Dattitude with Jim Derry

All seemed to be going swimmingly with the New Orleans Saints, as they entered the final day of minicamp and were set to head off into vacation relatively problem free. Then Alvin Kamara dropped a bombshell and abruptly left the team in an apparent contract dispute.

What does this mean for the team, and can they get the problem ironed out before the start of training camp in about 5 weeks? Is it a big deal Coach Dennis Allen says he hasn’t talked to Kamara? And what about tight end Juwan Johnson needing foot surgery? How long will that linger?

We’ll try to answer those questions, as host Jim Derry brings in Saints beat reporter Luke Johnson on Friday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 251) presented by Evangeline Securities. And in the ‘Extra Point,’ Jim celebrates Fathers Day by remembering his own dad and reading notes from his 12- and 8-year-old daughters.

We’re just about to that point in the offseason schedule where members of the New Orleans Saints will heading out for one final vacation before the 2024 fall campaign really gets going. Alvin Kamara and Marshon Lattimore have returned, which certainly is a good thing, while we still wonder about the offensive line and whether some rookies such as Kool-Aid McKinstry will contribute right away.

The good news is host Jim Derry has brought in NOLA.com and The Times-Picayune Saints editor Zach Ewing for his insight on Wednesday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 250) presented by Evangeline Securities to go through those points and more.

Also, Jim wraps up the show with his ‘Extra Point,’ asking one simple question: “What do Joey Chestnut and Caitlin Clark have in common.” Don’t worry … he gives you the answer, too.

Just a few days of mandatory minicamp, and then Dennis Allen and the New Orleans Saints will take their final break before the 2024 season begins in earnest with training camp in late July. There certainly are more questions than answers, as Klint Kubiak installs a new offense, and we still don’t know three of the five pieces on the line outside of Erik McCoy at center and Cesar Ruiz at right guard.

And what about the aging defensive line? Can the linebackers step up, and could Willie Gay be a diamond in the rough? Is the defensive backfield the strength of the team? All questions Jim Derry poses to WWL Radio Saints/NFL analyst Mike Detillier on Monday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 249) presented by Evangeline Securities.

And Jim finishes the show with a booming ‘Extra Point,’ as he goes back 28 years to the greatest home run in LSU history – a game-winning blast by Warren Morris in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, a runner on third base and the Tigers trailing the mighty Miami Hurricanes by one run. It was Morris’ only home run in 1996, and really, the only one he needed to hit.

We have spent most of the late spring and early summer talking about the potential for the New Orleans Saints’ new offense under Klint Kubiak. But what about Dennis Allen’s defense? They were not good last season against the run and had virtually no pass rush. Will they be better?

Can they find depth on the defensive line, and is this the last year for Hall-of-Famer to be defensive end Cameron Jordan? Jim Derry talks to his old friend, Larry Holder of The Athletic, on Friday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 248) presented by Evangeline Securities. They also offer their early top surprise picks in the NFL and potential disappointments, as well as Jim’s and Larry’s Super Bowl predictions (which they reserve the right to change before September).

Lastly in the ‘Extra Point,’ Jim looks back 33 years to when LSU baseball started its run in becoming the premier program in the country and Skip Bertman became a legend, as they won their first national championship over Wichita State.

The New Orleans Saints have finished their 2024 voluntary OTAs and they look ahead to next week’s mandatory minicamp. The highlight of the past 3 weeks clearly has been the installation of Klint Kubiak’s new offense and all the different things the team might do this season. Will Derek Carr thrive, and what will Taysom Hill do?

Also, should there be optimism for this makeshift offensive line, and will there be any more personnel changes before the start of training camp? Jim Derry brings asks Matt Moscona of ESPN Radio on Thursday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 247) presented by Evangeline Securities, as they also put a wrap on the LSU baseball Tigers and look at who might be back in 2025 and who definitely will be gone.

Lastly in the ‘Extra Point,’ Jim looks back 80 years to the anniversary of D-Day and why it is such an important day in American history and how it affected sports.

It has come down to this for the LSU baseball Tigers. Defeat North Carolina for the second straight day and return home to The Box for a Super Regionals matchup against West Virginia. Lose, and it’s the end of the line for this special team and for many of its stars.

Who will pitch? Who will be the star? Will it be one of the usuals like Tommy ‘Tanks’ White or Steven ‘Monster’ Milam, or will it be a Michael Braswell or Brady Neal or Josh Pearson? Will someone come out of the bullpen and make it 4 or 5 innings?

Jim Derry brings in LSU baseball beat writer Koki Riley, for Monday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 246) presented by Evangeline Securities. And in Jim’s ‘Extra Point,’ he sympathizes with fans of the Atlanta Falcons (not really) for the punishment they are about to receive for tampering with quarterback Kirk Cousins.

With less than 2 months until the start of training camp for the Saints, we have had plenty of local opinions on what might happen in the 2024 season. Now, it’s time to get a neutral expert from outside of the New Orleans area. How will Klint Kubiak’s offense be different from Pete Carmichael? Will Derek Carr thrive, and will Taysom Hill play a larger role?

Jim Derry has plenty of questions for one of the football world’s top handicappers in Adam Chernoff, who joins Friday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 245) presented by Evangeline Securities. We also talk Saints over/under win totals, and Jim asks Adam for some surprise teams in the NFL this upcoming season. Spoiler alert: One of them is in the NFC South.

Jim also talks a little about LSU baseball, and in the ‘Extra Point,’ we go back 39 years to quite possible the most important day in the history of the Saints: The day Tom Benson bought the team for a measly $70.2 million.

The New Orleans Saints have another major injury on their defensive line, as it was learned Tanoh Kpassagnon will almost surely miss the start of the regular season and beyond with a torn Achilles tendon. That pairs up with Chase Young’s neck injury that could have him sidelined into Opening Day. What does this mean – especially with the tough schedule early in the season?

That’s a major topic of discussion for Jim Derry and his guest Garland Gillen of Fox-8 Sports on Wednesday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 244) presented by Evangeline Securities. They also will talk about the offensive line projections and whether the Saints will make any moves before the start of training camp.

And what about LSU baseball, as they head to North Carolina for the Chapel Hill Regional, and is it possible they could host a Super Regional if they make it that far? On the 'Extra Point,' Jim is thrilled of the retirement news from Angel Hernandez, the worst game official in the history of sports.

The first week of voluntary practices for the New Orleans Saints is in the books, and there were several notable no-shows. Among them were two of three running backs – Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams. Is there significance to this, and how key is it for them to get there to learn Klint Kubiak’s offense and to gain some cohesiveness?

Does it matter if they don’t get the offensive line problems solved? Also, LSU baseball is in the SEC Tournament semifinals, and could be primed to make a run. So many topics to talk about for Jim Derry who goes it alone on Friday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 243) presented by Evangeline Securities.

Finally in a very important ‘Extra Point,’ Jim shares his opinion on the landmark announcement Thursday that the NCAA and the Power-5 schools are settling with past college athletes for $2.8 billion. How will this affect current and future student-athletes and the landscape of college sports? Spoiler alert: This could be the most significant thing to happen to the NCAA since Title IX.

On Tuesday, New Orleans Saints coach Dennis Allen said All-Pro cornerback Marshon Lattimore will be back in 2024. Not saying we’re not sure, but is it a big deal we have heard nothing from Lattimore’s camp? What about how the team is lining up on the offensive line in OTAs, and what should we expect from Alvin Kamara, who also is a no show this week.

Host Jim Derry will ask WWL-TV sports director Doug Mouton on Wednesday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 242) presented by Evangeline Securities. Doug also will share his thoughts on what Klint Kubiak is doing thus far and a big difference we might see in the role of Taysom Hill, as well as his viewpoint of the schedule and prediction for 2024.

They also talked about LSU baseball live as they were whooping up on Kentucky in the SEC Baseball Tournament. On the 'Extra Point,' Jim thinks the “double first base” the SEC is experimenting with could be done quite differently. Is it safety or silly?