Saints Nation: Camp Studs and Duds

So far we've seen a lot of players tearing it up in training camp, and a few that have faltered. Here are the top 5 performers and the top 5 struggling players through this point. Keep in mind it's still VERY early, so these 10 guys could completely flip-flop by the time it's week 1 of the regular season.

TOP STUDS:

1. Robert Meachem (pictured): Meachem has run his routes to perfection and has literally caught every single ball thrown his way. He has routinely beat any corner he's been matched up against deep, and no one seems to be able to cover him. This could be a huge year for Meachem, who Brees is beginning to trust more and more.

2. Reggie Bush: Despite the banged up knee, Bush has looked fluid and healthy. He's been held out a couple times... once as a precaution and once with swelling, but each time he's bounced back to have a tremendous practice.

3. Mike Bell: In minicamps Bell added muscle and showed up to camp 10 pounds heavier in what he called the best shape of his life. After the coaches told him they preferred him without the extra weight, Bell returned in time for training camp trim and light. Bell has completely solidified the #3 back spot with his camp performance this far, and I continue to believe he'll play a prominent role on the Saints this year.

4. Jabari Greer: So far the new cornerback addition seems like it was a good one. Greer has looked great in coverage, breaking up numerous plays and even intercepting Brees a couple times. He started with the second strings and has crept closer and closer to the starting unit with every practice.

5. Jeremy Shockey: Light years ahead of his progress from this time last year, Shockey is healthy and performant. Whether it's standing his ground in blocks or running seam routes in traffic over the middle - Shockey has impressed. He could be a huge part of the offense this season. Pro Bowl in 2009?

honorable mention: Anthony Hargrove. He'll need to keep up the good work and keep his nose clean to make the team, but his potential is promising.


TOP DUDS:

1. Adrian Arrington: How can he make the team if he never practices? His grade 2 hamstring tear is a big disappointment for him. I just don't see him making the team with an injury like that. Even if he gets on the field and plays in preseason games, it's going to be hard to outperform other players running on a bad wheel. It's too bad because he's got terrific potential, but when you can't stay healthy there's only so many lives the team will give you.

2. Jo-Lonn Dunbar: Injured as well, Dunbar's job isn't safe as a backup linebacker. He was a fan favorite last year but he needs to be out there showing he can make plays on special teams, because he's not going to inherit a starting job and Anthony Waters and Jonathan Casillas are no slouches challenging for backup spots.

3. Devery Henderson: Is back to his dropping antics. He's had bad practices fielding punts, admittedly not his stock and trade, and he's followed that up with struggles catching passes. Hopefully he can turn it around. According to Jeff Duncan of the Times-Picayune he is getting badly outperformed by Meachem.

4. Skyler Green: Has had trouble fielding a lot of balls cleanly as well. Unfortunately for the former LSU standout he only has a shot at making the team if he impresses on kick/punt returns. So far he's really struggled in practices. By no means is he out of the running against Courtney Roby, but it's going to take a big effort in preseason games.

5. Roman Harper: He looks improved, his confidence is up, and he's more active in this new defense that sometimes features him blitzing off the edge. That said, he's still struggling with the deep ball. Meachem, namely, has beaten him numerous times as he tried to provide help up top. He's still a liability in pass coverage and needs to clean that up.

Honorable mention: Charles Grant. While he seems to be playing fairly well, he's struggling with weight as always.

Saints Nation: Around the NFL

A couple pieces of big news around the league that affect the Saints have been announced in the last 24 hours:

Mammoth Defensive Tackle Maake Kemoeatu of the Saints' bitter rival Carolina Panthers has torn his achilles tendon and is likely out for the season (story HERE). The last time he missed a game was last year against the Giants when the Panthers yielded over 300 yards against the run. You get the idea, this guy is a premiere run stopper and this is a big blow for the Panthers. What's more, they have ZERO depth at DT because they are cap strapped by their $16.7 Franchise tag commitment to Julius Peppers and they didn't sign one single free agent this offseason. Of all people, former LSU Tiger and rookie Marlon Favorite got some time with the starting unit with Kemoeatu out. You never wish for players to get hurt, especially good ones, but this is a tough blow for Carolina and will affect their defense's performance this year.

The NFL upheld it's decision to suspend Bills running back Marshawn Lynch for 3 games this upcoming season (story HERE). Lynch was appealing the suspension in hopes of having it reduced. Good thing it didn't work out, the Saints play the Bills in week 3.

ALL NFC South Team: Saints Nation fans have picked Michael Turner as the running back for the division's best. A new poll is now active (right side of the site) to vote for the best fullback.

Saints Nation: Is it time to start getting worried about Malcolm Jenkins?

Through Monday night, Malcolm Jenkins is still without contract and I'm starting to resign myself to the fact that Jenkins' rookie season awaits the same fate that Robert Meachem endured. The dreaded "redshirt" rookie year is coming closer and closer to fruition. Before I get ahead of myself, let's wait and see what happens this week. But the fact remains that, according to Sean Payton, Jenkins has already missed 3 defensive installments. It's not so much that Jenkins couldn't sign soon and make up for lost time, it's that there's a lot of pretty good players ahead of him. Just like Meachem, who had Colston, Moore, Henderson and Patten ahead of him prior to signing, Jenkins has 4-5 players he's not guaranteed to beat out. Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer and Randall Gay are all three entrenched at the top 3 corner spots (in no specific order), and Leigh Torrence and Jason David are no slouches either. What's more, free agent rookie Danny Gorrer has had a pretty impressive camp up to this point. While I don't doubt a little time on the field would help Jenkins move ahead of some of these guys, they are all good players and most have more experience at the NFL level than Jenkins.

The thing that's so frustrating about this situation is that Malcolm Jenkins wants to be here. He's already in New Orleans, and if you read his twitter you know he's staying in shape by working out everyday and studying the playbook to stay as sharp as possible before joining his teammates. There's really no excuse for this happening, because Brian Orakpo (drafted ahead of him) and Brian Cushing (drafted after him) are now both signed which means the benchmarks for his contract are set. Jenkins is handcuffed by the ping pong match Mickey Loomis is having with his agents. It's too bad because the guy wants to play, and he's going to sit on the bench. The longer the negotiations go, the less chance Jenkins will have of seeing the field this year unless there are serious injuries to a couple of guys ahead of him.

Saints Nation: Training Camp Photos

Courtesy of Geovanni Velasquez - look on the right of the site for a Saints training camp slideshow. Many thanks to Geovanni for sharing the insider's look with Saints fans, much appreciated!

Saints Nation: Charles Grant misses weight assignment

It turns out Charles Grant was the one player who missed his weight assignment, coming in at a swollen 288. In his defense that's lighter than he was last year, though the team has given him a target of 283. Really, it's infuriating to see that one of the top paid guys on the team that has mailed it in ever since his payday still can't report to the team at his needed weight. One might think the upcoming 4 game suspension AND lackluster seasons he's produced would motivate him to work hard. I wonder how much he'll even play once he's back from the suspension, to be honest.

Will Smith, on the other hand, showed up 10-11 pounds lighter at 274. Nice to see. He was looking a little heavy last year and I'm sure the hernia didn't help his workout routine. This year he's light and healthy, so I fully expect him to come back from his 4 game suspension and tear it up.

Other notes:

-- Jabari Greer continues to impress. I've said it before, but the guy might be the best corner we have. He'll definitely be in the starting lineup by week 1 at this rate, whether it's alongside Randall Gay or Tracy Porter.

-- Word is Bush is sitting out of practice and on the bike again this morning. Hopefully it's just a precaution, but they're definitely taking it easy on his knees.

-- According to NOLA.com, Jason David has been tearing it up to, albeit against backups. Maybe he won't be cut just yet.

-- Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Kendrick Clancy are banged up and have sat out the past couple practices. Dunbar has a tweaked hamstring and should be fine, Clancy has back issues that might take more time to recover from.

-- Per Jeff Duncan on twitter: "Devery Henderson not looking ood on punt returns. 3 drops". Better not let that bleed to your pass catching skills, Dev, we've been down that road before.

Saints Nation: Camp notes, Bush tearing it up

Who's Hot: Reggie Bush (pictured). After sitting out of a practice to rest his knees as a precaution, Reggie Bush bounced back to have his best practice so far. He was electric, blasting through holes and showing no problem with his cuts and turns. Looks like his knee is in good shape so far.

Who's Not: Leigh Torrence - not only has Torrence dropped a very easy interception in practice, he also sucker punched Jermon Bushrod and incited a scuffle on the field.

Other notes:

-- Arrington is still not practicing and Jenkins is still unsigned. The good news on the signing front is that now both Orakpo and Cushing (the players drafted before and after Jenkins, respectively) are signed. There's really no excuse for Loomis or Jenkins' agent to strike a deal quickly now that the benchmarks are made.

-- While still practicing with the second unit mostly, Jabari Greer has looked active and disruptive in the passing game. So far he looks like a good pickup.

-- Roman Harper has been beaten deep already a few times in training camp. As much talk as there's been about him emerging as a stud this year, he is still plagued by the same issues that stunted his growth as a safety up to this point. He needs to correct this ongoing issue he has with playing the deep ball so poorly.

-- ESPN's Chris Mortensen visited the Saints' camp today, check out Sportscenter for a piece on Drew Brees and the Saints' camp.

Saints Nation: camp notes, Defense ahead of the Offense

--Read THIS ARTICLE and tell me you don't just get that feeling the Saints might win the Superbowl this year. The offense has been suffering from drops, poor timing and has been overall out of sync. Not alarming, most offenses come to camp a little rusty. What's encouraging is the defense is taking it to them early. Defenses usually have the advantage on offenses early in camp anyway, so while it doesn't mean much it's good to see that the league's #1 offense is being challenged. How can you not love Gregg Williams' quotes in the article?

-- With Brian Orakpo (drafted 1 spot ahead of Malcolm Jenkins) now signed, this should speed up Jenkins' signing. Mickey Loomis has been negative with the press in terms of the progress with contract talks, but I don't think it's time to get frustrated just yet as a fan. Loomis' attitude is a ploy in negotiations, and everything he does publicly is calculated. Jenkins will be signed early next week, and I'll be shocked if he's not. That said, he's not getting any closer to challenging Porter, Gay and Greer for playing time.

-- Adrian Arrington (pictured) is hanging out on the sidelines nursing that sore hammy. You're not going to make this team if you don't start proving yourself, buddy.

-- Special teams drills went very smoothly for the most part. Coverage units look solid so far. The one player that really struggled was Skyler Green, and he's not going to beat out Courtney Roby with a performance like that.

-- Pierre Thomas is looking thick and Mike Bell is looking thin. Don't look now, but Bell could go from a bubble player to a guy that plays a significant role in this year's offense. That's not anything against Thomas, either, who I think will have a great season.

ALL NFC SOUTH TEAM SAINTS NATION POLL: Saints Nation fans have picked Steve Smith and Marques Colston as the two receivers for the All NFC South team. Please vote (on the right side of the site) for the All NFC South runningback.