METAIRIE, La. (WLOX) – On Saturday, the New Orleans Saints entered practice with two sessions left before the team travels to California to finish out training camp. After an off day on Friday, the offense struggled to move the football with Tyler Shough taking first-team reps, followed by Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler.
“When groups are on the same page, good things happen when there’s confusion, indecisiveness,” said head coach Kellen Moore. “That’s when little issues pop up, so those guys are just learning each and every day how to clean things up and play as good as they can. Certainly, I think a lot of it comes down to that decision making, that consistency — them just going through playing really, really fast and decisive. I think sometimes we can make quarterback positions complicated as we want to, and these guys have got to have a clean process, trust the process, make really good decisions, get the ball out of their hands. I think these guys are doing a really good job of that.”
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2016 Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year Cam Akers was widely considered the top runningback in the country after registering more than 13,000 total yards at Clinton High School. Since being selected in Round 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft, injuries have forced the Super Bowl LVI champion to sign with four teams in six seasons. Now, Akers is competing for a roster spot in front of his hometown supporters.
“It’s good, you know what I’m saying?” explained Akers. “Being close to home, my parents can come, my grandparents can come cook me a meal if I need to eat good or whatever it is. Just having the support system that close. I always had a support system even in L.A. or wherever I’m at, they’re coming. This close? They’re probably overcoming… I’ve been in the league long enough to know nothing is given. You’ve got to earn everything — every snap, every play.”
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“Cam’s done a really nice job,” described Moore. “We were fired up just the way the offseason went to get him that late in the process for him to come to minicamp to come on a tryout basis and then sign with us. He’s done an excellent job. [We’re] really excited with him, and I think for all these runningbacks, we’re just excited to get to the preseason games. I think that’s going to be a huge evaluation for these guys just to see them in that full setting, because that’s where the break tackle is evaluated and the ball security certainly as well.”
Signing during OTAs was a full-circle moment for one of the greatest Mississippi high school players of all time. Although Akers didn’t have a favorite NFL team growing up, he certainly reps the black and gold.
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“I wasn’t necessarily a Saints fan,” Akers noted. “I never had a favorite team, but a lot of Saints gear, a lot of Saints fans around, a lot of ‘Who Dat?’… I feel like I’m still earning my role, earning my place on the team, but I feel like I’m doing a good job. I’m learning each and every day.”
Akers continues to jockey for a roster spot with LSU alum Clyde Edwards-Helaire and third-year runningback Kendre Miller.
The team scrimmages on Sunday, where the offense hopes to clean up before heading to the West Coast.
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