Saints Minicamp Updates Day 2 / 6-12-24 (3 Viewers)

[Andrus]

 

[Andrus]

 

[VPCajun]

... The improv, getting outside the pocket and throwing on the run are just skills not many people have.

Like this:

(OK,OK, he didn't throw on the run...) : - )

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

Rattler will continue to improve, but one knock on him is that he's a "see it throw it" QB right now vs one that throws with anticipation. The INT he threw vs Lattimore on an out route was potentially an anticipatory thing, or even eyes. While his PA delivery to Moreau for a TD is an example of a see it throw it play.

Anyone know how hard it is for a QB to develop anticipation? For reference Jay Cutler was an example of a See it throw it QB

 

[Scorpius the Allfather]

Minicamp Day 2

Motion out of the backfield?

 

[football]

Out of all the clips I see from otas and mini camp I have not seen any drills or 7 on 7. Most are just pitch and catch. Why can't we see the plays from the tweet?

 

[SonOfNOLA]

Out of all the clips I see from otas and mini camp I have not seen any drills or 7 on 7. Most are just pitch and catch. Why can't we see the plays from the tweet?

Saints like most teams don’t allow media to video record their team plays in practice. Only reports and articles of them.

 

[football]

Saints like most teams don’t allow media to video record their team plays in practice. Only reports and articles.

I see.

 

[St. Widge]

Barring injury the kicker and punter positions are set without having position battles ahead. Grupe will be the kicker and Hedley will be the punter.

The Saints will benefit from the (IPPP) International Player Pathway Program as they will have a roster exemption for Smyth. They have options with him.

Coach Rizzi explained the importance of the kicker being able to place the ball into the Landing Zone in different areas that they may call upon him to do. With the noise about KC using a safety who has kicking experience instead of Butler, Rizzi debunked that idea for the Saints in his interview yesterday stating that the risk was not worth the reward. Kicking the ball out of bounds or short of the 20-yard line will result in the ball being placed at the 40-yard line. That would be a big time fail.

Keep in mind that the kickoff must travel a minimum distance of 45 yards (from the 35 to the 20) and the ideal distance would be 60 yards (to the 5-yard line) but no further. Also, the kicker is not allowed to cross midfield (the 50-yard line) on kickoff in coverage.

Rizzi said that the Saints coaching staff has watched every XFL kickoff on film available to them and have spoken to several coaches that have experience with it. They intend to use several different matchups and will use preseason to hone down on what works best and will also study what the other 31 teams do in preseason. He also said that a number of core offensive and defensive players that have not played on special teams in the past would now be involved in the kickoff coverage and kickoff return game, citing AK41 as an example as one of the returners in certain situations.

I don't think anything is set a kicker or punter. Grupe and Hedley were not good enough last year to give them the positions this year without competition. Hedley, in particular, was not very good and there are articles about how he needs to improve and what he is doing to improve. And the Saints brought in real competition. Smyth has a big leg and is a guy that could end up being a very good kicker and Hayball is another Aussie punter that was very good at Vandy and will compete with Hedley for the job.

I suspect Grupe wins the Kicker job but the concern is for kick coverage under the new kickoff rules. Grupe is like 5'7" and 157 Lbs. He isn't going to make any tackles on special teams at that size That's why the K.C. special teams coach recently talked about using a Safety with kicking experience for kickoffs. So, it's entirely possible that Rizzi will decide he needs a guy who can tackle to kickoff. I suspect that Hedley and Hayball who both played Aussie Rules Football can tackle. And Smyth, who played some form of Gaelic Football, can likely tackle too. So, if one of them is good enough at kicking off, they could get the job. But, Smyth will have to beat out Gupe for the FG kicking job which I doubt he does. So, maybe it will be one of the punters. As you said, Rizzi is still figuring this new kickoff out so anything that can give the team an advantage is on the table.

 

[Andrus]

 

[Andrus]

 

[Artifactual]

I don't think anything is set a kicker or punter. Grupe and Hedley were not good enough last year to give them the positions this year without competition. Hedley, in particular, was not very good and there are articles about how he needs to improve and what he is doing to improve. And the Saints brought in real competition. Smyth has a big leg and is a guy that could end up being a very good kicker and Hayball is another Aussie punter that was very good at Vandy and will compete with Hedley for the job.

While I stated that the kicker and punter positions are set, I'll agree nothing is set 100% in stone. However, barring injury, Grupe and Hedley are returning starters that the Saints are expecting to remain as such. Both have shined in OTAs and Mini Camp practices so far. Although Smyth did make a 66-yard FG after practice yesterday, there hasn't been much buzz about Smyth or Hayball otherwise.

I suspect Grupe wins the Kicker job but the concern is for kick coverage under the new kickoff rules. Grupe is like 5'7" and 157 Lbs. He isn't going to make any tackles on special teams at that size That's why the K.C. special teams coach recently talked about using a Safety with kicking experience for kickoffs. So, it's entirely possible that Rizzi will decide he needs a guy who can tackle to kickoff.

Rizzi dismissed the thought of using a non-traditional kicker for kickoffs in his post practice interview yesterday. He covered a good bit of information on why he thinks that poses a bigger risk than reward. On Hedley he explains that he did what they wanted him to do and his numbers were actually good in the areas of most concern. And while his gross and net punting yard average ranked in the bottom of the league Rizzi explains that those numbers don't tell the whole story relating to field position. Hedley is also working on traditional style punting and coffin corner kicking which he has shown to be doing very good at so far. They plan on having him do both traditional and Aussie style punting, depending on the situation.

These videos are worthy of a watch. Check them out. Rizzi answers many of the questions and concerns found here at SR.

​

Darren Rizzi talks new kickoff rule preparations | 2024 Saints OTAs 5/28/24 -New Orleans Saints - YouTube Video​

Saints ST coach Darren Rizzi on new kickoff rules and adjustments - 6/11/24 - NOF NETWORK - YouTube Video​

I suspect that Hedley and Hayball who both played Aussie Rules Football can tackle. And Smyth, who played some form of Gaelic Football, can likely tackle too. So, if one of them is good enough at kicking off, they could get the job. But, Smyth will have to beat out Gupe for the FG kicking job which I doubt he does. So, maybe it will be one of the punters. As you said, Rizzi is still figuring this new kickoff out so anything that can give the team an advantage is on the table.

I like the idea of Smyth as the kickoff specialist if he can master what the Saints want and can prove to be a good tackler. If Smyth could prove to be athletic enough to tackle maybe he could become a Taysom Light type player who is used as a specialist on kickoffs. The Saints have a roster exception with him as being part of the International Player Pathway Program. One of the things Rizzi makes clear in the 2nd video above is that unlike in the past, now core players on offense and defense will be called upon to be part of the kickoff and kickoff return teams and will vary due to matchups. Could room for a 2nd kicker be made on the 53-man roster instead of keeping a depth DB or LB due to using regulars?

Before we get ahead of ourselves keep in mind that the Kicker cannot run past the 50 yard line on kickoffs. He will merely be a last line of defense who will attempt to slow down the return man long enough to get help making the tackle. The kicker won't be running downhill like a safety head hunting to make any tackles. Because of this I have to return to the traditional thought of one kicker on the 53 man roster. And with that, I expect that will be Grupe.

 

[Rexman100]

Out of all the clips I see from otas and mini camp I have not seen any drills or 7 on 7. Most are just pitch and catch. Why can't we see the plays from the tweet?

The media isn’t allowed to film team drills. I asked a reporter the other day, and he confirmed it.

 

[Rexman100]

Pete feeling the heat.

 

[Krodwhodat]

Mahomes and Allen have been doing it well for quite a while. Purdy is another guy that scrambles a lot but does it to make plays with his arm down the field. Hurts is doing it. Lamar. Just seems like the scrambling quarterback is taking over the league.

I like Carr but he was not great on third down or in the red zone last year because once the pocket collapsed he couldn’t do anything.

Huge difference between and QB that can run and a running QB. Mahomes and Allen are QBs that’s can run if have to but aren’t going to rush for 100 yards a game. They are great QBs. Hurts and Jackson are running QBs that are pretty good QBs that run as part of the offense.

Similar to Steve Young vs Vick.