WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – Left tackle Terron Armstead has arguably been the MVP of New Orleans Saints camp so far this summer – so outstanding that veteran teammate Zach Strief insisted recently he “could be one of the best of all time.”
That hasn't changed after two days’ worth of practices against the New England Patriots’ standout trio of rushers: Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich and Jabaal Sheard.
When I asked Armstead if he keeps score, he hesitated before admitting that yes, he does.
“I hate to lose. In anything, I hate to lose. So yeah, in the back of my mind I kind of keep the score,” Armstead said. “But as long as I know I’m working on something, it’s good for me.”
Armstead’s personal tally: Jones got the best of him once in one-on-one pass-rush drills. “He got me once with the outside hand.” And Sheard got him once in team drills, which led to what would have been a sack.
“That probably pissed me off more than the one-on-one,” Armstead lamented.
But still, that’s two bad plays Armstead was left dwelling about after two full days of work against the reigning Super Bowl champs.
The 6-foot-5, 304-pound Armstead, who still holds the NFL combine record for fastest 40-yard dash by an offensive lineman (4.71 seconds in 2013), has continued to flash his supreme athleticism this summer. His ability to recover against speed rushers in those one-on-one pass-rush drills is uncanny. And he got out ahead of receiver Brandin Cooks to make a terrific block against a cornerback on Cooks’ 28-yard screen-pass touchdown last week against the Baltimore Ravens.
Saints coach Sean Payton said it’s important for coaches and scouts to evaluate what caliber of player the Saints’ players are facing in joint practices like these in order to get a proper evaluation. As Payton was heading off the podium, I asked if Armstead is one of those guys who stands out even more because of the caliber of player he’s been facing this week. And he flashed the thumbs-up sign.
Ninkovich told ESPN Patriots reporter Mike Reiss that he didn’t know much about Armstead, a third-year pro who was drafted in the third round out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, before this week. But he was impressed. Ninkovich was especially impressed by Armstead’s footwork.
Armstead, 24, was getting a lot of hype this time last summer, too. And he had a very solid year in his first full season as a starter – until he suffered a December neck injury. Armstead said he appreciates the praise he’s been getting this summer. But his job description won’t allow it to go to his head.
“I feel good. I do,” Armstead said of his own self-evaluation. “But it’s tough playing left tackle in the NFL. You’re going against the best guys. We throw the ball so much, it’s more opportunities for you to get beat. But I don’t really focus on that. I try to do my job to the best of my abilities. Pass block, run block, protect Drew [Brees], make the holes for Mark [Ingram], Khiry [Robinson], C.J. [Spiller]. That’s all I try to do.”