Ryan Connelly speaks with the media after Tuesday's Saints training camp practice, talking about special teams and the linebacker room.
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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:08 >> Ryan D and I was talking about the game and just kind of noticing a little bit
00:12 more special team defenses.
00:13 How have you felt settling in here and just kind of talk about game on Sunday?
00:18 >> Yeah, no, it's so good.
00:20 Kind of a fresh start for me coming down here year five and
00:23 just being able to be part of a new team in this organization and
00:27 kind of get my feet wet with everything in the first game felt great.
00:31 >> What are some things that maybe you're looking to showcase over the next couple
00:35 of weeks besides maybe special teams?
00:38 >> Right, yeah, obviously special teams needs to be a staple.
00:40 But I think just kind of showing that I've been through a couple injuries,
00:44 showing that I'm still the same player I was before that.
00:46 And this will be an ability to get better and be a good linebacker.
00:50 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:53 >> What was the dome like for you?
00:55 >> It was fun.
00:56 Last time I was there was in 2020 on the Vikings when Alvin scored,
01:01 I think 100 touchdowns on us.
01:04 >> [LAUGH] >> So it was definitely a better
01:07 experience this time, so.
01:08 >> This linebacker group is kind of a mixed bag of a couple undrafted rookies,
01:13 a couple guys who've been here.
01:15 This is your first year with the team, but you've been in the league for a while.
01:19 Do you feel like you have taken it upon yourself to kind of be a leader to those
01:22 younger guys who fall or slip on into the organization?
01:26 >> Yeah, I mean, I think it's a credit to Coach Hodges.
01:28 These young guys that were here when I got here, they're very up to speed.
01:33 They know the system.
01:35 I think the entire room was one of the smarter linebacker rooms I've been in.
01:39 And I guess a testament to Coach Hodges.
01:40 And then also guys like Mario and Pete and Zach,
01:43 kind of guys who've been here for a while.
01:45 Kind of, they're set the standard for just learning this defense.
01:48 So it's a cool thing to be a part of, for sure.
01:51 >> How can practices against another team maybe be sort of different than
01:54 practicing here with your team, where you can showcase what you can do?
01:58 >> I think there's a certain bit of, when you're practicing against your own team,
02:02 there's a certain bit of familiarity, whether it's guys or scheme or
02:06 just something you felt before.
02:07 And I think that's what's the benefit of practicing against another team,
02:12 is that you might not know what a guy's certain moves or skill set is or
02:15 their scheme.
02:16 So that gives you a chance to actually be more like real football,
02:19 where you actually have to react.
02:20 >> How much do you enjoy the work on special teams?
02:23 I mean, you've made a couple plays.
02:27 >> Yeah, I mean, it's definitely enjoyable.
02:28 If that's your role, you've got to make the most of it.
02:31 And Coach Riz, just everyone flying around, that's definitely exciting.
02:37 >> Is that something you've done a lot in the past?
02:39 >> Yes, for sure.
02:41 >> Ryan, with all your experience now in the NFL,
02:43 what you'd say is the most difficult?
02:46 It's obviously being a linebacker, the instincts to tackle solid assign.
02:50 Is it the pass coverage and going up to that next level compared to when you
02:54 first went to college in the NFL?
02:56 Is that something that you think most linebackers have to work on?
03:01 >> I think, honestly, I think the biggest thing is just all the adjustments and
03:06 different things in game planning you get each week to week.
03:09 Like a college team will most likely be doing the same stuff for
03:12 12 straight weeks, where you could, each week in the NFL,
03:15 you don't know what you're gonna get.
03:16 You could get stuff from last week, you could get stuff from last year.
03:19 So I think it's just being aware of all your checks and
03:22 everything you need to make as the leader of the defense.
03:25 [BLANK_AUDIO]
03:28 >> How well did you get to know Zach Vaughn?
03:32 >> Very well, he was only a year younger than me, I'm Wisconsin, so.
03:36 >> What do you remember about him then and how it hasn't changed much?
03:42 >> I'm very excited for Zach because he's definitely matured into this great
03:46 linebacker.
03:47 I just remember when he came to Wisconsin, he was a former quarterback.
03:52 He had a really great high school basketball tape, and he was just an athlete.
03:57 And to see him go from an edge linebacker to now someone who can play inside and
04:01 outside, it's pretty cool.
04:04 >> So you knew Ryan?
04:07 >> Yep, yep, wrapped up, yeah.
04:08 >> Yeah, what's it like being back in Wisconsin?
04:11 >> It's cool, I mean, that's the thing about the NFL is a lot of things come full
04:15 circle.
04:16 As you saw with Ramchacka, it's been almost six,
04:19 seven years now since I've been on the team with him.
04:22 His locker is right next to mine at Wisconsin for two years, so
04:24 it's kind of cool now to be in the same locker room again.
04:27 >> So you must have talked to him a lot, your colleagues, too?
04:31 >> Yeah, yeah, he was, I believe, two years older than me.
04:33 >> Right, but being next to him in the locker room.
04:35 >> Right, yeah, yeah.
04:36 >> So has he changed much?
04:37 >> No, no, he has not changed one bit.
04:39 He's exactly as I remember him.
04:41 >> And how would you define that, as a friend, a teammate?
04:45 >> It may have a few words, but he goes about his business and gets it done.
04:49 That's why he's one of the best in the NFL.
04:53 >> What did they tell you about being the same?
04:55 What did they tell you about playing for this team, about Zach and Ryan?
04:58 >> I mean, obviously the traditions and the preseason game, the atmosphere.
05:02 You don't normally get that atmosphere in a lot of preseason games around the league,
05:06 so that was cool to kind of be a part of that.
05:09 Fans are awesome here, and it's just, I think it's a cool experience so far.
05:13 >> Anything else?