Henderson impresses coaches

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Aug 15, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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METAIRIE — Even though Devery Henderson was sidelined for 14 practices with a hamstring injury early in training camp, New Orleans Saints wide receivers coach Curtis Johnson likes what he’s seen lately from the five-year veteran.

Henderson also missed last week’s exhibition opener with the Arizona Cardinals after hurting his right hamstring on the fourth day of practice in Jackson, Miss., which won’t help him in his fight to keep his spot on the 53-man regular-season roster.

But since returning to practice last Saturday after almost two weeks on the shelf, Henderson has shown Johnson something.

“Devery looks real good, he’s running well,” Johnson said Thursday after a practice with the Houston Texans. “He gets a little tired and a little winded, like Marques Colston, but other than that he’s improved.

“He dropped one (pass) today, but he came right back and caught three in a row,” he added. “That’s one of the things that’s encouraging about him this year. I hadn’t seen that from him in the past.”

Johnson said one of the things he sees in Henderson is that he’s not as tense as he used to be, which contributed to his inconsistency on the field.

“He’s loosey-goosey and playing like he’s capable of playing,” Johnson said. “Now, he’s just going out playing. He’s understanding the offense, understanding what to do. He doesn’t look like he’s lost all the time. He looks like he kind of belongs there, so he looks good.”

That has to be a step in the right direction as far as Henderson is concerned. With a deep group of receivers in camp, he and several others may be battling for two or three spots when final cuts are made Aug. 30.

He slumped last season after catching 32 passes for 745 yards and five TDs the year before, so Henderson has to do something to distinguish himself in the next three preseason games. And being relaxed may be the key.

“I think I have been (tense) at times,” Henderson admitted. “At times, you know, you put a little more pressure on yourself than you need to. I think I did that often. Now I know what to do. I know the offense and everything, so it’s just a matter of going out there and doing the right things.

“I’m just trying to be more relaxed, especially in my route-running and stuff like that,” he said. “I have to learn to be patient and not rush into things. I’ve been rushing through routes, and you really have more time than you think.”

Not rushing through something isn’t easy when you consider the speed Henderson possesses.

“I’m not saying I didn’t do it in previous camps and previous seasons,” he said, “but that’s just my mindset right now. That’s what I’m doing.”