Pierre Thomas

New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. said the coaching staff is looking for better ball security from third-year running back Chris Ivory.

Ivory -- a rugged, between-the-tackles runner who led the Saints in rushing in 2010 - is off to a lost start in training camp. He's had a number of documented mental lapses in practices where he has either fumbled the ball or was flagged for a pre-snap infraction.

The fumbling, though, really has been disturbing.

"It's something that really needs to be emphasized to him everyday," Carmichael said. "It's not acceptable, and we just gotta keep coaching it."

It won't take much to get in the doghouse if you're a member of the Saints backfield. It's crowded there with Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram also in the mix for carries. It's a situation that needs to be sorted, outside of Sproles, of course, who is a second round pick in PPR leagues.