METAIRIE, La. (AP) -Tracy Porter is trying to be realistic.
Like any pro, he’d like to start as soon as possible.
It’s not all that common, however, for rookies to start at cornerback, even for relatively high draft choices like Porter, who was taken near the top of the second round, 40th overall.
“I’m definitely a young guy with a lot of experience I have to get under my belt, but I’m up to the challenge,” Porter said after practice on Tuesday.
During portions of practices that have been open to reporters this week, Porter has lined up as a first-team cornerback, along with veteran Mike McKenzie.
Saints coaches are looking for defensive backs who play well together. New Orleans’ preseason game against Houston last Saturday night didn’t go so well for the secondary, which gave up 289 yards passing, most of it in the first half when Texans starter Matt Schaub went 14-of-16 with a pair of touchdowns.
McKenzie, making a comeback after tearing knee ligaments late last season, did not play in that game, but is hoping to see his first game action of the preseason in Cincinnati.
The starters against Houston were Jason David and Randall Gay, but Gay strained his triceps and had to leave the game. Fellow cornerback Usama Young pulled his hamstring.
As a result, Porter ended up seeing significant playing time from late in the first quarter on.
“He did OK,” head coach Sean Payton said of Porter’s performance. “There were some effort plays that bothered us that he needs to clean up. There was a third down shallow cross where he lost his guy across the field. He’s now put a couple of weeks of practice under his belt … and we’ll give him plenty of snaps, and also as a returner.”
Having run 40 yards in 4.37 seconds at the NFL combine, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Porter has the speed the Saints are looking for in a defensive back.
He also could emerge as a kick and punt returner for the Saints, having returned two of each for touchdowns in his senior year at Indiana.
Porter had six interceptions for the Hoosiers last season. His 16 career interceptions rank second at Indiana.
Porter became a defensive captain at Indiana after joining a squad that, like the Saints, had taken a lot of criticism for giving up too many big passing plays.
“We did a great job of coming together, developing chemistry and we certainly changed that around, so I don’t see why we can’t do that here,” Porter said.
Porter said he does not want to read too much into the fact that he’s been working with the first team lately. He’s not even sure whether he’ll start in Cincinnati.
“The coaches may want to mix up the rotation. No matter what unit you’re on, you always have the potential to move up, just as you have the potential to move down,” Porter said. “Every day is a job interview. This may be my opportunity to move up or move down, but I definitely believe that once I get my opportunity I’m going to take advantage of it.”
Porter then asserted that he alone will not be the answer to the Saints’ woes on pass defense and won’t put pressure on himself to solve problems that the defense must work through as a unit.
‘ve been there.”
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