JOESAM2002

July 27, 2003

METAIRIE â€â€� The name certainly fits the mold.

Offseason acquisition Orlando Ruff is all about attitude and physical play and that’s what the 6-3, 250 pound middle linebacker plans to bring to the New Orleans Saints.

“Defense in my opinion can’t be played without attitude,� Ruff said. “I mean, this is an emotional game.

“You take a group of guys, whether they’re fast, whether they’re slow, whether they’re strong or whether they’re weak and if they have the right attitude and all come together as a unit and you fight for one common goal that’s a hellified defense. For us, I figure it’s going to have to be our attitude.�

Ruff’s attitude helped him develop from an undrafted rookie in 1999, into a starting linebacker for the San Diego Chargers. In 28 starts during the 2000-01 seasons, Ruff racked 113 solos tackles and 29 assists.

He has 122 solos and 31 assists in his four-year career and was one of the Saints’ biggest offseason signings when he inked a three-year contract.

New Orleans signed the free agent in hopes of bolstering its linebacker corps, which was widely considered an area of concern in the offseason.

Ruff knows he was brought in to improve the unit and he’s ready to help shoulder the load.

“The way I approach the game is I’m the biggest critic of myself,â€? Ruff said. “Regardless of the situation, my main goal is to improve everyday, every rep. In terms of pressure, as far as improving this team â€â€� I don’t have any pressure.

“The only pressure I have is the pressure I apply to myself as a player and I know by me getting better as a player is naturally going to help the team on defense.�

Saints’ linebacker coach Winston Moss is excited about the addition of Ruff. Moss expects Ruff to contribute against the run, an area that plagued the Saints last season.

“We expect some big hits from him, because he’s a big guy,� Moss said. “He’s a physical guy. That’s what we like our middle linebackers to play like.

“In bringing Ruff here vs. the run and teams that want to pound it, we wanted to get a very physical guy in here that can make an impact vs. the run.�

Ruff studies Bikram, a form of yoga he uses to prepare more mentally and physically. He also speaks freely and pulled no punches of what he expects from himself and the rest of this year’s defense.

“When we step on the field, regardless of who we’re playing there’s no one offense that’s going to be able to move the ball on us,� Ruff said. “Period. They want to run, they’re going to get stopped. They want to pass they’re going to get stopped.

“If the quarterback wants to tuck and run being that were in a division with a lot of quarterbacks that like to run â€â€� they’re going to get laid out, period. That’s going to be our identity this year. We have an attitude and we’re out to prove something.â€?