Saints sign ex-Tulane running back Rob Kelley, ex-LSU wideout Travin Dural

The Saints have brought veteran running back Rob Kelley home.

The former Tulane and Landry-Walker running back has been added to the training camp roster. He spent the last three seasons with Redskins.

New Orleans also brought back former LSU wideout Travin Dural, head coach Sean Payton confirmed Tuesday.

Kelley emerged in Washington as an undrafted free agent who became a starter, managing 168 carries for 704 yards and six touchdowns while adding 12 catches and another touchdown. He played sparingly last year as former Saints running back Adrian Peterson took over starting duties. Injuries have been an issue for Kelley, a physical 5-foot-10, 227-pound runner.

Kelley practiced Tuesday. Javorius Allen, the former Ravens running back who signed in the offseason, has been placed on Injured Reserve after not practicing at all since the start of camp this past weekend.

Dural originally joined the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2017. The Breaux Bridge product missed all of the 2018 season, suffering a broken humerus that sent him to IR.

To open the extra roster spot needed for the two additions, the Saints waived defensive back Chris Campbell.

New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton

2019 Training Camp Presented by Verizon

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Post-Practice Media Availability

Opening Statement:

“Just a couple of roster moves real quick. We signed running back Rob Kelley and wide receiver Travin Dural. We waived/injured defensive back Chris Campbell and then running back Buck Allen is on injured reserve right now. So we’re still at our 90 count.”

What did you like about Rob Kelley?

“Look, the film we’ve seen on him has been really good. We’re familiar with him obviously because of where he played (Tulane). He was injured last year. We had him in for a workout, he was heavy. I think one of the things he battles is his weight. I feel like he’s in better shape after the workout yesterday. There’s been eliminated exposure (in the past because of the weight), but it’s been good (current shape). Hopefully we’ll get a chance to see more with him at the better weight.”

He didn’t look heavy today right?

“No, but the last time he was in for a workout, he was 15 pounds heavier than right now. We felt like he was in much better shape.”

What did you think of the effort of the practice today?
“I thought it was good. It was third down for the first time. We went through quite a bit of the third down situational down and distance. Again, I thought they handled it pretty well. We’ll look at the film and try to get on the corrections here.”

What was enticing about picking up Travin (Dural) again and bringing him back to the roster?

“Look, he’s familiar with what we’re doing. We were down numberswise. He’s been training and we felt when we released him there was a good chance there would be a day like today where we were going to be able to bring him back. Fortunately, we were able to.”

What would you say is special by Keith Kirkwood? Does he have some Marques Colston in him?

“Relative to, I would say number one, he has good size, he’s smart, he’s very smart. And I would say he’s consistent. You know what you’re going to get and I think Marques had some of those traits.”

How does this group of returners that’s competing compare to the ones he had last couple of years?

“That’s a good question. We’ll see. Without having had really the firsthand exposure to them yet, that’s something that we’re paying attention to. I’d wait and reserve judgment until we get a chance to see them really return in some game situations, but it’s to be determined right now.”

A punt return spot you said is a little more uncertain?

“It is in both areas. I don’t know that we’ve just penciled in someone that we think is going to be our starting guy there. We have a handful of guys competing and we’ll receive a chance to look at him. I know Alvin (Kamara) could go back there and play in either role. But more importantly, who else (do) you know can help us in that area.”

You often say that you don’t really understand what kind of team you have until at least the first quarter of the regular season passes by. Is there a milestone during training camp where you’d like to know what you have before the start of the regular season?
“I do not know in training camp that you can (have) that luxury yet. Certainly you (are) trying to find out as much as you can about your players. We are young in certain positions. We have experience in certain positions and yet, it’s a different team than a year ago. And so I think that process obviously begins during training camp, but I think to say that you have a pretty good feel for it. I do not know that that’s the case. Certainly there’s optimism in a number of areas. We have a lot of returning guys that have played not only in regular season, (but) played a lot of postseason football. Hopefully we can keep improving so that when we get started we start playing with confidence early on and understanding the importance of any part of your schedule, no different than the first part of your schedule. I think that is something that evolves a little bit.”

What do you guys need to do to recreate some of the defensive consistency you had last season?

“I thought we played the run well. I think that’s going to be important. I thought we took the ball away well towards the latter part of the season, I’ve seen it. that’s something you coach, you work on, and trying to be smart assignmentwise with where you’re supposed to be.”

What’s your impression of (these) young backup linebackers? What we see on film with (Vince) Biegel, Kaden Elliss?
“(Vince) is a guy that’ll compete as a kicking game player and also as a backup linebacker. (Kaden) Elliss is someone that we feel like when we drafted him was smart. Of course Craig (Robertson) we’re more familiar with because he’s been in those roles. All of those guys, how do they function when they’re playing defense and then how do they function in the coverage units or in the return game?

When you bring in a new piece kind of like (Jared) Cook, how does the process work between trying new things that maybe his skillset can help you out schematically and also just you have to still get him to know what you guys are doing on offense?
“I think it’s both. I think you’re expanding always and you’re looking at things that fit what you’re doing. The way it’s called, your terminology, your system stays intact. He is learning that and has picked that up well. I think it’s a little bit of both.”

New Orleans Saints Linebacker A.J. Klein

Training Camp Presented By Verizon

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

If you don’t mind the personal question, how special has this week been and what’s it like mixing all that with training camp?

“Oh, it’s been a lot. Obviously, I had my baby girl born on the 27th that night, missing that one day of practice and coming back for first day of pads and then (my) birthday today and trying to make trips back and forth to my house to spend some time with my wife and both the kids. It’s been a lot this week, but been able to handle it has been a true blessing, really is to be able to be here to play football and obviously have my family grow at the same time.”

As one of the veteran leaders on this defense and even as a veteran in the National Football League, how would you look at the past five days of practices and how would you assess it?

“I think it has been a good start. I really think we have been working hard. We have been detailed for the most part. Just today, I think we had a few mental errors that should not happen, whether it is a communication error or just a complete bust on the defense. But it is expected. Like I said, (on) day five or whatever it is, those mistakes are expected. We have a long time, well not a long time, 10 days I think until the first preseason game. So, (there will be) growing pains, but we shouldn’t be making those mistakes is what my point is. We’ll (watch) film this afternoon and come back out not tomorrow but the next day and get it fixed. It was day one of third downs so there are going to be mistakes.”

Do you feel like those mistakes are more easily identified or corrected with a defense that hasn’t seen much turnover of personnel?

“Yeah. I think everybody on this defense is pretty knowledgeable, especially at the linebacker group. We have a great understanding of the defense, even the DBs. Everybody understands what’s supposed to happen and when it doesn’t happen, we don’t need the coaches to tell us what went wrong. We know what went wrong right away and we’re on the sideline correcting it. Obviously, we’re looking for those techniques and coaching points when we get into the film room. But I think this defense does a great job of coaching itself.”

To have so many guys back, with 10 of the top 11 in starters on defense all back. How nice is that to start training camp where you can start with such a level of understanding on and off the field?

“Oh, it’s great because it breeds continuity. Obviously having the same faces around and obviously adding some new pieces. So, it’s exciting. We’re really happy with where we are. But like I said earlier, we have a long way to grow, but having so many guys back definitely makes it easy to continue to grow fast.”

You guys were so good in so many areas last year, but how do you go from good to great? How do you separate yourself?

“We have touched on it in meetings, but, I think starting off, we need to be better on third down. We need to create more turnovers. We really do not put an emphasis on total yards. We want to be one of the top five in points allowed. Obviously, that’s one of our goals, but I’d say third down, two minute and situational defenses. I think those are areas that we put an emphasis on and try to improve. And obviously day one of third down is important. I think if we improve in those areas, we’re going to be a really good defense and continue to be a great defense against the run on first and second down. It’s just our third down (that) needs to improve.”