Running back Alvin Kamara shows urgency entering his eighth season with New Orleans Saints

But there is also an urgency these days. Not that it wasn’t there before, but career death is pushing it to the forefront, even movement.

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

“I don’t want to sit here and say, ‘I got time, I got time.’ There’s no time, so I try to stretch it out. I try to do what I can to have the most success. And in this league, we measure success by Super Bowls and playing in February. That’s what I’m trying to accomplish.”

After several seasons of decline in the unit’s attacking power, there is renewed hope for Kamara and the rest of the offense under first-year coordinator Klint Kubiak.

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

“You can ask Klint – I used to annoy him during the preseason because I would hang around him and try to ask him, like, ‘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 what I’m used to doing, dealing with (former Saints quarterback) Drew (Brees), and dealing with (former Saints coach) Sean (Payton), just trying to get out front and get in the head of the play-caller.

“He’s calling the play, so I try to be on the same page. That way I can kind of piggyback on it and get his rhythm and maybe see something that he’s thinking about or is going to think about and I can beat him to it.”

Kamara has spent those seven seasons figuring out ways to beat opponents and stay productive, but he’s also looking for a comeback himself: Last year, he was limited to personal lows in rushing yards (694) and yards per carry (3.9), his second-fewest receiving yards (466) and his second-fewest touchdowns (six) through 13 games.

That’s partly where Kubiak and the new offensive staff come in, with innovations that should help the Saints relieve the all-time leader in yards from scrimmage (10,048).

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

“When you look at what they’ve been able to produce, it’s exciting. I think that’s the best sign of what’s to come in the future. Seeing what they’ve been able to do in other places and it’s still true. Hopefully we can do the same here.”

CLINT ON THE SIDE: Coach Dennis Allen said he would make the final decision on whether Kubiak would call offensive plays from the coaching booth or the sideline during games, but there is at least one vote for Kubiak on the sideline. And perhaps a hint at Kubiak’s preference.

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

HOUSING REPORT: Kamara has put a house on the market, but said no conclusions should be drawn from the move. While his house is for sale, he is staying with a friend.

“I would like to call myself a serial entrepreneur,” he said. “I’m involved in a lot of things, including real estate. 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 an exact plan, but I’m pretty deliberate about the steps I take in real estate.”

NO GAY: Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. was not on the field for the portion of practice the media could view. Allen said the absence was injury-related; the first official injury report will be released Wednesday.