Hurry-Up: A look at Friday's Training Camp practice

Today the team completed day eight of training camp at the campus of UC Irvine.

Inside today’s practice

Weather: 79° Clear skies

Practice playlist:

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Some of the songs played during Day 8 of camp

Here are today’s key points

ACTION

A look at the headlines from Friday’s practice:

Priority:

&bull; Taliese Fuaga and the offense rebound on Day 8 after struggling during padded practices.

&bull; Spencer Rattler made strides and Jake Haener stayed on pace during the team period.

&bull; Bryan Bresse returns after missing multiple practices with a foot injury. Demario Davis misses a second practice with a hamstring injury.

Analysis:

&bull; Dallin Holker stepped up during the team period and showcased physical blocks and reliable hands. He made the play of the day by catching a touchdown pass from Rattler during the team red-zone period.

&bull; The team signed Marquez Callaway and Samson Nacua to add depth to the ailing receiver room.

&bull; Today’s team periods were officiated for the first time this camp.

What the coaches are saying

Post Practice Headlines

Dennis Allen's key points:

&bull; Alontae Taylor’s role in the secondary has shifted in the past three seasons. He alternates between playing slot corner and outside corner and has found success and failure at both. With the Saints drafting Kool-Aid McKinstry, his role may become more defined if he wins the slot corner battle. Allen has noticed Taylor’s willingness to put the team before himself. “The number one thing I’ve seen out of Alontae is a want to and a willingness to do the job that we’re asking him to do,” Allen said. “ There’s a lot of noise outside of the building as to whether he should be a slot corner or an inside corner. It’s like just go and make plays and if you do that, everything kind of takes care of itself. I think that’s something he’s really embraced this season.”

&bull;Entering a contract year, Peyton Turner is at a critical point in his career. He is looking to overcome his injury streak and make the most of his opportunities. “I think I’m seeing the things that we saw when we drafted this player,” Allen said. “The consistency I think comes from his ability to stay out here on the field participating and being able to stay healthy. Because that’s how you get better and become more consistent.”

What the players are saying

Isaiah Foskey’s key points:

&bull; Looking to turn the page on his lackluster first year, Foskey is using teammates like Cam Jordan and Chase Young to improve his game. “I feel like he's a real technician with his hands," Foskey said. "Even when he (Young) wasn't practicing I was always next to him. Just picking his ear on how he rushes, what he's looking at, what his hands are doing...I'm always right next to him picking his ear."

&bull; Paying attention to the small details can lead to big results. Foskey is self-aware that sometimes he hasn't had the best work day and constantly looks to improve. “Whatever I put out there that day it was not me," Foskey said. "I put that behind me and just kept moving forward. I already knew the next day was going to be one of the greatest days and it was."

Marquez Callaway’s key points:

&bull;Callaway is now on his third stint with the Saints. Someone who has had ties to the organization since 2020 has now become the new guy in the wide receiver room. “It’s a little different,” Callaway said. “Some things are easy, some things are going to take a little bit. The receiver room is different, the coaches are a little different and there are guys everywhere.”

Anfernee Orji’s key points:

&bull; The linebacker position group has arguably been the most consistent group on the team throughout camp. ”I don’t feel like we have the best room in the Saints, I feel like we have the best linebacker room in the country,” Orji said. “Top to bottom we have the best dudes in the country. It’s great competition but it’s like when one guy makes a play all the other guys are cheering. It’s a big family.”

&bull;Going into his second season Orji has taken a leap throughout camp being a playmaker for the second unit. “I feel like the biggest thing for me this year is that I gave it up to God,” Orji said. “Last year I was trying to put everything on my shoulder and try to do everything right but this year I’m just like relax. I’ve been more in my book, my bible and my playbook so I feel like I’m more focused.”

Alontae Taylor’s key points:

&bull; After enduring adversity last season, Taylor has been working toward moving past his struggles in the slot. "I’m comfortable now for sure,” Taylor said. “I think I know the playbook well. They have me taking reps at nickel and at outside corner. I have a better understanding, I know what the linebackers are doing but also know what the cornerbacks are doing and then knowing what my responsibility is I can win at my leverage or whatever my responsibility is”

&bull; Taylor has spent the offseason taking steps toward eliminating mistakes that have held him back and is looking for ways to build his game following a process of self-reflection. “We watch tape so that we know where our weaknesses are and where our strengths are,” Taylor said. “I attack all those things this offseason. I’m kind of seeing that come into focus now.”