"New Orleans Saints Aug. 4 practice report: Let's get physical"

Tiger10 · Aug 4, 2009

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2009/08/new_orleans_saints_aug_4_pract.html

The Saints had just one practice today, but it packed quite a punch. The session lasted more than two hours - despite some steady rainfall in the second hour - and included three physical full-team sessions of red-zone work.

The offense and defense each won some battles in the crisp, energetic practice. The best example came when the defense shut down backup tailback Mike Bell on one play, shoving him out of bounds. He came back a few plays later, this time lowering his head and plowing through linebacker Mark Simoneau.
Tight end Jeremy Shockey had three nice catches, including touchdowns against both the first-string and third-string defenses.
Quarterback Drew Brees said Shockey "fought through some arms" to get to the end zone and said that's where he'll be an asset this year. Shockey didn't catch a touchdown pass last year, but that won't be the case again in 2009.
Receiver Robert Meachem had another outstanding practice, catching a touchdown strike from Brees, as he continues to establish himself as the Player of the Week. Here are some other highlights:
• Linebacker Jonathan Vilma got the best of fullback Heath Evans twice during blitz-pickup drills, though tailback Reggie Bush stopped him on another occasion.
• Bush looked healthy again in practice, running fast and hard. He continued to bounce the majority of his runs outside, but he did beat the defense around the corner for a touchdown.
• Backup tailback Lynell Hamilton got a look with the first-string offense, and he had one especially impressive run, ripping through a seam in the middle with some authority.
• Undrafted rookie tailback Herb Donaldson coughed up a fumble.
• Defensive end Charles Grant showed some speed as he got inside for what would have been a sack against Brees. Since they're not allowed to actually hit the quarterback, Brees went ahead and fired in a bullet to Marques Colston.
• Only two players sat out the session with injuries - receiver D'Juan Woods (abdomen) and tight end Dan Campbell (knee). Receiver Adrian Arrington (hamstring) and linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar (hamstring) were limited.
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"New Orleans Saints Aug. 4 practice report: Let's get physical"

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