tip drill Drew Brees a low light through a pick six in
the two-minute offense but I thought overall the running game for the Saints
which has been a strength throughout the preseason was a strength again today a
lot of nice runs from Alvin Kamara and for Mark Ingram and I think that's
gonna be something that the Saints hang their hat on all year with that really
strong offensive line definitely one one thing to consider those I thought Mike
Williams looked great for the Chargers you know the Saints defensive backs had
a little bit of an issue with him you know so obviously they need to figure
out how to defend a big body you know receiver before they show off against
Julio Jones and Mike Evans one other highlight though David Grunfeld the man
behind the camera I would definitely look for his slide show after this after
we get done here because he was running all over these two fields getting the
best stuff so definitely check that out at NOLA.com great stuff of Drew
Brees signing a lot of autographs afterward obviously Drew Brees very
popular started his professional career here lives right down the road in Del
Mar right that's it for Josh Katzenstein Jeff Duncan and David Grünfeld check out
all of our work on NOLA.com and we'll continue it tomorrow right here from
Costa Mesa thanks for reading
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