Saints Rookie Mini Camp

JonCurtis

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The New Orleans Saints kicked off their rookie minicamp on Friday and it was a crowded field.

The Saints had their 2010 draft picks â€" six players headlined by Florida State cornerback Patrick Robinson â€" along with 14 undrafted college free agents and a grand pack of about 40 tryout players along with five players from last season's practice squad, according to Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. That adds up to roughly 65 players on the field for a team that doesn't have a lot of needs.
Some Caste notables are:

Clint Gresham â€" Long Snapper, TCU (6-3, 238): Gresham, a Corpus Christi, Texas native, was the only long snapper invited to the NFL Scouting Combine after a solid career for the Horned Frogs, playing in 38 games over three seasons and recording eight tackles on special teams. The long snapper spent his freshman season at the University of Oklahoma before transferring to TCU.

Ryan Hamilton â€" Safety, Vanderbilt (6-1, 206): Hamilton was a four-year starter for the Commodores, playing both free and strong safety over his 39-game career (36 starts) that saw him total 222 tackles, five interceptions, two sacks, three forced fumbles and seven pass defenses. Had his best season as a junior in 2008, making 104 tackles with four interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown and three fumble recoveries. The Wycombe, Pa. native had his senior season cut short after just two games after suffering a torn pectoral muscle.

Brandon Carter â€" Guard, Texas Tech (6-6, 319): Carter started for three seasons for the Red Raiders, opening 40 of the 49 games he played during his collegiate career. The native of Longview, Texas was selected first-team All-Big XII as a senior in 2009 after receiving honorable mention all-conference honors in each of his sophomore and junior seasons.

Also in the mix will be quarterback Greg Paulus, who played for Syracuse last season after a four-year playing basketball at Duke. Paulus stepped in and played immediately for the Orange, passing for 2,024 yards and 13 touchdowns with 14 interceptions. He played for Doug Marrone, who previously was the offensive coordinator under Saints coach Sean Payton.

What Paulus' chances are remain to be seen, tryout players face a major uphill climb to get a contract, let alone a spot on the practice squad.
 

JonCurtis

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Also given tryouts for the Saints were

Wheaton WR/CB Pete Ittersagen (former Jacksonville Jaguar) A three-time All-American, Ittersagen has been a standout at both cornerback and return specialist. His 60 career passes defended, is fifth all-time in Division III history in the category. Ittersagen's five career punt returns for a touchdown established a new school record and his nine career touchdown returns (five punt, three interception and one kick) also set a Wheaton College record. He is the program's all-time leader in punt return yardage with 65 punts returns for 1,075 yards (16.5 YPR). The four-time All-Conference selection at cornerback recorded 252 career tackles, with 189 solo stops.
 

whiteathlete33

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I remember seeing taht name Pete Ittersagen. He won't even get a whiff at the final roster just like most of the other white skill position players. He's probably better than many of the affletes though.
 

JonCurtis

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I was shocked that when he came out of school last year SI actually said this about him

"the best cornerback and return specialist you never heard of. He's broken up 30 passes since his junior campaign while averaging 16.5 yards returning punts. He has the size, speed and skills to make an NFL roster and could end up being tabbed in the late rounds by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers or Houston Texans."

Pete is 5'10" and 191 lbs, clearly he has the size for the position. His vertical was 37" and he ran a 4.47 40-yard dash. He also benched pressed 225 lbs 18 times. indicating adequate strength for the secondary. He could possibily compete for a back-up safety or cornerback spot. With the blackletes Payton has at CB and S I doubt he will be around in a month.
 

Jimmy Chitwood

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Ittersagenwas an UDFA last year for Jacksonville, and there's a short thread on him in the Jaguars section. itincludes this link to his Pro Day. also, there are several other videos that show his playmaking ability on youtube.
he's a high-4.4 guy, but what is most noticeable about him is how smoothly he changes direction. if he were darker-hued, he wouldn't have played in Division III (where he was a 3-time All-American as both a cornerback and kick returner) nor would he be bouncing around the margins of the NFL hoping to stick on a roster somewhere.

i had the chance to see Ryan Hamilton play in the SEC, where he was a playmaking bad-ass (at both free and strong safety) for his entire career ... which despite being ended prematurely as a senior was filled with DWFs constantly demanding a "real" afflete to take his spot. the self-loathing of the DWFs is never ending, as these kinds of plays were routine with Hamilton, who was also a capable ballhawk when he was at free safety.

furthermore, Hamilton has ideal size and speed for the safety position at 6-2, 210-pounds.
 

JonCurtis

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I was able to see Ryan Hamilton last year but only for like a quarter he got his injury against LSU and missed the remainder of the game. He did have 5 tackles before he left in the rainiest game I have been to.
 

JonCurtis

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Saints sign Rookie WR Andy Tanner from D2 Midwestern State. Andy Tanner Profile at MSU


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I hope Andy gets a chance to shine. I would love to see catches like this in a Saints uniform.
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