Tag: minicamp

Questions at offensive tackle labeled Saints’ biggest summer storyline

Questions at offensive tackle are the Saints’ biggest storyline after minicamp. Are Taliese Fuaga and Trevor Penning the answer?

Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler projected each team’s biggest storyline walking out of minicamps. The New Orleans Saints biggest storyline heading into training camp is questions of who will start at offensive tackle on each side. Taliese Fuaga and Trevor Penning are the leading contenders, but both are changing positions.

The Saints start training camp on July 24, and players will put on pads a few days later. Organized team activities, minicamp, and training camp practices before the pads are strapped on are valuable, but you can not get a full evaluation of an offensive lineman until they put on their pads. This is particularly true for Fuaga because he’s a rookie.

There is arguably no more impactful unknown around the Saints in this season. The offensive line is imperative to success in Klint Kubiak’s offense. Kubiak envisions a run first offense. In order to do that successfully, the Saints offensive line must be better than last year.

No quarterback wants to deal with defenders in the backfield, but Derek Carr didn’t show the ability to navigate through that traffic. The odds are it’ll be similar this year. Rather than ask Carr to be better in this aspect, the Saints should aim to minimize this issue.

The questions are different for Penning and Fuaga. The latter will get the benefit of the doubt as a rookie. Penning may be playing for his last opportunity to start on the outside for the Saints. Also, Fuaga can always slide to his natural position if if Penning struggles at right tackle. If all goes as planned these two former first-round draft picks will be the future of the position. It’s on them to answer that question.

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Saints sign former Raiders, Tulane safety Roderic Teamer after minicamp tryout

The New Orleans Saints signed Roderic Teamer after a minicamp tryout. He’s a former Raiders safety who played well at Tulane and Brother Martin:

Here’s more depth at safety. ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reported Thursday that the Saints were signing Roderic Teamer, an NFL veteran who tried out at last week’s mandatory minicamp.

A New Orleans native who starred at Brother Martin and Tulane before turning pro, Teamer’s pro career started with the Los Angeles Chargers. He spent some time with the Indianapolis Colts before teaming up with Derek Carr on the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021, where they were teammates for a few years.

Teamer has logged a ton of snaps on special teams through four years in the NFL, working on both punts and kickoffs as well as the field goal blocking squad. Defensively, he’s recorded 966 snaps while lining up all over the field, including the slot. He only appeared in six games last season before being waived after a DUI arrest.

He’ll join a position group that’s a mile wide and an inch deep. After Tyrann Mathieu and second-year draft pick Jordan Howden the Saints have stacked up veterans like Johnathan Abram (who also played alongside Teamer on the Raiders) and Will Harris as well as their special teams captain J.T. Gray. Rookie safeties Lawrence Johnson and Millard Bradford are also in the mix.

They typically roster four with a fifth stashed on the practice squad, so there should be some heated competition at training camp this summer. Still, it’d be nice to add a high-end veteran to the mix like Justin Simmons, but there are probably a dozen other teams feeling the same way.

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Patrick Mahomes on Chiefs offense: ‘We didn’t play our best last year’

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes told reporters that Kansas City’s offense can take a step forward in 2024.

The Kansas City Chiefs are striving to be the first team in NFL history to win back-to-back-to-back Super Bowls.

That sustained the success that the Chiefs have established is developed and mastered during the offseason programs.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes addressed the media on Thursday, elaborating on why this offseason has been the best since he took over as Kansas City’s starting signal caller.

“I think it’s two things, I think one is just the confidence that the defense has just off the year they had this last year. You can see that they’re trying to build on that,” Mahomes began. “Then offensively, obviously, we felt like we didn’t play our best last year and even though we won, we knew we a lot of places to improve.”

The 28-year-old quarterback believes that mentality has shaped the team’s competitive attitude during practice and drills.

“I think guys had that mentality coming into OTAs and minicamp,” Mahomes explained. “That’s something that I think has gotten the best out of everybody is that every single day [you all] hear it – we’re talking trash but it’s in a good way then we go off, we talk about it after practice of what we can do better. It’s been a great OTAs and minicamp, one of the best that I think that I’ve been a part of.”

Coming off two consecutive Super Bowl victories, Mahomes and his teammates are staying vigilant to ensure that complacency does not set it.

Commanders coach Dan Quinn names 3 defensive players who’ve impressed

Quinn mentions three players who stood out in the spring.

If there is one phrase that Washington fans do not want to hear anymore, it’s “position-flex.” Former head coach Ron Rivera would say that during almost every press conference throughout his four years. Apparently, under the old staff, it was more important to be versatile than good.

With only 53 roster spots, “position-flex” is essential. However, new head coach Dan Quinn uses a different word: Versatile.

The difference between then and now is that you must be versatile and good to play for Quinn.

During his final press conference of the offseason before Washington’s break, Quinn was asked about versatile players being used in different spots and if anyone had emerged. He named three players.

“I would say some of what I was hoping to see I did, and maybe that’s with (S Jeremy) Chinn,” Quinn said. “I would say it’s been good to see (DB Quan) Martin, you know, some down in the box, but some as a middle-field safety. (LB Frankie) Luvu, although I knew that was part of his game, I’d say it was probably even stronger than I thought. So those would be some, you know, that jump out to me.”

Martin is entering his second NFL season after Washington drafted him in the second round last season. He can line up all over the secondary and is projected to start at safety in 2024.

Chinn and Luvu both come from Carolina. Luvu was among the more sought-after free agents in March because of his versatility. He could play inside, but he’s more impactful when he’s moved around. Washington signing Bobby Wagner allows them to use Luvu in various ways.

Chinn is a wild card for the Commanders. He was phenomenal as a rookie in 2020 but battled injuries and multiple coaching changes since. He is big and athletic and is the type of player Quinn has often had success with. Chinn believes playing for Washington will make him a much better player.

By Quinn naming these three players, he wasn’t saying no one else had impressed him. He said those three names first came to his mind.

Washington’s defense will be better in 2024. There’s nowhere to go but up, and players like Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne will love this style of defense.

What is Jayden Daniels doing to prepare for training camp?

Jayden Daniels discusses his summer plans before training camp: It’s all work.

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels finished minicamp on Thursday and now has six weeks off before reporting to training camp next month.

While players have six weeks off from official work, Daniels will be preparing for his rookie season.

After Washington’s practice this week, Daniels met with the media and discussed his plan for the next several weeks.

“I’ve been in football mode, man,” Daniels said. “Minicamp, OTAs, rookie minicamp, now mandatory minicamp. All I know is I’m going to go back to Southern California, go train with my quarterback coach down in Huntington Beach and get ready for the season. Get ready for training camp and put myself in the best position out there to come out here and just compete with the guys and have fun.”

Daniels’ personal quarterback coach is John Beck. Beck played six NFL seasons, including a stint in Washington. Beck explained ahead of the draft the work Daniels has done to become a top draft pick.

You often see the quarterback get together with the receivers, tight ends, and running backs for a few days in the offseason to have a passing camp. While the work is good, it’s also a bit of a team-bonding experience.

Will Daniels bring the Commanders together?

“I know we talked about it,” he said. “Marcus (Mariota) talked about it a lot, so we’ll figure something out. There’s no fine print, no details on that, but we’ll figure something out.”

It does sound like some players will be together at some point over the summer. Daniels, being a humble rookie, may choose to let the veteran Mariota take the lead.

Commanders held a family picnic after conclusion of minicamp

Washington finishes minicamp with a picnic for players, staff and their families.

Remember when Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris said, “I’m not an F- guy?” Harris said this in response to the organization’s NFLPA grades, which showed the Commanders at the bottom of the league in several categories, one of which was the treatment of player families.

Washington’s new leadership group is much different from any it had in the past. It begins with the ownership group, led by Harris but including minority owners Mark Ein, Mitch Rales, Magic Johnson, David Blitzer, and others.

Harris then hired Adam Peters as general manager and Dan Quinn as head coach. Both were known for being great at their jobs but even better human beings that others wanted to work with and play for.

The Commanders concluded their three-day mandatory minicamp on Thursday, and afterward, the organization held a picnic for the players, staff and their families. Ein confirmed this on X.

It’s important to note that Harris and Ein didn’t hold a picnic because of Washington’s NFLPA rankings. This is who they are. This is who Quinn and Peters are. They treat people right. That’s why players love being at the team facility these days.

This isn’t to knock some of Washington’s other coaches in the past. They weren’t always the problem. The problem always started at the top with the former owner. Harris and his partners are not only good people and successful businessmen, but they treat people right and understand the value of family.

After the picnic, the offseason officially ended. The team has six weeks off before reporting back to Ashburn next month for training camp. In past years, players would talk of exotic vacations and wanting to be anywhere but Ashburn, but the tide is changing because of Washington’s current ownership and management.

While some grades, such as the stadium and team facilities, will still likely be lower than ownership wants due to no fault of their own, you can bet those grades will be much higher on the personal side of things next time.

WATCH: Commanders QB Sam Hartman drops it in the bucket in practice

Sam Hartman showing off his accuracy.

The Washington Commanders exited the 2024 NFL draft with the most experienced passers from the three-day event. We know about No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels, who started for five seasons between Arizona State and LSU. After three solid seasons at Arizona State, Daniels’ career took off once he arrived in Baton Rouge in 2022.

After the draft, Washington signed Sam Hartman as an undrafted free agent, giving him a significant signing bonus. Washington’s ultimate goal was to have Daniels as the starter and Hartman as the long-term backup.

Hartman played for four seasons at Wake Forest, where he appeared in 48 games with 45 starts. He transferred to Notre Dame for his final season and started 12 games for the Fighting Irish.

Over his final two seasons, Hartman’s accuracy took a big jump, going from around a 57% passer to a 63% passer.

During a drill on the final day of Washington’s three-day minicamp, Hartman did something the other three quarterbacks, including Daniels, did not.

Check it out:

That’s an impressive throw. Daniels, Marcus Mariota and Jeff Driskel came up short, but quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard and assistant quarterbacks coach David Blough also dropped it in the bucket. Both Pritchard and Blough were starting college quarterbacks, with Blough having played in the NFL.

 

WATCH: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels in action on final day of minicamp

Watch Daniels in action on the final day of minicamp.

The Washington Commanders completed their three-day minicamp on Friday and are now off until training camp begins later next month. It was a good week of practice for Washington, which used the entire three days for camp instead of cutting a day short like the previous staff.

As expected, all eyes were on quarterback Jayden Daniels this week. Daniels had a good week of practice, and while head coach Dan Quinn has yet to name a starting quarterback, he acknowledged that Daniels had made “unbelievable progress” since arriving in Washington last month.

Daniels’ accuracy was on full display throughout the week. He also got in some time throwing the deep ball.

Here is Daniels in action on Thursday, courtesy of Scott Abraham of WJLA Channel 7 in Washington, D.C.

Here is Daniels once again showing off his accuracy.

Next up for Daniels is training camp.

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels arrives before 6 a.m. every day, joined by another rookie

Daniels and another rookie are the first to arrive every morning.

Washington Commanders defensive tackle and team captain Jonathan Allen recently spoke about rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. When asked what impressed him the most, Allen said he prides himself on being the first to arrive at the team’s Ashburn facility every day.

He’s not first anymore, as Daniels routinely beats him to the facility. Guard Nick Allegretti backed this up, saying he is also an early riser, but Daniels beats him to the facility, too.

On Wednesday, Daniels revealed the time he arrives at the team facility.

“I get here around like 5:45 a.m. and just walk through in the bubble in the indoor, watching film and stuff like that,” Daniels said Wednesday. “But just trying to prepare myself for the day. It’s kind of just that routine that I had when I was in college, but now I’m in there actually walking through because I’m still learning the playbook and trying to grasp everything. So just being comfortable for the day and being ready to go out there and go out and compete at practice.”

Daniels isn’t the only rookie showing up ahead of the veterans.

Daniels was asked if he was alone in the indoor practice bubble early in the morning. He said a fellow rookie, wide receiver Luke McCaffrey, joined him. He said the two started arriving around the same time in rookie minicamp when McCaffrey saw him at the facility early and has been joining him every since.

Almost everyone in the NFL works hard. Daniels’ showing up before his teammates is leadership, and the best part is that it is natural. With the work Daniels and McCaffrey have been getting over the summer, it wouldn’t shock anyone to see them have a chemistry on the field when the games begin in September.

 

Juwan Johnson to miss a ‘good amount of time’ with a leg injury

Juwan Johnson is out with a leg injury. How much time will he miss? Which tight end will step up in his absence?

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson has missed both minicamp practices this week, and on Wednesday evening it was revealed Johnson is dealing with a lower leg injury that would lead him missing a good amount of time per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill.

The extent and specifics of Johnson’s injury remains unclear. Underhill added that he hadn’t heard whether this injury would sideline Johnson into the season. Johnson was last seen on the field by media on June 5 at organized team activities. This means this injury occurred somewhere in the last week, either at their final OTAs session on June 6, in the weight room, or somewhere else.

The Saints will work out tight end Sal Cannella of the UFL’s Arlington Renegades Thursday. It’s a sign New Orleans was aware of the situation, but their depth has worn down with veteran backups Michael Jacobson and Tommy Hudson also missing practice this week. Foster Moreau, Taysom Hill, and Dallin Holker were the only tight ends available at Wednesday’s practice from start to finish.

Taysom Hill will continue to move around even if he lines up more at tight end due to this injury. Most notably, it opens the door for rookie Holker to make a statement. He’s impressed during the offseason, and this will give him a higher priority in the rotation. This is his opportunity to make a lasting impact heading into training camp.

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