re: Training Camp 8/21 Updates

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1. If you're asking me to pick who's winning as of today, I'm going with Dimke... the unproven Dimke has outshined Graham through the duration of training camp and in preseason.

Wednesday's practice was another example. Dimke has the stronger leg of the two and drilled his three field-goal attempts from 33, 39 and 49 yards out. Graham went 2-of-3, missing the longest one wide left.

This job is far from determined. But Dimke seems to be the clear leader

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2. Goodwin the favorite? In another ongoing battle, it looks like veteran center Jonathan Goodwin will start against the Colts as he took the first-team snaps Thursday as the Saints spent all of practice prepping for Indy...Again, this one is far from over.

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3. Returner battle: Rookie Brandin Cooks didn't receive any punts during special teams drills as he returned from a stomach virus. He watched as Kenny Stills, Joe Morgan and Jairus Byrd took the practice reps Thursday.

The Saints' unofficial depth chart pegged Travaris Cadet as the No. 1 punt returner entering the Colts game. That doesn't look like the case anymore as Cadet played on the punt-coverage unit Thursday rather than fielding punts.

This likely signifies Cooks will be the guy in Week 1. Stills is looking more like the second returner on punts. I still think Cadet will be the primary kick returner, though.

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4. Lagniappe: We hadn't heard a whole lot from wide receiver Nick Toon recently. Then Drew Brees came back recently and Toon is once again a favorite target for Brees. Toon hauled in a TD pass during Wednesday night's practice at Mandeville High School and caught four or five passes from Brees during team drills Thursday. ... Corey White looks more like a great fit as the inside cornerback in nickel situations. White picked off Ryan Griffin during team drills. He also broke up a pass intended for Joe Morgan during team drills, and Rafael Bush nearly came up with an interception but only planted one foot in bounds.

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5. Quotable: "The plan is to play them and more important, the correct amount of reps. We kind of went through the roles yesterday and what our goals are. But both of those guys will play." -- Payton on cornerbacks Champ Bailey and Patrick Robinson playing Saturday night at Indianapolis.

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