Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

It’s interesting that we are trying to figure out who is playing which position here and it looked like today’s practice illustrated a lot of sub packages. Would you say you saw a lot of guys doing a lot different things?
“Most of it is looking correct (digesting the defense). There were a couple of mistakes out there where we really looked exotic. The thing I have been the most impressed about is our veterans and how quickly they’ve picked things up. Guys have position flexibility all through this roster. There are so many talented guys here but, the veterans in particular (have impressed me). The Will Smith’s, the (Jonathan)Vilmas, Curtis Lofton, and Roman Harper. I’ve been really impressed with how much these guys love football, how much they study, and what quick learners they are. It’s really been impressive.”

Smith and Vilma are two guys in particular that obviously had to make some concessions to stay with this team, but obviously two guys who you came in and said you wanted to keep working with. What have you seen from them so far?
“(It was also) higher up then just me saying (it). Obviously Mickey Loomis and Sean Payton wanted these guys around and this is the first experience that I have had being around Will Smith, (Jonathan) Vilma, Roman Harper and these excellent veterans. Like I said, I’ve been so impressed with their work ethic, their attention to detail, and being students of the game and (the fact that) they love football, so it’s going really well.”

I am sure you don’t want to get into specific details but is there a philosophy behind getting the best pass rushers on the field in this scheme or from defensive concepts overall, even if you’re looking at the tackle or scanning up everybody at once. Is that part of your philosophy?
“Absolutely, I have learned from some really great coaches and their philosophy always was to play the best players (and) put them in a position to succeed, and that’s what I have learned from Buddy Ryan, Bill Belichick, and Rex Ryan. I have been fortunate enough to be around good people and I would say that is our philosophy (here).”

What’s in your approach? Where do you start when you are coming in with a defense that struggled like the Saints did last year? What has been your approach in terms of figuring out where to start?
“I wasn’t there last year. I got fired on my credentials (in Dallas) last season, so I want to make sure I do it right (here). Apparently, I didn't do a good enough job last year. With them (Saints), it really doesn't matter, in my opinion, on exactly what happened. I went back and watched all the tape. There are ways that I know as coaches we can help. Like I say, Joe Vitt never coached defense last year and he has been invaluable here. It’s a work in progress (and) I think we are all in it together. We are working hard, we are trying to get better every day, and that’s what we are trying to do.”

Will you take a big step next week in minicamp? Will it just be another big step up for the players?
“You saw a lot of sub (packages) today, which is third down. Yesterday was a big sub day and I think that was outstanding for us overall. We are looking at some new things. I think that the game is changing a little bit with these athletic quarterbacks, so we worked with a lot of the zone read stuff and our coverage today, so we are trying to stay ahead of that curve. I thought it went really well. Next week will have a different emphasis, and again it’s a work in progress. It’s not perfect, but I know one thing; It’s that our guys are working really hard and I’ve been really impressed, especially with our veterans.”

Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

I really like what I am hearing. Ryan is being specific in that he loves the vets. That isn't fluff.

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

Boom. There is it. What we've been saying all offseason and into the draft.

I'm seeing visions of Matty and Scam and Freeman with their heads spinning

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

Interesting how Smith was the first name he mentioned. Maybe he'll be a bit of a pleasant surprise this year.

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

I wonder how big a part that played in the D being so crappy.

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

It seems for whatever reason Spags was the only one coaching the D last year. Don't know if his ego was that huge or what... Seems like Rob is more a players/coaches coach...

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

I would say it can't get any worse but............

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

ok nothing unexpected in my book. years of wacky attacking defensive schemes under williams is what we are seeing. last year was not a total waste either. players had to be more disciplined and playing out of position only help them understand the over all defense and what players are suppose to do at those positions. that will only help them when they go back to playing their natural positions.

the defense did not need gutting the defense needed to return to attacking and a move of players to their natural positions.

it was not the players it was the coaching ideology last year

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

No gutting was not necessary. Discipline is key, chaos helps. But IMO the biggest need was true versatility. Vacarro is a prime example.

My other most intriguing defensive players for 2013 are
Malcolm Jenkins
Chase Thomas
Curtis Lofton

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

So.... that's why they got rid of Spags.....;)

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

Everyone at some point has heard one of our defensive players saying how much they loved playing for GW and whilst sugar coating it a little bit - how much they despised playing for spags

Our players love the aggressive defense, its just GW used to have brilliant moments and then brain fart moments and seemed unwilling to admit what all of us here could blatantly see - offenses had figured him out

They knew who was blitzing, who wasn't, where the whole in coverage would be and who was uncovered (the running back mostly)

Lets hope RR brings a better scripted version of an aggressive D

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

Not true, it can always get worse. But it won't, because the players won't let it.

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

This is EXACTLY why I wasn't worried about the defense when I heard they were switching to a 3-4 alignment. I knew we had the majority of the personnel already, and many of these guys played in a similar attacking defense under Gregg Williams. You are absolutely right. There didn't need to be wholesale changes. Just a few additions in the right places and a little tweaking here and there. I honestly think this defense is going to be fun to watch instead of wanting to turn my head away from the action when they are on the field like last year.

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

Yes, Chase Thomas is definitely becoming more intriguing for me as well.

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

I like the list, but I'm throwing John Jenkins and -believe it or not- Will Smith in as well.

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

I like Chase and all, but I'm kinda more psyched up about Reddick personally.

I don't remember being this fired up about so many UDFA ever.

Reddick, Chase, Sweeting, Leonard, that Mexican kicker dude....

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

You've gotta cheer for this dude because you know at some point he had to make a kick to save his sister's life.

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

Any production would be a pleasant surprise

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

Like what Ryan had to say about putting the best players on the field and in a position for success...

...but, there's also the principle of K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid)...

...one of the biggest criticisms of Ryan in his past is that his players have so many reads and adjustments based on the decision flow chart that his players can't relax and play to their natural abilities...

Ryan, leave the Frankenstein Schiott to Payton - Just Get the Best Players on the Field and Let Them Knock the Taste out of the Opposition's Mouth...

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

I like the concept of position flexibility. Especially for the 1st game. Not that it is hard to confuse the Fal-clowns

http://adayinthewife.com/wp-content/...azy-clown.jpeg

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

We have a talented roster with athletic guys.....................I could make this group succeed with a very limited play book.

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

getting to cute even with our offense has hurt us over the years. i hope your right and this is one of the main reasons i am not a big fan of the higher myself.

Ryan does not have an overall good track history as a DC in the NFL. I hope he has learned his lessons and stop over thinking how cute his defense can be.

This is what i will be watching and judging him on. half time adjustments

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

It cant be worse than last year

His D was ranked top 15 until they lost multiple players to IR

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

It would be worse if it's the same schiott all over again...

Re: Rob Ryan is Impressed with How Quickly New Orleans Saints Veterans are Learning System
 

I think you mean **** jeanpierre. Just no way we can schugar coat last year.:-D