Evaluating the Saints after a week of 2023 training camp

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) runs a drill during the fifth day of training camp at the Saints practice facility on Airline Drive in Metairie, La. Monday, July 31, 2023. (Staff photo by David Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com)

One week of NFL training camp is not enough time to make any sweeping conclusions about what is going to happen in the months ahead, but it does feel like enough time to start to get the gist of a team.

This is a big year for a New Orleans Saints franchise that is coming off two straight disappointing seasons, just invested a bunch of money in a new quarterback and is facing some valid questions about its future with an aging roster that is going to get more expensive.

As is the case with a lot of teams this time of year, there is optimism within the building. The first week of training camp seems to have justified some of that. After watching the first seven practices, here are four hunches I have about the 2023 team.

As he opens Year 2 as the Saints head coach, it seems clear that Dennis Allen is more comfortable in the position than he was a year ago.

It’s not like there’s less pressure on Allen this year — in fact, there’s probably more after his first team went 7-10. But there’s been a sense of ease around Allen during this first week of training camp, and maybe that shouldn’t be surprising.

This offseason, Allen was able to fully put his stamp on the organization. He went out and got his quarterback, and he reshaped the coaching staff. Things are, for better or worse, set up the way he wants them.

Last year, it sometimes felt like Allen was trying his best to pilot a ship Sean Payton built, but without Payton’s handwritten directions. When some unfortunate injuries to key players were added to the mix, things went haywire quickly.

This is not to say it’s definitely going to be a success for Allen, who has yet to field a winning team in four tries as a head coach. But there’s something to be said, in a good way, for the vibes being different.

One guy who has been almost conspicuously absent from the regular, daily practice reports is Chris Olave. After putting together an outstanding rookie campaign, he has not been on the receiving end of a bunch of flashy plays through the first seven days of training camp in his second season.

Rather than this being a sign of Olave taking a step back, consider it a sign that the team and quarterback Derek Carr already feel good about where he’s at.

Olave came to training camp about 7 pounds heavier than last season, a jump in weight that was intentional. One of his few weak areas last season was his ability to catch the ball through contact. Olave used the offseason to build his strength without sacrificing speed.

The Saints don’t need to pump a bunch of passes in his direction during camp to know he’s ready — those passes, frankly, are better suited for Michael Thomas, Rashid Shaheed and others.

Olave looks as smooth and explosive as ever when the ball does come his way, and he very much looks like the top target in the passing game.

Multiple injuries limited 2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning to six games last year. The timing of his second injury also caused him to spend much of his offseason rehabilitating, eating into his time to train.

Those injuries don’t seem to be holding Penning back, which is a big positive. But the time away from the game and practice fields is definitely going to be a hurdle for the second-year player as he steps into a critical role as the starting left tackle.

Penning has obvious physical gifts — at a legitimate 6-foot-7, 321 pounds, he casts one of the most intimidating shadows on the roster. He couples that size with elite athleticism and, of course, the nasty disposition that has become his calling card.

Where he’s lacking is technique, particularly in pass protection.

“He’s still a work in progress,” Allen said. “He’s a young guy that hasn’t had a lot of opportunities, hasn’t had a lot of plays, a lot of reps, so he’s playing a little bit of catch up in that regard. But he’s working extremely hard at it.

“I think he’s miles ahead of where he was when we finished the season last year, but there’s still a lot of things he has to improve on.”

Penning’s physical abilities should make him a plus run blocker early in his career. If he can continue to be a quick study as a pass protector, the Saints should have a really good player at a premier position.

Making an impact as a rookie defensive tackle is a tough task in the NFL, especially as a pass rusher. Go back through the last 10 NFL seasons and there have been five rookie defensive tackles (total) to record five or more sacks in their debut season, and only nine with four or more.

That said, Bryan Bresee’s pass rushing acumen has stood out.

“With his size and stature (6-5, 305), I figured he would be more of a power guy, but he’s got an array of moves I wasn’t expecting,” center Erik McCoy said. “It’s really impressive.”

McCoy later added that Bresee’s ability to string his pass-rushing moves together in a sequence is “one of his better qualities.”

That’s pretty high praise coming from McCoy, who is one of the NFL’s better young interior linemen. Bresee obviously still has to prove it on the field, but his sophistication as a rusher is noticeable.

The Saints selected Bresee with their first-round pick this year, and he’ll have a role on the defense. If he can contribute some interior rush in passing situations early in his career, that will be a big win for the Saints.

Email Luke Johnson at [email protected].

The New Orleans Saints placed reserve linebacker Andrew Dowell on injured reserve and signed former Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Chuck …