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After a bumpy rookie year, Stanley Jean-Baptiste is looking to make an impact in his second season with the Saints


Stanley Jean-Baptiste was unaware of the two reporters lurking by his locker.
He got dressed, made a phone call, and worked his way through a conversation, never expecting an interview request. It wasn’t until a member of the New Orleans Saints public relations staff informed him that he finally looked up and happily obliged.

Baptiste wasn’t disturbed by reporters often last season. As packs of people gathered around Kenny Vaccaro or Keenan Lewis’ stalls in that corner of the locker room, Jean-Baptiste was mostly left alone.

That’s just the way his rookie season unfolded. The second-round pick was inactive for most games. Out of sight, out of mind. Now, though, Jean-Baptiste is ready to take the stage.

The mental bumps and bruises and lessons of his first season now absorbed, he believes he’s positioned himself to earn snaps and find a way to contribute during his second season.

Advocate staff photo by MATTHEW HINTON--New Orleans Saints cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste (23) practices in Metairie, La. Thursday, May 28, 2015.
Nick Underhill| nunderhill@theadvocate.com

“I’m real comfortable now, so we’re going to see how it works out,” Jean-Baptiste said. “I’m just more relaxed. Better understanding of the playbook.”

The understand is the biggest development for Jean-Baptiste. He openly admits he didn’t understand what was going on at times last season — both on the field and his role on them.

He didn’t understand why he wasn’t on the field. and no one ever explained to him that he was going to basically redshirt as a rookie and wait his turn. So, he worked behind the scenes and tried to find ways to get better.

“It was hard. I wanted to play — everybody wants to play — but at the same time. I didn’t know what the coaches were doing, but I understand it,” Jean-Baptiste said. “They got plans for me. I’m just here to be a part of the team and help out any way I can.”

Things feel different now. Jean-Baptiste seems comfortable with his place on the team and with the information he’s being asked to process. There were times last year when he struggled to pick things up.

It helps that the team has trimmed down the playbook and tossed out some of the concepts that did not work last season, but Jean-Baptiste says he feels like he’s better able to absorb information and understand what’s going on. His teammates have noticed the difference and believe he’s playing with more confidence.

After a bumpy rookie year, Stanley Jean-Baptiste is looking to make an impact in his second season with the Saints | Saints | The New Orleans Advocate — New Orleans, Louisiana

hagan714

The first part was the same ol same ol. let your play do the talking

but this part almost made me jump for joy.

It helps that the team has trimmed down the playbook and tossed out some of the concepts that did not work last season, but Jean-Baptiste says he feels like he’s better able to absorb information and understand what’s going on. His teammates have noticed the difference and believe he’s playing with more confidence.

Did cerebral Rob Ryan get a wake up call?
Is the Dennis effect once again felt?
Or did Dennis knock some common sense into him?

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

brees84

You should watch Cam Jordan video from yesterday. Said some interesting things about playbook. I can see us play solid defense again.

hagan714

Cam Jordan talks about the 2015 season

Foot Stomper

Yes by all means throw out stuff that didn't work. But I have to wonder why it took a full offseason, preseason and regular season to determine stuff wasn't working? I like Rob Ryan alot and he seems like the kind of guy that would recognize this early and further I think players could tell him hey Coach what is it you want?? Just shaking my head at this everytime I have read that we have schemes and concepts that didn't work but evidently kept trying to make them work.

Beastmode

We had a defensive playbook?

FinSaint

It just seems like a big mismanagement by the team if they kept their 2nd round pick in the dark like that.

Hopefully we'll see that high upside come into fruition this season.

Crusader

Wery well spoken and kinda funny. I always like his interviews.

halloween 65

I surely liked Baptiste in college. If he gets confident he is going to suprize alot of people. Redshirting him might have been a good move.

FinSaint

Transitioning from a WR to a CB isn't easy on its own - I imagine - and adding to that a complex playbook to learn and getting used to the speed of the NFL... no wonder he had problems.