Saints, Jaguars release first practice reports of the week

Three New Orleans Saints players were listed on Wednesday’s Injury Report for Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Saints conducted a walk-through practice on Wednesday.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Pos. Name Injury Status
QB Drew Brees Right Thumb DNP
WR Tre’Quan Smith Ankle DNP
DE Trey Hendrickson Neck LP

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Pos. Name Injury Status
C Brandon Linder NIR DNP
DE Calais Campbell NIR LP
CB Jalen Ramsey Back LP
CB D.J. Hayden Foot LP
S Ronnie Henderson Ankle LP
DE Lerentee McCray Oblique LP
TE Josh Oliver Hamstring LP

New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton

Conference Call with New Orleans Media

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Through five games have you seen a characteristic of this team that kind of stands out, whether it be perseverance or anything else? Has there been a singular characteristic that has stood out about this team?

“It’s a good question. I think we’ve shown signs situationally. I felt last week we played better in the red area offensively and defensively. We were better on third down. In all three areas when we’ve needed a play or needed it, we’ve gotten it. I felt special team wise, especially right through the middle stretch of that five weeks, we had some game changing plays. I think defensively, our ability to pressure the quarterback, not necessarily sack the quarterback, but our pressures, I have been encouraged there. And yet there’s so much when you watch the tape and look, I’m not trying to sound displeased…We’re sitting here with the record we have, and yet I don’t feel like we’re playing near our best football and we have to work to get that corrected. I liked our energy last week. I thought that was (a) really good one.”

When you look at the pre-draft evaluation, what did you see in Gardner Minshew II then last year?

“He is smart. He had that ability to make plays. You could tell he was a tremendous leader, all those intangibles.”

One area you didn’t mention was the run defense. How have you continued to have success with Alex Okafor, Alex Anzalone, Sheldon Rankins for a while shuffling in and out and a switch at nose tackle with Tyeler Davison for Malcom Brown this offseason. What do you think has been (responsible for) the continued success?

“I think we’re deeper in the defensive line than we were a year ago. Shoot, I think we’re better across the board. I think we’ve had some good additions. I think Ryan (Nielsen) and BY (Brian Young) have done a great job, but I think that the depth has helped us. We dressed eight defensive linemen last week, which is a high number. Then at linebacker we’ve had some additions, but I think overall our front is playing better.”

Was there some sort of philosophical change? The last two years I think it’s been about as strong in that area as I remember this team since I’ve covered it?

“I don’t know philosophically. I think the addition Ryan coming in here and DA (Dennis Allen) and that staff. I just think that we’ve brought in good pieces to already help players that were there. I think that it’s hard to find good defensive lineman. You have to draft them or pay a lot for them and we’ve been able to do that.

Just one more on this subject. Is there anyone, whether it’s David Onyemata, Demario Davis for example that have played a big role with the run defense. It is so hard for us to judge that that. Has anyone been particularly exceptional in the run defense. There’s no stat like sacks that really tells you.

“I think Malcom Brown and Onyemata have really gotten off to good starts and I think certainly Demario is one of those players that it’s not a leaky two yards after he hits you. It’s a little bit more sudden contact in him, but I think upfront our depth at defensive tackle is noticeably different.”

What do you recall about Leonard Fournette at LSU and how do you feel like it his style translated to the NFL?

“I think he’s doing well. He was a heck of a college player. We saw as highlights every weekend if we didn’t see the game. He’s strong. The thing that’s dangerous about him is the speed. If you can get an edge, he’s one of those backs that that can score a touchdown from anywhere on the field. He’s good in protection. He knows how to block a blitz. He stays on the field. He’s playing 90, 91% of their snaps.”

Did you know much about Fournette just in high school? Did you get a chance to watch that?

“That is it. I wasn’t real familiar with his high school, but I remember him at LSU.”

At LSU he was set up for some of these crazy highlights where a player would fly off his shoulders or he’d run someone over into the end zone. I know that is harder to execute in the NFL, but how much of his physicality do you think still works at this level?

“I think a back like him who runs behind his pads, that’s hard to tackle. I think that is why he has been successful and I think he has that rare combination of size and speed.”

I feel like we haven’t heard a lot of Eli Apple’s name this year and that’s probably a good thing. How would you kind of assess how he’s played so far this year?

“I think he’s doing well. We’ve had five interceptions taken away, four of them penalties and one of them time ran out on the offensive play clock. I think that certainly he’s more and more confident with what we’re doing having a season under his belt and I think he’s doing well.”

New Orleans Saints Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater

Post Practice Media Availability

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Opening Statement:
“Another week, another tough opponent. We’ll have to get prepared. Looking forward to this week’s matchup against a defense that’s been playing some good football, that’s known around this league as a team that’s been playing some good football as a whole. They’ve been doing some great things. We’ll continue to just improve in areas that’ll help ourselves become a better team. I think we did a good job last week of being better in the red zone, being better on third down. We want to try to keep that momentum moving forward and try to get better.”

Where’s your confidence right now? Not that a player ever loses confidence or it ever wanes, but where is it right now?

“It is hard to measure it, but I am just playing the game. I am enjoying it. Living in the moment. I’m confident in doing so. These guys around here, we all feed off of each other and it’s a confident group. So for me, I step into the huddle and I’m looking to looking into the guy’s eyes and you see those guys exuding that confidence. For me as a player, it’s just like, man, these guys are so confident that I’m going to have to be as confident as those guys.”

The chants of “Teddy” echoing through the crowd. I was driving down Jefferson Avenue today and there was a sign that simply just said, Teddy. Can you talk about the way that the town has embraced you?

“It’s been a process for this team. We’re all just focusing on getting better. Trying to do the little things to make this team complete. Each week we come to practice, we come to work, and we’re trying to find different ways to get better. We’re all out there competing for one thing and that’s to win football games and we’ve been able to win a couple of football games these past couple of weeks and hopefully we can keep this thing going.”

I think Jalen Ramsey returned to practice today. I assume he’s going to play. What are the challenges that he presents and how much better can he make that defense if he plays this weekend?

“Definitely. He’s an outstanding player. I’ve been following him since he was in college at Florida State so I know all about him. Like you said, when he’s out there, he brings that swagger to that defense, that confidence. If he’s playing this week, we’re looking forward to that match up. We know that it’s going to be a fun one with him and our wide receivers and their entire secondary. They have a good group, a good young group too who are playing some solid football. We’re looking forward to this match up this week.”

You wanted to work on tempo just since you’ve taken over the quarterback position when Drew Brees got hurt. Do you feel like the tempo, just how you were working, how the offensive line was working, was that the best it’s been since you’ve taken over?

“Last week was definitely our best week establishing tempo. Coach (Payton) mentioned it, just having that tempo from the start. You could feel it all week last week when we were practicing and it transferred over to the game. We want to try to keep that tempo, keep that momentum going forward, and just keep trying to play fast.”

Sean said you played in rhythm last week. Did it feel like, I mean I don’t want to say like a light went on, but did it suddenly feel more comfortable maybe for the first time last week?

No, I’ve been feeling comfortable for the past couple of weeks. Like I’ve been saying each week, the gameplans change, you’re facing different defenses, and each week presents different opportunities. Last week, we had an opportunity to push the ball down the field and enjoyed doing it. But we know each week’s going to be a challenge. I felt in rhythm playing the game just taking the completions that were there and playing in rhythm on my feet and everything else took care of itself.”

But they played you significantly tighter than you had seen the last couple of weeks, right? That is that what opened it up to go over the top? \

“Yes, you can say that. Like I said, it was a different scheme opposed to the previous two opponents. We knew that we were going to have some chances to take some shots down the field and we did just that.”

I know that after the game people made a big deal of you riding your bike to the game and home. Do you think that people are going to be out there on the route now where people can ride their bikes with you? Like the guy in Miami, the Raven or whatever, the people go run with them or something and people can bike with you to the game now and next time you’ll have a home game?

“I had no idea that it was a big deal, but if anyone wants to ride a bike with me, I am open to it. I enjoy my little ride to the stadium in front of the stadium and it has been a peaceful ride. I’m open to people riding with me though.”

You’re not worried about the New Orleans streets and all the potholes?

I’m more so worried about my car than my bike (laughter), but I’m not worried at all.”

There’s nothing in your contract about that?

“Nothing.”

You said you’ve followed Jalen Ramsey since Florida State, why him? What do you like about his game?

“He is just a confident guy. A lot of people see it as arrogance sometimes, but for me just being a true competitor, I see it as confidence. You love seeing guys exude that kind of confidence. Like I said, since he was at Florida State, he’s been a confident guy who believes in himself as we all should. You work hard, you train hard for one reason, to show that you can play this game and to help your team. He’s one of those guys who you just have to root for just from the confidence that he exudes and the transfer to the football field.”

Speaking of exuding confidence, any kinship between you and Gardner Minshew II since you both have succeeded under similar circumstances?

No, but I’ve been just following the box scores and he’s been doing some great things. I’m excited for him getting his opportunity. If you know his background, it’s a fun story to follow and I wish him nothing but the best.”

How dialed in is Sean Payton as a play caller for you as a quarterback?

Those guys, man, they work extremely hard just trying to find different plays and different ways to put us in the best position to win football games. Sean, Joe (Lombardi), Pete (Carmichael), all those guys, man. They spend numerous hours around here just trying to find different ways. Those guys have been dialed in and they’ve been challenging us to retain the information that they’re giving us and apply it to the football field.”