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New Orleans Saints Wide Receiver Kenny Stills
Post-Practice Media Availability
Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Kenny with Joe Morgan out, you are one of the candidates competing to fill the role he had last year. Is that something you feel that you can fill?

“No, I wouldn’t say that I automatically fall into that role. We got a lot of guys still out here competing for that spot. But I can definitely stretch the field and it’s something that I’m capable of doing.

You ran an offense at Oklahoma that’s somewhat similar to the offense here. Looking at your adjustment compared to Nick Toon’s last year, it seems you’ve made yours was a lot faster. Would you say your time at Oklahoma has helped with your adjustment?

“Yes. Definitely the fact that we ran a similar system helps me a lot. Extra hours in the playbook is all I’m doing. It’s playbook, practice, meetings and cold tub. (I’m) Just focusing on (that) and if I do that I’m going to get on the field a lot faster.

What is your biggest adjustment so far?

“Just getting on the same page with the quarterback again. Especially having a great quarterback like Drew (Brees). I want to make sure that he can trust me and I’m in the right spot at the right time.”

As you approach your first preseason game, what’s going through your mind?

“I just want to go out there and show my teammates and my coaches that I can play and that I’m not just a practice player. I want to show them that I can really produce and do some things out there on the field.”

New Orleans Saints Safety Jim Leonhard
Post-Practice Media Availability
Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Jim what are the differences you see in the offense and the defense so far in training camp?

“I think you see the defense with a new scheme. Offensively, they’re in their third or fourth year and they’re rolling. They’re testing us every day. We have a lot of veterans and if we keep improving like we are, we have a chance to be a good team.”

Defensively, what are the soft spots that you want to see improve?

“I think its communication. We have a lot of talented guys and a lot of depth. It’s just getting the communication and avoiding the mental mistakes. If you make a team beat you every single play, you’re going to have a lot of success. Anytime you’re in a new scheme I think that’s what you’re worried about. I think we’ve handled it really well. We’re getting to a point in (training) camp where we’re putting ourselves in a lot of different positions.”

With the announced loss of Kenyon Coleman today and Victor Butler earlier with injuries for potentially a significant period, it’s not good news for the Saints?

“It hurts. Anytime you bring in guys like Kenyon and Butler who have been in this system it’s going to hurt. Rob (Ryan) was kind of thinking of leaning on those guys as far as teaching. On top of that they’re great people so when you lose them it’s going to hurt. Unfortunately, that’s the way this game is and it’s the next man up mentality. You feel sorry for those guys and a lot of us have been through that before.”

Do you have enough depth to make up for those losses?



“That’s not my decision. I think we’ve got a lot of talented guys. If they don’t like what we have I’m sure they will bring somebody in. This is a team that is going to do what it takes to win. We’re going to count on the guys that we have on the roster right now and if they feel like we need help I’m sure they take care of it."

Read more: New Orleans Saints player transcripts from Wednesday

homerj07

So 3 early candidates for WR3. Who will it be?
Toon
Stills
Breaston?

Rugby Saint II

This is pizzing me off! Crap! Why can't we catch a break?.............err maybe that's a bad choice of words.

TheOak

We are going to go into the season with +1 WR and +1 LB more than usual... FB may be a cut position.

iceshack149

Third or fourth? I figured that it is their seventh year and they're rolling.

Rugby Saint II

I don't know about that. Payton likes his full backs. We had two in camp last year and I almost thought we were going to carry two.

TheOak

I know he does, we have different needs this year with the new defense and down a running back from the normal.. When Hartley doesn't make the full season, which he has only done once, we will have another need.