Dennis Allen speaks with the media following the Saints' second joint practice with the Chargers.
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00:00 Only thing today, a lot more a little bit of a knee.
00:05 I don't expect it to be anything.
00:06 We held him out for precautionary measures.
00:09 Obviously, we'll go in and evaluate it and see where he's at.
00:11 But it didn't seem like it was significant on the field, so
00:15 hopefully that'll be the case.
00:18 >> Have you heard anything from the NFL about the weather situation,
00:23 the potential hurricane?
00:25 >> I just heard that there's gonna be a phone call today with the league and
00:31 the stadium, and so we'll see what happens.
00:36 >> Do you have an opinion on it?
00:38 >> Well, look, I mean, obviously with the weather,
00:41 the most important thing is that everybody stays safe.
00:44 So whatever it takes for everybody to stay safe, that's what we gotta do.
00:49 At least it's good music.
00:50 >> [LAUGH] >> So you never thought you'd go all the
00:52 way to the West Coast to deal with a hurricane?
00:54 >> Yeah, I guess we brought it with us.
00:56 >> Dennis, did you see what happened at the ball shop?
00:59 >> No, I think he just kinda planted and felt a little something.
01:01 And so I really think it's more precautionary than anything, but
01:06 obviously we'll evaluate and see where it's at.
01:08 >> I feel like Paulson had a really good day today.
01:10 What did you see from him?
01:10 >> Yeah, I think he played well.
01:13 I think Elate did some nice things today.
01:16 I thought we competed for the ball down the field.
01:18 I don't know that we played the run as well as I would like to in this practice,
01:23 but we'll go look at the tape and see what we have to be better at.
01:27 But I thought the passing game, I thought we did some good stuff.
01:30 >> Dennis, I know pre-staff penalties were a frustration early last season.
01:35 Clean with the first string in the game, how has it been out here?
01:40 And is that something you feel like you guys are good lining up?
01:45 >> Well, look, I think that's always something that we're working on,
01:48 because those are things that we can totally control, the pre-staff penalties.
01:52 So yeah, I think it's been a point of emphasis for us, a focus for us.
01:57 I'm gonna go back and look at the tape again.
02:01 I was over here with the defense for most of the day.
02:03 So I know we had a few yesterday, but
02:07 it's certainly something that we gotta make sure that we eliminate.
02:10 >> Dennis, it seemed like Tano Passadio had a nice day today.
02:13 How would you describe what he's been able to do all camp and today specifically?
02:17 >> Yeah, look, I've been impressed with what we've been able to do up front on
02:19 the defensive line.
02:20 We got a lot of depth up there.
02:22 We got a lot of guys that I think have NFL caliber players.
02:25 And I think we're gonna have the ability to kinda have a nice little
02:31 rotation in terms of who's out there on the field and keeping guys fresh.
02:34 So that's good, cuz when you get into the fourth quarter,
02:37 we're working a lot of these two-minute drills at the end, and
02:40 that'll be important for us.
02:41 >> Tano in particular, what would you describe as his strength?
02:44 What is his best?
02:45 >> Yeah, I think he's big, he's long, he plays physical.
02:51 So those are all, and he's kinda a little bit of a sneaky rusher.
02:56 He uses that link well in terms of his ability to rush the passer.
02:59 I think he batted a ball down today, so those are all good things.
03:03 >> Have you been able to gather any impressions of Jalen Smith on us,
03:06 kinda like a small exposure so far?
03:08 >> Yeah, look, I think he's smart, I think he's tough, I think he's athletic.
03:12 So I think he's done some good things, kinda caught my eye a little bit.
03:18 It'd be good to see him on Sunday, get out and play the game, and see how it goes.
03:23 He's still kinda learning the system, but yet he's picked it up pretty quickly.
03:26 >> Dennis, other than the results we're seeing from John Johnson,
03:29 is there anything behind the scenes that you've seen that show growth this year?
03:32 >> Yeah, I think just the guy that's really focused in on trying to be the best
03:36 that he can.
03:36 He works extremely hard, and when you have talent, you work hard,
03:41 you get better, and that's what he's done.
03:43 I like his mindset and where he's at.
03:45 >> Understanding of the offense or anything, is that taking leaps about that?
03:49 >> Yeah, look, I think every year it's gotten better.
03:52 It's gotten better and better and better every single year.
03:54 I think his inline blocking has gotten better.
03:58 He's worked extremely hard at all those things.
04:00 I think he's developed a nice little rapport with Derek.
04:02 He seems to be where Derek wants him when he wants him there.
04:07 When you do that, you kinda get rewarded and the ball comes your way.
04:11 >> Was his pass protection on that touchdown,
04:12 was that something that he wasn't necessarily doing as recently as last year
04:17 when you say he's- >> Yeah, look, I mean,
04:21 I think that's an area that he's tried to work hard to improve on.
04:23 He's always had the physical ability to run routes, get himself open.
04:28 I see some, particularly in the route running, I see some savviness and
04:34 understanding kinda how to set your route up, which has been good to see.
04:38 And then, yeah, obviously the blocking part of it.
04:40 When you move from receiver to tight end,
04:44 the route running is probably the least of your concerns in terms of what you
04:48 have to do.
04:48 It's more about understanding body position and protection,
04:53 body position, and trying to block the C gap or block the D gap.
04:57 And I think he's gotten better at that.
04:59 >> Going against some different guys,
05:00 just what did you see out of Mike Thomas, just probably more yesterday than-
05:03 >> Yeah, look, I thought he moved around
05:04 really well yesterday.
05:07 He was able to kinda get in and out of his cuts a little bit better.
05:11 I think Mike, it's still a work in progress with Mike.
05:16 He's missed a lot of football.
05:20 And so, yeah, you gotta knock a little bit of that rust off.
05:23 But I see every day him getting a little bit better, a little bit better,
05:27 a little bit better.
05:27 And so if he continues on that trajectory and
05:31 continues to work to get better, which he will, I expect him to do good things for
05:35 us. >> What did you say, Ed?
05:37 >> I did Trevor Penning,
05:38 if you looked at the film yesterday, I mean, he's going to get some elite pass
05:41 rushes out here.
05:42 What did he do?
05:42 >> Yeah, I thought he did a solid job.
05:44 There's a few plays that I'm sure that we and he both would like to have back, but
05:49 I thought overall, I thought he performed pretty well.
05:52 >> When you say work in progress, I'm sorry.
05:55 Do you just refer to that,
05:56 do you consider that more of a mental work in progress or physical work in progress?
06:00 >> No, I think it's a little bit of more the physical part,
06:04 just getting out here and running routes.
06:06 I mean, Mike's missed a lot of football.
06:10 And so just like everybody, it takes time to kind of get yourself back.
06:16 And so, but he's worked extremely hard at it.
06:20 And like I said, every single day I see him doing something that looks
06:24 more and more like the Mike Thomas that we know.
06:28 >> Coach, Foster's a cool story, Foster just to be out here.
06:31 But what has he brought to you guys and obviously-
06:33 >> Yeah, man, he's been awesome.
06:35 He's a guy that I don't know if he's ever had a bad day,
06:40 in terms of just his mindset and how he attacks everything he does on a daily basis.
06:45 He comes out here, works extremely hard, he has fun doing it.
06:50 He's been a great leader for our room.
06:52 He's been a great leader in the locker room.
06:53 He's been an awesome addition, of course.
06:56 >> Yeah, Sunday if you guys play,
06:59 is that probably more like the twos and threes that are gonna be out there?
07:02 >> Yeah, look, we'll see.
07:03 We're gonna discuss that this afternoon.
07:05 There'll be some guys that we'll probably hold out of this game.
07:08 I don't know that it's just gonna be wholesale, but
07:12 there'll be a few guys that we'll probably hold out.
07:14 >> Is it a scenario where there's a lot of tough reps that you had out here and
07:17 that's gonna factor in?
07:19 >> All of that factors in.
07:20 We'll get back over there to the hotel this afternoon.
07:22 We'll have a staff meeting this afternoon, talk about how many reps each guy got
07:28 in the practices, and then kinda evaluate it from there.
07:30 >> [INAUDIBLE]
07:40 >> Yeah, I think that's kinda the focus of
07:52 what we're doing here.
07:54 We had a couple of things special teams wise that we wanted to focus on and
07:58 get some work on.
07:59 I thought we got that accomplished.
08:02 And then just allowing guys to come out here and play football.
08:06 And that's kinda what we did.
08:08 So it's kinda been the general principle and
08:11 the general way we've kinda done these joint practices.
08:13 I thought it was outstanding.
08:15 I appreciate the Chargers, Brandon Staley, and what they did for
08:19 us in terms of allowing us to come out here and work with them.
08:22 I thought we got two really, really good days of work.
08:24 >> Yeah, I assume that RFID tracking,
08:30 kind of all the technology that y'all use back at home,
08:32 is that able to travel with y'all to these joint practices?
08:34 Or does it depend on the day?
08:35 >> No, we don't have the same tracking system out here.
08:40 So it's a little bit more of the eye test.
08:42 >> Got it.
08:43 Thank you, Coach.