Saints OTA Observations: Tracking Trevor Penning's progress, Derek Carr's sharp day, more

Notes and observations from Tuesday’s New Orleans Saints minicamp practice.

ATTENDANCE

Players who weren't spotted Tuesday: RB Alvin Kamara; CBs Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo, Kool-Aid McKinstry; WRs Rashid Shaheed, Stanley Morgan Jr.; DEs Chase Young, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Nathan Latu; OL Ryan Ramczyk, Oli Udoh; S JT Gray; DT Nathan Shepherd; LB Nephi Sewell.

Present but didn’t participate in team drills: DE Cam Jordan, DT Bryan Bresee, S Jordan Howden, LB Jaylan Ford, OL Mark Evans II.

CB Rico Payton left practice early with a trainer. Ford worked out off to the side. Kpassagnon tore his Achilles this offseason, coach Dennis Allen said Tuesday, and he will miss an extended period.

"I think I'll be able to make the switch just fine"- Trevor Penning on making the move to right tackle pic.twitter.com/Cmw5nqFbiE— NOF (@nofnetwork) May 28, 2024

PENNING'S PROGRESS

Offensive tackle Trevor Penning had a couple of moments Tuesday that served as a reminder that his transition to the right side of the line will be a process.

Penning got corrected by a member of the coaching staff after he missed a block during team drills and tackled a member of the defense as he attempted to recover. He had a little rough spot later in practice, and it looked like he missed a block on one play and fell offside after losing his stance.

He had some good moments, too, and those shouldn't get lost. Penning looks great in the running game overall. And it should be remembered that he's switching sides on the offensive line and doesn't look lost.

It is probably a little unfair to dissect every play and every moment as he tries to learn a new spot, but we have to cover the process, and there will be both good and bad along the way.

Which Saints have the most to gain or lose this season? https://t.co/5Hf2iqxLOj— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) May 28, 2024

ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Klint Kubiak wasn’t pleased with how the offense huddled and made them break and redo whatever they did. This is the second week we’ve observed something like this.

The offensive coordinator doesn’t let anything go. The details matter, and he’ll do what it takes to ensure his players do things the right way.

Last year, Saints offensive players complained about a lack of accountability. That won't be a problem with Kubiak and his staff running the show.How Klint Kubiak is installing not just a new offense, but a new culture https://t.co/qaxgZkgTot— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) May 27, 2024

CARR SHARP

Derek Carr looked sharp. The starting quarterback connected on all four of his attempts during 7-on-7s and was 4-for-4 in team drills. He connected with A.T. Perry on a slant and found Equanimeous St. Brown deep on another pass.

One thing that stands out about Carr is that he is doing a lot of leading on the field. He and linebacker Demario Davis raced to the starting spot between drills, and Carr went out of his way to give Michael Jacobson props after the veteran tight end made a nice catch on a pass from Jake Haener.

TAYSOM’S DAY

Taysom Hill drilled with the tight ends during the opening part of the practice. He spent time with the fullbacks and running backs last week. But during practice, he worked as a ball carrier for most of the day and took some direct handoffs from Carr. This isn’t something he has done much of in his career, but he looked comfortable in that role.

Hill got in some work as a tight end, too. In one of those moments, he ran a wheel route and made a deep reception from Carr with Pete Werner in coverage.

The Saints showed off some motion with Hill, too. He lined up as a fullback and motioned into the tight end spot a few times.

Taysom Hill on the conversations he had with OC Klint Kubiak regarding his new role pic.twitter.com/6wKXY90b3l— NOF (@nofnetwork) May 28, 2024

LINEBACKER ROTATION

Demario Davis, Werner and Willie Gay were all working in the base package on defense. Gay played on the strong side and came off the field when the team shifted to nickel.

CORNERBACK ROTATION

Alontae Taylor and 2023 UDFA Rejzohn Wright were the primary outside corners with the first team since Lattimore, Adebo and McKinstry were all out. When the Saints moved to nickel, Alontae moved inside and veteran Shemar Jean-Charles played on the outside.

Ugo Amadi also spent time as an outside corner since they’re low on numbers there.

SAFETY ROTATION

Tyrann Mathieu and Johnathan Abram started during team drills. Howden, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, worked with the second team during walkthroughs and was out of action during team drills.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE ROTATION

Kendal Vickers started at defensive tackle again alongside Khalen Saunders, with Bresee and Shepherd not participating in team drills.

OFFENSIVE LINE ROTATION

From right to left: Penning, Cesar Ruiz, Erik McCoy, Nick Saldiveri, Taliese Fuaga.

Second team: Landon Young, Kyle Hergel, Shane Lemieux, Lucas Patrick, Justin Herron

RATTLER FIGURING IT OUT

Spencer Rattler is a rookie. He’s learning a new league and a new offense. There will be some rough days, and he endured one of those days Tuesday.

The rookie quarterback was picked off twice by undrafted rookie safety Millard Bradford. The first one happened when Rattler threw a pass a little behind rookie receiver Bub Means that was tipped by UDFA safety Lawrence Johnson and picked off by Bradford.

On the second one, he underthrew a deep pass to Means, which was picked off by Bradford. Rattler just looked a little off all day. He finished 1-for-4 in 7-on-7 drills and 2-for-4 in team drills.

KICKER COMPETITION

There might be some competition this summer between incumbent Blake Grupe and rookie Charlie Smyth. Smyth knocked down all five of his kicks during practice, and each of them sailed straight through the middle of the uprights.

Smyth’s leg is strong, and his kicks routinely cleared the bushes behind the uprights. His long was from 44 yards, but he has plenty more distance.

He’ll have to do it during preseason and games when there is actual pressure, but he clearly has talent.

FOSKEY FLASH

Isaiah Foskey flashed a few times during the practice and got into the backfield for a sack at one point. Does it mean anything? Hard to say, considering no one is wearing pads. But it’s good to see the 2023 second-round pick making plays.