Dennis Allen meets with the media following Day 12 of Saints training camp.
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00:00 So, one, really two roster moves.
00:06 We signed JP Holtz, and Wade injured off of the lineman, Kodamar.
00:12 Back out there today, got some more situational work, two minute.
00:16 Down two at the end of the game, and I thought we executed good offensively.
00:23 A little bogus call by Riz on the legal substitution,
00:28 but listen, you never know what's gonna happen in the game.
00:32 We've had a few bad calls around here at times, so fire away with questions.
00:38 >> Was that heat an issue today, would you say?
00:40 >> I don't think so.
00:41 I mean, it's hot, but I think our guys are really kind of acclimated to it,
00:47 so I don't think it's as much of a factor.
00:49 >> Will that be the last outside practice you probably have with this training camp?
00:52 Here?
00:53 >> Well, I wouldn't say the last one, but
00:56 we're not gonna be outside a lot if it stays as hot as it is right now.
01:03 >> Dennis has a report about looking for
01:08 other training camp opportunities next year.
01:10 Has this camp, and look, it's been crazy record heat, not just New Orleans heat,
01:14 but even by our standards, it's been hot.
01:16 Does this sort of tell you maybe it's not meant to be here, or
01:21 how do you feel about it?
01:24 >> I don't think the heat's really the big factor.
01:28 We've got an indoor facility that we can work out in.
01:31 I think there's potential for us to be doing some renovations on the facility.
01:38 And so nothing's been determined, nothing's set in stone.
01:44 But yeah, it's something that we might consider.
01:48 >> Dennis, with that being said, if it's still hot when the Texans come to town,
01:52 you have basically two practices at one.
01:54 Aren't you almost forced, maybe in those couple of days, to be outside?
01:57 >> I think we're gonna practice outside for one day, and
02:01 we may go to the dome for another day.
02:03 >> Okay.
02:05 >> Do you have a preference?
02:05 >> I'm thinking about you with that body.
02:07 >> Yes, I love the AC.
02:08 >> Do you have a preference?
02:11 You've been here for the Greenbrier and Millsaps and getting away and being here.
02:14 Do you have a preference?
02:16 >> Not Millsaps.
02:17 >> [LAUGH] >> Not Millsaps, but yeah, look.
02:22 That's a long way away, so we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
02:25 But there's a lot of stuff that has to happen between now and then.
02:29 >> Are there soft tissue considerations about practicing indoors?
02:33 [BLANK_AUDIO]
02:36 >> Not really.
02:38 I think the soft tissue, generally, you think of it a little bit more in terms of
02:43 being outside, hydration, being able to replenish all your fluids.
02:49 So I think that's a little bit more of a challenge.
02:52 And then really, you're just talking about load management.
02:54 And there's a lot that goes into that scientifically.
02:59 I don't wanna get into that, cuz that's really not my area.
03:01 But yet, that's an area that I pay a lot of attention to in trying to,
03:06 look, you're gonna have soft tissue injuries training camp.
03:08 You gotta be able to get your work done, and
03:12 there's a lot of work that has to be done.
03:13 So it's part of it.
03:17 We're trying to minimize it as much as we can.
03:19 >> Has it been more than normal this year?
03:21 >> It's actually been less than normal.
03:23 >> Dennis, he asked you about your pout the other day.
03:25 But what is it that makes it a good fit for that dotting role?
03:28 I know you've been getting a lot of lifts in the first dot.
03:31 >> Yeah, look, I think we're trying to throw a lot at him to see how much he can
03:35 handle.
03:35 That position has to be, it's really more of a sub down position,
03:45 more of a passing down position.
03:49 And so there's some coverage flexibility that you're allowed when you have
03:53 the extra DB on the field.
03:55 And so we're gonna look at some guys that maybe can fill that role for us.
04:01 That's a role that Tyron's filled for us in the past.
04:04 And we're gonna continue to look to see if there's anybody that can help in that
04:10 area.
04:10 >> I know Zach Vaughn has probably gotten a lot of snaps based on
04:15 his seniority and experience, but is he taking advantage of that?
04:19 Is he earning- >> Yeah, look,
04:21 I think Zach's done a really good job.
04:23 I think his best fit right now is at the Sam Linebacker position.
04:29 When we drafted him, we knew that he could play that.
04:33 I think we're still a little bit of a work in progress off the ball.
04:35 And look, I would say this, I'm looking to see who's the next
04:42 off the ball backer behind DeMario and Pete.
04:47 And I don't have that answer right now.
04:49 So that's what this training camp's about, and
04:51 that's what the preseason games are gonna be about.
04:53 >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, we haven't talked about Lonnie Johnson.
04:55 Does his versatility, obviously he's played outside, he's played state,
04:59 does his versatility make him kind of an attractive pitch?
05:02 >> Yeah, look, he's a guy that's, he's made some splash plays in this camp.
05:05 And so I like his athleticism.
05:10 I like his size, I like his range.
05:12 And he's, the key for him really is gonna be getting the defense down pat,
05:20 to where you trust putting him in in different situations.
05:25 And so from an athletic standpoint,
05:27 he's fully capable of doing anything that we ask him to do.
05:32 And now it's how much can he absorb and how much can he retain to where he's
05:38 out there on game day being able to do more than just one job.
05:42 >> Dennis, would you say Malcolm Roach has had a good camp at this point?
05:45 How would you sort of say where he is maybe in his career and how he's done?
05:49 >> Yeah, look, I think he's had a good camp.
05:52 It gives us a little bit of athleticism at the nose position,
05:57 rather than just the big stout, A gap to A gap player.
06:02 He's a guy that does have some versatility in that he can play nose,
06:04 he can play three.
06:06 And he's got, for a nose, he's got some pass rush ability.
06:12 So I like where he's at, he's probably a little bit lighter than where he's been
06:16 in the past, probably a little quicker than where he's been in the past.
06:20 He's a guy that maybe just comes to work every day and
06:23 he works his tail off and he's gotten a lot better.
06:27 >> Have you been happy overall with the inside D-line group?
06:31 >> Yeah, look, I've been happy with the D-line group overall.
06:35 I think we're playing stout in there.
06:37 I think we've got some guys that have some ability to rush the passer inside.
06:45 And I think that's a really important thing in our league,
06:50 having guys that can rush the passer inside, get the quarterback off the spot,
06:54 not let the quarterback step up.
06:55 And so I've been pleased with that.
06:59 >> Are you more explosive in the interior than maybe you have-
07:01 >> I think so.
07:02 >> Yeah. >> I think so.
07:03 I think we're a little more athletic than where we've been in the past.
07:07 >> Is there a trade off with that in run defense or no?
07:10 >> No, because I think we didn't go out and
07:15 get just a bunch of little guys that are quick and explosive.
07:19 We've got big guys that still can play with power.
07:22 But they've got the ability, they've got a little more twitch and
07:26 a little more athleticism inside than what we probably had.
07:30 >> Dennis, it seemed like today was the most involved Jimmy Grimm's been
07:33 as a pass catcher in camp.
07:35 Is that just kinda how it worked out or
07:37 you all been trying to ramp him up to see more from him?
07:41 >> Well, yeah, I think part of it is getting him ramped up.
07:44 He didn't play all last season and
07:48 you kinda gotta get your legs back into football shape,
07:56 which I think he's getting back to that spot.
07:58 And so, look, we've said this before, you don't have to see it every day out of
08:02 some of these veteran guys, but at some point we gotta see it.
08:06 So it's nice to see him show up today and hopefully that'll continue.
08:12 >> Same with Tason, he seemed to get a lot of balls today.
08:14 Was that by design or just came out that way?
08:17 >> Well, look, in all of our practices, we pay attention to how we're designing
08:23 the plays and who we're putting in certain spots.
08:27 And where we think the ball might go, but
08:30 at the end of the day, the coverage dictates where the ball goes.
08:34 And that's when we've been at our best when we just read it out as the coverage
08:39 tells us to read it out, put the ball where it's supposed to go and
08:42 let our playmakers go make plays.
08:44 >> Dave, what have you seen from Shaq Davis so far throughout training camp?
08:47 >> Yeah, look, I think long, rangy, athletic receiver.
08:55 I think he's still learning the playbook.
08:57 And so I think he's a little behind in that area.
09:00 But I like the skill set, I like his athleticism.
09:04 He's gotta come on with the playbook and
09:07 make sure he's in the right spots when he's supposed to be there.
09:10 >> Hey, Dennis, just for the preseason, I know Hainer seems like he's had a good
09:15 camp, is it inconceivable to think that a rookie could be back up in front of
09:19 a veteran who's got a ton of experience or it's just a flat out competition?
09:23 >> Yeah, look, I wouldn't get into all the hypotheticals.
09:26 I mean, there's nothing inconceivable.
09:29 But we'll let the preseason play out.
09:34 I like where we're at the quarterback room.
09:36 I think we got four guys in our building that can go out and
09:39 win a game at the quarterback position for us.
09:41 That includes Taysom Hill, so that's a good feeling to have.