Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

How do you work towards a more aggressive approach to the defense then it was last year? How do you begin to instill that kind of culture during a mini camp like this? Is there a way to do that?

"Well the first thing is we are working against the number one offense in football. They have the (some of the) best coaches. I think Sean Payton, Pete Carmichael, and (Joe) Lombardi are three head coaches. So we have our work cut out for us not just coachingwise but playingwise. There’s a lot of talent over there. We have to do a better job than what we did today. We had some substitution problems which seems to always follow me on the first day of a minicamp but that’s just who I am. We will run multiple personnel groups and sometimes it takes a couple of days to figure that out, but I am excited with our guys. They play hard and have been well-coached so it’s an easy transition."

What has Rufus Johnson showed you so far?

"He is doing well. He is a big, young kid and he has a lot to learn. We are playing this young kid from Tarleton State and changing positions is the first thing he is doing. So, he has a lot on his plate but talent wise and physically, this kid is going to be good."

You guys looked at defensive backs early in free agency and even after you signed Keenan Lewis, you guys kept looking at more. To fit this system, did you want to target more depth, more physical corners? Is it part of your defense to have a lot of guys available?

"The way the game is played nowadays, you need to have multiple players. I think, if anyone follows me, we were number five in the league ten weeks of the season until every single player on the team was hurt and I got fired. We should have been number one but I learned that you can't have enough good players. We have a lot of talented guys here. This secondary is extremely talented, probably the most talented group that I have been a part of, but that still doesn't mean we don't want more. We always want more players and that’s what gets you beat and fired when you don't have enough.

What do you think about some of the guys getting interceptions today? Is that a good sign to see right now?

“Absolutely. We are going up against the number one offense in football and like I say, they have the best coaches over there. Pete Carmichael and (Joe) Lombardi are outstanding and are future head coaches in the league. We are just going to battle them every day and see what happens.”

Read more: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

Anybody buying this dribble yet?

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

Yes, in the reality show "How to imitate a Sieve and make $3 million", they exhibit genius traits.

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

I wouldnt call it dribble.


There is no contact going on right now, making it easier for the secondary. We will have to see how things progress once contact is allowed.

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

I'd much rather believe all the message board fans that claim every player we have in the secondary is total garbage.

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

I am!!

(beats being bitter)

WhoDat!!

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

More concerned with the rush and tackling. Won't know that until after the coin flip.

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

Yup.

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

It sure beats the alternative...

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

[pet peeve rant]

I got hung up on the first sentence. I hate the butchering of the English language. The correct word is "than", not "then". "Then" is linear and deals with time. "Than" is to be used when comparing.

Two is greater than one.

How do you work towards a more aggressive approach to the defense than it was last year?

The number one comes first, then the number two.

If the defense is a good deal better than last year's, then the Saints will win the Super Bowl.

[/pet peeve rant]

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

I am kinda buying it... not all in but I believe it.

Got to have the right coach to fit the talent and who knows how to coach them up. Spags was not the guy for what we have and the other thing we haven't been able to get a decent consistent pass rush to save our lives.

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

A lot of people didn't want Ryan for the job but I think he will be better than gw was he is a smart guy n knows his stuff bout defense... Jus gettin our guys to learn his system n not look lost is key n not wondering Wth is goin on

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

I can't remember where but Sean Payton made a comment that the secondary wasn't all that bad had they been able to get ANY type of pressure on the QB.

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

If we have no pass rush again we better have 3 Deion Sanders, a Ronnie Lott, and a D Sharp back there. Hopefully 1 or 2 of these younger LBs light it up this year. I'm personally losing hope with Junior as much as I like him, but the same happened with Devery and he lit it up so I would be ecstatic to be proved wrong.

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

One thing is clear to me. Ryan has a chip on his shoulder, and I like that.

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

"Money, It's Gotta Be The Shoes..."-Mars Blackmon

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

I BELIEVE!! Oh, I BEE-LEEEVE!!!

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

Everybody looks good in shells and before the lights come.

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

oh baby with out a doubt RR is directing the saints to a super bowl oh baby

or is it that monkey again?

i like preseason hype. i know the vets already keep talking about the young gun

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

We do have a number of really talented athletes on defense. I'm not buying it all just yet, but I'm breaking out my Kool Aid container.........now, where's my sugar? We need lot's of sugar. I like it sweet! :wink:

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

I'd rather hear that the secondary is "talented". Better than "whoa! We need a complete overhaul back there!"

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

Read into what Ryan is saying... It is worth it.

It tells me he is accessing the talent there. This is what I would expect as you don't walk on the field with a defense that preformed terribly last year and assume it was the coach or the players. He is accessing for him self, not only what talent that is there now and was last year but how that talent should roll into this season with his scheme.

As the head defensive coach Ryan has more than just the job of getting these guys up to speed and ready for the 2013 season. He has a defense full of players that had their confidence damaged last season, and he needs to rebuild that confidence.

Even the best players start to second guess them selves when the game plan is a soup sandwich and things go terribly wrong over a period of 16 games with only a couple of good performances.

Re: Rob Ryan: "This Secondary Is Extremely Talented"
 

From his lips to gods ears