If there were a Saints player of the day at Tuesday's Organized Team Activities, it was safety Roman Harper. The 4th year veteran from Alabama came up with two interceptions, including one that would have made ESPN's top ten plays of the day in a game. Harper also recorded a sack.
In team offense versus defense drills, Harper made a play on a tipped ball and was able to come down with the pick after juggling and bobbling the ball. Harper got control of the ball and came up with the play of the day. Harper would later pick off his second pass of the practice in the final session of team drills.
Tight end Jeremy Shockey was back with the Saints first offense. Quarterback Drew Brees connected with Shockey on a third down and ten for a fifteen yard gain. The defense made a nice play in the early part of team drills. The Saints tried to run a reverse to receiver Robert Meachem, but the defensive line disrupted the rhythm of the play, and cornerback Tracey Porter was on Meachem as he approached the line of scrimmage.
The team then took a break and worked on special teams for about fifteen minutes, before going back to team drills with emphasis on third down and distance. Drew Brees hit receiver Devery Henderson on the near sideline, and with the aid of a nice block by Meachem, Henderson had a substantial gain on the play.
After an incomplete Brees pass, the play of the day occurred. Roman Harper made that bobbling/juggling interception, got back up on his feet and attempted to return the pick off.
The second team offense then started with quarterback Mark Brunell throwing a nice, sharp, short wing pass to running back Mike Bell for a big gain. Brunell hit Bell in stride on the play. Brunell then followed up with an over the middle reception to tight end Billy Miller. He then cashed in on a long TD to receiver Courtney Roby in what looked like a blown coverage in the defensive secondary.
After a brief break, the Saints went back into team drills for the final phase of practice. The defense once again looked good as coordinator Gregg Williams was barking out defensive blitzes on the near sideline.
"The defense kicked their butts. The blitz packages were confusing the protection. Now it's up to the offense to review the film and make adjustments for the next practice," said the Cajun Cannon Bobby Hebert.
In the first three third down and distance plays Brees was under serious pressure and probably would have been sacked twice in a real game. "I have not seen that, since Drew Brees has been here. You hardly ever see that in practice," Hebert said.
Another interesting play was on a blitz by the defense, with Brees looking down field for receiver Marques Coltson. Safety Darren Sharper was in great position and came over the top to prevent Colston from making the catch. Williams was yelling in praise to Sharper, "I knew you saw it. I knew you saw it."
Cornerback Jabari Greer got to the QB and picked up a sack on a corner blitz. Defensive tackle DeMario Pressley and defensive end Bobby McCray also came up with sacks. On a third and four situation, the Saints offense showed pass…then ran a draw to running back Reggie Bush. Reggie would have easily had about fifteen yards, however the Saints ran the same play later and the defense was not fooled. McCray got to Bush behind the line of scrimmage.
The defensive line made the O-Line a little anxious as they had two false starts while Brees changed his cadence and got the D-Line to jump off sides once. Receiver Adrian Arrington, defensive end Will Smith and cornerback Randall Gay were all riding bikes at the start of practice. Defensive end Paul Spicer was out due to a strained groin. Coach Sean Payton said that Will Smith sat out due to some abdominal pain and that it was nothing significant.
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