Derek Carr speaks with the media following the Saints' first joint practice with the Chargers.
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00:00 >> What would you think of them, what's the review of day one out of you?
00:05 >> It's great, it's great seeing different looks.
00:06 We came out here, you don't watch film on them.
00:09 You just come out and just, hey, we're gonna play a new defense, trust your rules,
00:12 all that kind of stuff.
00:13 And that's fun because it allows you just to play football,
00:17 some unscouted kind of things.
00:19 Thankfully, I've played these guys a couple times in my career.
00:21 So I have a little bit of background, but they're doing some new things,
00:25 some nice things.
00:26 But it's a lot of fun competing against them.
00:28 >> How did you feel like it went back and forth?
00:30 >> Yeah, it was great, it was great work.
00:33 They did some good things on the red zone, we did some good things.
00:38 In the third down, two minute go down, they had some big plays,
00:41 we had some plays, that's what these things are, that's what they should be.
00:44 And you got two good teams going back and forth like it has been in camp,
00:48 our defense versus our offense.
00:49 It's been back and forth, it's been a lot of competition.
00:54 And I fully expected that over here with this defense, cuz I've played them, man,
00:58 and they're a good group.
00:59 >> There are a few guys that have already played a preseason game, obviously.
01:02 How much do you need a joint practice like this to kind of get the juices flowing?
01:05 >> Well, I love joint practice, I've always loved joint practices,
01:08 even with my time with the Raiders.
01:09 It gives you just different looks, you're not just seeing one cover.
01:13 It's like you get used to seeing the same guy line up,
01:16 even if they're disguising, you know what they're playing cuz you're used to seeing.
01:19 And when you play a different defense, you're allowed to get different looks.
01:24 And in the joint practices, people show more.
01:26 They're gonna show us more pressure, they're gonna show us more coverage,
01:29 variations, and things like that.
01:31 And so you really get better, more regular season type looks in
01:35 a joint practice than you would in a preseason game.
01:38 >> What has the process been like in general, just a new training camp,
01:40 new team, all the new city, all those things that you're adjusting to?
01:43 >> Yeah, I'm just adjusting, doing my best at it.
01:47 We still have our house in Vegas, and we still have home base there.
01:50 But coming to a new city, the first thing is,
01:53 I've learned Chipotle is not the only food in New Orleans, I learned that quick.
01:58 I've learned a lot of things since joining, but for me,
02:03 it's just been whenever you get released somewhere, that fire,
02:07 you get rejuvenated, all those kind of things, and you feel refreshed.
02:10 And it's been great inside our building.
02:12 Again, like I said, I wish the Raiders the best, those are my friends.
02:16 I hope they win and do great.
02:18 But I'm in New Orleans now, and I'm gonna give them everything I have with
02:22 new energy and all that kind of stuff that I'm excited to bring.
02:25 >> Derek, did you watch any of the Chris Olave, Asante, Samuel stuff?
02:29 How would you describe how the two of them were kinda going at each other?
02:32 >> I mean, that's Olave, he does that in practice.
02:35 Even if someone else catches a ball on somebody,
02:38 he's walking in the middle of them talking trash, that's Chris.
02:41 And so it's all good competition.
02:44 I thought this was one of the cleanest joint practices I've been a part of.
02:47 There was no chippiness, but it is day one.
02:49 People will be more sore tomorrow, we'll see.
02:51 Hopefully nothing crazy.
02:53 >> Derek, are we gonna see you play a little bit more this week, do you know?
02:56 >> I have no idea, no.
02:58 DA just tells us to always be ready.
03:00 Like I said, when you get released somewhere, any chance you get to put
03:04 the jersey on and play in a football game, preseason or not,
03:06 they'll never take you for granted.
03:07 >> You guys use this five days, four days out here as an opportunity to get
03:12 kinda closer as a team, you guys all just kinda staying in one space, and yeah.
03:16 >> Yeah, I mean, we got some team, some position dinners,
03:19 some dinners with each other, we got sitting at the table with everybody again,
03:23 instead of going home at night and all that kinda stuff.
03:25 So we got nowhere to go.
03:26 So the only thing you can do is get to know your teammates a little bit better,
03:29 and that's been a lot of fun for sure.
03:32 >> How do you feel like things are just coming along with Mike Thomas so far?
03:35 >> Yeah, I think it's been great, and this is a great group to compete against.
03:38 We got some great defensive backs, safeties and corners.
03:42 Schematically too, get some match kinda coverage type stuff, and
03:46 work on some tight window throws.
03:48 And I thought we hit a couple of those today, and
03:51 there's one or two that we can talk about.
03:53 But that's what this stuff is for, so that when you hit the regular season and
03:56 you're actually game planning someone, you're actually watching film,
03:58 the matchups, all that kinda stuff.
04:00 You kinda know what you're getting into, and you know what you're capable of.
04:02 >> How do you imagine these conditions just help with the work overall?
04:05 >> The conditions, yeah.
04:06 Feels like our indoor.
04:07 >> [LAUGH] >> What does it mean to have Foster around,
04:11 and that adjustment that you're both kinda making together, and
04:14 everything he's going through this summer too?
04:15 >> Yeah, I mean, anytime we talk about Foster now,
04:18 we have to talk about what he's grinded through.
04:20 And what he's using his platform now to help so
04:23 many people that no one knows about, or he won't even talk about.
04:26 But as you know, knowing Foster, he's just an unbelievable guy.
04:30 And him and I, we have some inside jokes, and
04:34 people are kinda looking at us at the table, and we have to kinda explain it.
04:37 Whereas we didn't have to last year.
04:38 But we're at a new place, but it's been a lot of fun,
04:41 especially having so many familiar faces.
04:42 John's here, Lynn, Brian, everybody that I was teammates with that's here.
04:49 Sorry, in New Orleans with me.
04:51 It's good to have familiar faces to go through a new situation with.
04:54 >> You talked about rooting for the Raiders.
04:56 You gonna watch the games?
04:57 Is it gonna be tough not to when you're not playing?
04:59 >> When we played the Chiefs this past Sunday, I got home,
05:02 my kids had the Raider game on.
05:03 I'm watching my guys, and they're cheering for Daniel when he's going up there to
05:06 kick.
05:07 I mean, my daughter the other day was running around on the Saints field, and
05:11 she said, touchdown Raiders.
05:12 I was like, wait, wait, wait, wait.
05:13 It's not yet, not anymore, not anymore.
05:15 So those are my friends.
05:18 I have no hard feelings, like I said.
05:19 I got no hard feelings towards any of my guys.
05:22 I want those guys to succeed, cuz I know when you don't succeed, it's tough, and
05:27 it's hard, and it's hard on your family, and it's hard on everybody.
05:29 And I don't want that for my friends.
05:32 >> Eric, you talked earlier about Mike Thomas.
05:34 >> Yeah.
05:35 >> He said, admittedly, that he's not back where he was.
05:39 Where do you see him right now, and
05:41 his conditioning is coming back from this offseason, surgeries and stuff?
05:45 >> Yeah, I mean, if he's not back where he was, obviously,
05:48 coming off an injury and all that kind of stuff, that would make sense.
05:51 But he's still a heck of a football player, cuz I don't know any different.
05:55 From what I've seen, he looks like Mike Thomas.
05:58 And I keep saying that, cuz that was my expectation when I got here,
06:02 is he plays violently, he's strong at the catch point, he's able to separate, and
06:07 he's a great competitor.
06:08 And so for me, what I expected out of Mike Thomas,
06:11 I've seen you guys would know better than I do.
06:14 But just being around him just a little bit, I've loved every second of it.
06:17 >> I saw what you said over the game about it felt different, but it felt right.
06:21 >> Yeah.
06:23 >> Have you reflected on that in the last couple days, or
06:24 just like, what, did you actually put on a different jersey?
06:27 >> It was weird, cuz Jay Koehner walked up to me, he's like, that looks weird.
06:29 And when you're in one place for almost a decade,
06:33 it will look weird wearing something else.
06:34 But it felt right just for the season that we're in,
06:39 the season that they're in, the season that I'm in.
06:41 I think it's gonna be good for everybody, and that's what it's about.
06:46 They gotta do what's best for them, and I gotta do what's best for me.
06:48 And I think it'll be good for everyone.
06:50 >> Thanks.