Running back Alvin Kamara expresses urgency as he enters his eighth season with the New Orleans Saints

But there is still an urgency today. Not that there hasn’t been an urgency before, but the mortality rate in working life brings this issue to the forefront and makes it even more important.

“I feel like I have no time to lose because let’s just say I’m halfway through if I play 16 years,” Kamara said. “Or 10 years, I’m at the end of my career. I don’t want to lose any time.”

“I don’t want to sit here and say, ‘I have time, I have time.’ I don’t have time, so I’m trying to make the most of it. I’m trying to do my best to have the most success possible. And in this league, we measure success by Super Bowls and games in February. That’s what I want to accomplish.”

After several seasons in which the team’s offense was weak, Kamara and the rest of the offense can now hope for a comeback under new coordinator Klint Kubiak.

“I have a good feeling (about the offense),” Kamara said. “We all play the same plays in this league, it’s just a question of terminology. Some guys have different philosophies.”

“You can ask Klint – I was annoying him during the preseason because I was constantly hovering around him trying to ask him, ‘What are you thinking? What are you doing?’ And he was like, ‘Man, get away from me, I’m trying to call the plays.’

“That’s kind of what I’m used to doing when I’m dealing with (former Saints quarterback) Drew (Brees), and I kind of did it with (former Saints coach) Sean (Payton), too – I just try to be one step ahead and get in the playmaker’s mind.

“He’s calling the play, so I try to be on the same wavelength. That way I can kind of latch onto him and catch his rhythm. Then maybe I’ll see something he’s thinking about or about to think about and be able to get ahead of him.”

Kamara has spent those seven seasons finding ways to beat his opponents and stay productive, but now he’s hoping for a resurgence of his own: In 13 games last year, he posted career lows in rushing yards (694) and yards per carry (3.9), his second-fewest receiving yards (466) and his second-fewest touchdowns (6).

And this is partly where Kubiak and the new offensive staff come into play, whose innovations are helping to break the Saints’ record for yards from scrimmage (10,048).

“I believe that’s why they’re here,” Kamara said. “I believe that’s why Klint is here, and I believe that’s why the rest of these guys are here. That’s what’s expected, an increase in production.”

“When you look at what they’ve accomplished so far, it’s exciting. I think that’s the best indication of what’s to come in the future. When you look at what they’ve accomplished in other places, it’s still true. Hopefully we can do the same here.”

KLINT ON THE SIDE: Coach Dennis Allen said he would make the final decision on whether Kubiak would call offensive plays during games from the coaches’ booth or the sidelines, but there is at least one voice in favor of Kubiak sitting on the sidelines. And perhaps an indication of what Kubiak prefers.

“I liked him (on the sidelines),” Kamara said. “I asked him too. I said, ‘What do you think?’ He said, ‘I’ll never leave the sidelines.’ Hopefully he’s on the sidelines.”

APARTMENT REPORT: Kamara has put a house up for sale, but said no conclusions should be drawn from it. While his house is up for sale, he is staying with a friend.

“I would like to call myself a serial entrepreneur,” he said. “I’m involved in many things, real estate is one of them. I think it was a good financial decision to put my house up for sale.”

“My brother is also a real estate agent. I wouldn’t say I had a precise plan, but I’m pretty determined in my moves in the real estate business.”

NO GAYS: Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. was not on the field during the practice that the media was able to see. Allen said the absence was due to injury; the first official injury report will be released Wednesday.