Ten things to look for when New Orleans Saints minicamp begins next weekend
Posted by Brian Allee-Walsh, The Times-Picayune May 29, 2009 12:39PM
In all, there are five mandatory practices for players who are physically able and eligible to participate. Top draft pick, cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, will not be present because of current NCAA rules that prohibit players from participating in minicamps until their school finishes final exams.
Remember, two practices are open to the public (3 p.m. on June 5 and 10:15 a.m. on June 6) at the team's training facility in Metairie.
My top 10 things to observe -- keep in mind, these guys are running around in shorts and helmets during "non-contact'' drills, so one can only deduce so much.
(10) Rookie punter Thomas Morstead, the team's fifth-round draft pick, and punt- and kick-return prospects.
(9) TE Jeremy Shockey's explanation how he became so dehydrated in Las Vegas on Sunday that it caused him to be briefly hospitalized. Apparently what happened in Vegas didn't stay in Vegas.
(.8.) The ongoing evolution of veteran LB Dan Morgan as he makes the switch from inside to outside and if subtle changes are being made at fullback now that Heath Evans has replaced Mike Karney.
(7) The progress of RB Reggie Bush, who continues to rehab from microfracture knee surgery in December. How much can he do?
(6) This will be our first on-field glimpse of 33-year-old FS Darren Sharper since he joined the team in March.
(5) How RB Pierre Thomas is dealing with 10 pounds of additional weight in his lower body in terms of his speed and agility.
(4) If WR Robert Meachem continues to build on the momentum he created from an organized team activity that was open to the media May 21.
(3) The continued push by new 'D' coordinator Gregg Williams to create an uptempo defense and emphasize turnovers, particularly in the secondary.
(2) The rotation and depth chart along the defensive front, especially with the new faces on board and the ongoing StarCaps case involving ends Will Smith and Charles Grant, who are facing four-game suspensions at the start of next season.
(1) The big picture at running back in the absence of big back Deuce McAllister -- Thomas, Bush, Mike Bell, Lynell Hamilton, P.J. Hill, Herb Donaldson.
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