Derek Carr, Saints speaking the same language after OTAs, minicamp and bonus workouts he arranged in Las Vegas

When it came to making our observations on the first day of Saints training camp practice Wednesday, Derek Carr kind of played second fiddle to the likes of Michael Thomas, Trevor Penning, Cesar Ruiz and Kendre Miller.

But that in and of itself was one of my top takeaways, that Carr already feels like an entrenched part of this team. Carr himself made a similar observation about his comfort level, saying, “Now I just feel like part of the family.”

Derek Carr on having everyone out at practice for the first day of Saints training camp pic.twitter.com/WFl5yLgGUn— NOF (@nofnetwork) July 26, 2023

Well, there was one notable exception at the end of practice, when Carr sheepishly admitted that his 2-year-old daughter ran onto the field and yelled, “Touchdown Raiders!”

“I was like, ‘Nooo! Don’t say that anymore,’” Carr said with a laugh. “So it’s still new for them obviously. But to me, it just feels like home now. This is my home, and I’m gonna give New Orleans everything I have. That’s physically, mentally, in the community. Anything I can do to help somebody, and help us win, and bring excitement to this city, and help encourage some people in the city, I’m gonna do it.”

That, of course, starts on the field, where we detailed Carr’s exhaustive efforts to get on the same page with new receivers like Thomas and Chris Olave throughout OTAs and minicamp. And that continued even when the team went on its summer hiatus in June and July.

Carr said seven or eight of his teammates joined him in Las Vegas for two days earlier this month to bond both on and off the field — similar to what previous Saints starters Drew Brees and Jameis Winston had done in the past.

Olave was the only player Carr mentioned by name, since he didn’t want anybody trying to discern anything from the full attendance report. But Carr said it was a valuable experience for him and his new family.

“The work was important, but even more important was getting to know each other. Letting them see me, in my home, in my element, that kind of stuff,” said Carr, who pointed out that he and Olave were already noticeably on the same page during Wednesday’s practice, especially on one route that required some nuance and anticipation.

“When he made that break, the way he did it and the timing of it, and I was ready for him, (that shows) we’re heading in the right direction,” said Carr, who said Olave ran the route at the exact depth he expected. “Now it just feels like he’s my wideout, and I’m his quarterback, and we’re just playing football.”

First practice in the books!! NOF Post practice Podcast!! pic.twitter.com/F4Hp4t7jE7— Tom Moore (@moore41161) July 26, 2023

Carr isn’t just giving lip service to things like that. When fans come out for practices in the coming weeks, you wont be able to help but notice the communication between snaps between Carr and his pass catchers when he walks over to them to review certain plays.

Carr admitted during OTAs that he was still catching up with all the new verbiage and terminology after spending his first nine years with the Raiders. Now, though, he said, “It’s not a new language. It’s my language. It’s our language.”

“I just want to compete now. That’s what we’re here to do,” Carr said. “Just that mentality to not stop is really I would say the main goal for all of us on offense. And reps together. The more reps we can get with everybody in that huddle, the better this team can be.”

Coach Dennis Allen said the things he has wanted to see from Carr this summer are an ability to take command of the offense, line everybody up, get them in and out of the huddle, execute plays, make the right reads and the right checks. And, “he’s been outstanding so far in that regard.”

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From all accounts, Carr has done an excellent job of navigating the tricky balance that comes with being the type of alpha leader that is required from a veteran quarterback — without trying to “force it,” as safety Tyrann Mathieu said.

“You know, a few guys try to force it. Then there’s other guys that it kind of comes natural to them. And I think he’s one of those guys; he’s just a natural leader,” Mathieu said. “He doesn’t do anything crazy; he doesn’t yell and scream. But he’s the first one in line. He’s the first one here in the building, and he’s one of last people to leave off the field. And a lot of guys gravitate toward him.”

That’s exactly the approach Carr has said he wants to take. He recalled asking longtime Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan at the Pro Bowl how he would feel if Carr joined the team, and he said he was sold the minute that Jordan replied, “I’m not THE leader. We’ve got a team full of leaders.”

“This is my first time stepping into a new organization, right? So for me, I was just gonna walk in and just be myself. This is me,” Carr said. “This is what (general manager Mickey Loomis) asked me to be. He’s not asking me to be anything I’m not. When Mickey and DA asked me to be here, they said, ‘I want you to come here and be you.’ And it was an easy fit, because I don’t feel like I have to be THE leader. We’ve got Cam, we’ve got Tyrann, we’ve got Demario (Davis), we’ve got Mike (Thomas), Alvin (Kamara), Erik (McCoy).

“We’ve got so many guys doing and saying the right things, we’re doing it together.”