Tag: Quotes

Kayshon Boutte says he would have won the Biletnikoff if it weren’t for his injury last fall

Boutte thinks he would have edged out Jordan Addison if he stayed healthy last fall.

[autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag] is expected to be one of the top receivers in all of college football this fall.

A preseason First Team All-SEC selection, Boutte was on pace for a monstrous 2021 season before an injury ended his campaign six games into the year. In those six games, he notched 38 catches for 509 yards and nine touchdowns.

With Boutte healthy and ready to go this fall, he’s a popular pick to win the Biletnikoff Award for the nation’s top pass-catcher. Last year, the award went to former Pittsburgh and current USC receiver Jordan Addison, instead, who crossed the 1,500-yard mark.

Though he wasn’t on pace to eclipse Addison’s yardage total, he was on pace to beat him out in terms of touchdowns. Speaking to the media at the beginning of fall camp, Boutte said he believes he would have won the Biletnikoff had he stayed healthy.

“I feel like the Biletnikoff is one of my goals,” Boutte said. “But I feel like if I didn’t have my injury last season, I was on pace to win it.”

Whether he would have beaten out Addison is unknowable, but he will have a good shot at the award if he can stay healthy this season. With that being said, he’ll still have to battle Addison, and many see the two as the nation’s best receivers.

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Here’s what Brian Kelly said after LSU’s first fall practice

Here’s what Brian Kelly said after the Tigers opened fall camp on Thursday.

It’s that time of year again.

Spring practice is done, summer workouts are through, we’ve done the whole media day thing and now it’s time to get ready for football.

LSU opened fall camp on Thursday. The season-opener against Florida State is less than a month away and the [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] era will begin in earnest.

Kelly met with the media after practice on Thursday. He said he didn’t want to do too much with the group on their first day as they try to avoid things like soft tissue injuries.

“It really was set up just to get guys back into the structure of practice,” Kelly said.

He said he was pleased with the effort on the first day. Here are some other noteworthy things Kelly said at his press conference.

Teammates praising Cesar Ruiz at Saints training camp

Teammates like Andrus Peat, who lines up near him, and Kentavius Street, who lines up against him, are praising Cesar Ruiz at Saints training camp:

There aren’t many players with more to prove at New Orleans Saints training camp than Cesar Ruiz, and the other two players in that conversation — Jameis Winston and Michael Thomas — are counting on him to make their jobs easier with improved blocking up front. If Ruiz can’t keep Winston clean, he won’t be able to get the ball to Thomas, and neither of them will be able to help the team. So it’s good to see teammates lauding Ruiz after a few weeks of practices in Metairie.

Ruiz received an unprompted from defensive lineman Kentavius Street on Aug. 2, telling Boot Krewe Media’s Jack Culotta Jr.: “One person that has really stuck out for me is Cesar so far. I really like how athletic he is at the offensive guard position, he forces me to really be on my P’s and Q’s every single day.” Street emphasized that Ruiz’s lateral agility is uncommon to see among guards around the league, requiring opponents to, “Beat his hands and his feet.”

That message was echoed by left guard Andrus Peat on Aug. 3, who commented to Nola.com’s Rod Walker that, “I think he’s made the biggest improvement of anybody,” at this summer’s training camp.

So that’s encouraging to say the least. The Saints made an effort to get more support for Ruiz this offseason, surrounding their 2020 first round pick with a new position coach in Doug Marrone, who is arguably overqualified for the job as a two-time NFL head coach, and bringing in longtime All-Pro right guard Jahri Evans for camp as a coaching intern. Combine them with assistant line coach Zach Strief and Ruiz has a wealth of experience to lean on.

Hopefully it’s paying off as well as teammates are observing in practice. Ruiz has spoken about his emphasis on active hand usage, noting Evans’ stressing the importance of putting force behind a strike, not just placing it well. It’s all aiming to help him put together more consistency and respond more effectively to what opponents throw at him. It’s early, too early to say his issues are all cleaned up, but this is some real optimism to build off of as the Saints prepare for their preseason games. Let’s see if the improved vibes yield positive results.

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Jarvis Landry jokes that his mom warned him about C.J. Gardner-Johnson

Jarvis Landry jokes that, before he signed with the Saints, his mom warned him about playing against C.J. Gardner-Johnson:

C.J. Gardner-Johnson is a star. When he isn’t standing up to Tom Brady in defiance or baiting multiple Chicago Bears receivers into getting themselves thrown out of games, the New Orleans Saints nickel back is working hard to push himself and his teammates in practice.

But his style of play has its drawbacks — like worrying the mothers of his new teammates. When asked what he knew of Gardner-Johnson before signing with New Orleans, slot receiver Jarvis Landry joked about his family’s concern should they share the field.

“Yeah,” Landry grinned. “He was one of the players, before I got here my mom was like, ‘Watch out for 22.'”

Landry went on to praise Gardner-Johnson for his contagious passion for football and the competitive streak that he brings to practice every day. Those are qualities that he’s shown in games the last three years, too, frustrating opponents with his hard-hitting and fast-talking style of play. He’s the kind of talent that you love to have on your side, but would be a pain to play against.

That’s something Saints fans know well after years of annoyance from NFC South gadflies like Steve Smith Sr. and Roddy White. Now the shoe’s on the other foot, and New Orleans is better for it. With Gardner-Johnson entering the final year of his rookie contract, let’s see if the team can re-up him for the long haul.

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Trevor Penning gets first-team snaps, praise from teammate Ryan Ramczyk

Trevor Penning showing early progress in Saints camp, earning first-team snaps and praise from Ryan Ramczyk, via @RossJacksonNOLA:

First-round draft selection Trevor Penning is going to draw a lot of attention over the course of New Orleans Saints training camp. He is entrenched in a battle for left tackle against veteran offensive lineman James Hurst. While that battle in the trenches wages on, he will also be focused on polishing his technique particularly in pass protection.

Evaluating Penning right now is a challenge. Everyone is practicing in shorts through the first week of camp. Getting to the first padded practice on Monday Aug. 1 is a key benchmark for that process to take its next step. Fellow offensive lineman Ryan Ramczyk believes Penning is heading in the right direction.

“It’s always interesting when the pads come on,” Ramczyk said. “I think Trevor has done a really good jump up (to) now. He’s got all the physical attributes to be a great football player. I think he’s going to keep growing and keep getting better. He’s going to be a huge asset for us.

That is high praise for the young rookie out of Northern Iowa. One measure of progression we can track before pads go on are team reps. On Thursday, the second day of Saints camp, Penning rotated with Hurst for first-team reps. That is a good sign for the rookie who the organization hopes can become their left tackle of the future. Getting praise from the line’s leader Ramczyk and getting into the starting unit mix early are both reasons for early but cautious optimism.

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Adam Trautman on how Taysom Hill improves Saints tight ends room beyond the field

Saints tight end Adam Trautman explains how Taysom Hill’s value goes beyond his on-field production, via @RossJacksonNOLA:

There aren’t any players across the NFL more unique than New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill. Hill, once in the running for starting quarterback, will still find himself taking some snaps from under center in 2022. But the focus of his work will be as a pass-catcher and offensive weapon. His production from the position should help to bolster it, but according to fellow tight end Adam Trautman, his impact is felt far before the team takes the field.

“Taysom in the room is awesome,” Trautman told media after Thursday’s practice session. “Like I said, physically he’s terrific. But mentally, that’s a whole ‘nother level that he brings to the room.”

While big catches, runs and collisions are usually the hallmark of Hill’s game, the impact he is having off the field is noticeable. As a player with quarterback experience, he knows what the passer is looking for from his tight end group. Hill now gets to share that insight on a consistent basis with Trautman, Nick Vannett, Juwan Johnson and other teammates.

Remember, this is new for Hill. While he’s played tight end before, he has mostly been in the quarterback room or splitting time in multiple meetings in previous seasons. Now, he get to study and game prep with the position group and that will likely lead to great production in 2022. Add to that Trautman’s health going into the season, and there is reason for some confidence in a step forward. “I feel much better.” the third-year tight end said. “I came in last camp, I was probably ten pounds less than I usually am.”

The Saints tight ends room did not produce a 300-yard receiver in 2021. Trautman led the way with just 263 receiving yards. Hill should have a positive impact not just with his own production, but by helping to make the other players around him better. Something of which Trautman looks to be on the verge.

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Saints setting high expectations for Cesar Ruiz in his first real offseason

Saints setting high expectations for Cesar Ruiz in his first real offseason after two COVID-abridged summers:

Patience is growing thin for Cesar Ruiz among a lot of New Orleans Saints fans. The team’s 2020 first round pick hasn’t done well through his first two years in the NFL, struggling to convert from center to guard after turning pro out of Michigan. Between breakdowns in pass protection and missed assignments as a run blocker, he’s earned the ire of a lot of would-be supporters.

But the Saints themselves are giving Ruiz some slack. General manager Mickey Loomis observed that he’s taken an unusual road to the NFL with the bulk of his first two offseasons being conducted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which limited the time Ruiz was spending with his position coaches and the strength and conditioning staff.

“People forget,” Loomis told Boot Krewe Media’s Jack Culotta Jr., “This is Cesar Ruiz’s first offseason. There are expectations on some of these guys that, with a full offseason, we’re going to see a jump from these guys.”

Now, making an excuse for Ruiz’s subpar level of play isn’t the same as okaying it. The Saints made moves to better support Ruiz early this year — the first hire that Dennis Allen made to his new coaching staff was offensive line coach Doug Marrone, a former NFL head coach who was arguably overqualified for the job. Getting regular work in with Marrone over the summer leading into training camp should do a lot for Ruiz’s development.

At least that’s the expectation. Also consider the circumstances of Ruiz’s age. He turned 23 in June and is younger than some of his rookie teammates, and it’s common for offensive linemen like him to take a couple years getting up to speed (which is something Saints fans experienced before with Andrus Peat). It’s very possible that Ruiz will enjoy a more successful second leg of his career after these initial struggles.

But at the same time, Ruiz wasn’t the only player drafted at the height of the pandemic in 2020 and asked to switch positions in the NFL. He isn’t the only one younger and less experienced than his peers, either. Other players have seen the same hurdles and cleared them. All the coaching changes and practice time in the world won’t matter if he doesn’t cut down on the in-the-moment mental mistakes and botched assignments. At the end of the day, he’s got to do a better job. The Saints have done what they can to throw him a line. Now it’s up to Ruiz to sink or swim.

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Everything Brian Kelly said at SEC Media Days on Monday

Kelly discussed a variety of topics during his press conference on Monday.

SEC Media Days officially began at the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown Atlanta on Monday, and Tigers fans didn’t have to wait long to hear from their new head man.

LSU coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] was the first to take the podium this week, and as he noted in his opening monologue, it’s the first conference media days he has participated in since he was at Cincinnati in 2009 as Notre Dame is an independent school.

There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding his first team in Baton Rouge, but there’s also a lot of optimism. This is a talented roster, which Kelly reiterated several times on Monday, and he’s expected to bring this team back to national competitiveness in short order.

Here were the highlights from Kelly’s press conference.

Brian Kelly joins the transfer portal conversation

LSU has been as busy as anyone in the transfer portal. Here’s what Kelly had to see about the portal’s future.

LSU coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] has been hitting the transfer portal hard this cycle, and he really hasn’t had a choice.

The portal is just one of the massive changes we have seen in college football over the last few years, and as the dust still settles, coaches will continue to be asked their thoughts on the new landscape.

Earlier this week, it was Kelly’s turn to speak on the transfer portal, and he had some interesting things to say. He stated that there might be a need for some dead periods, similar to what is seen in high school recruiting.

“I think that will eventually find itself to be reasonable,” Kelly said, “I don’t think I need to be standing on a pulpit for that in particular.”

Kelly’s attitude seems to be that any issues related to the portal will find an equilibrium given some time. At this point, he is a pretty clear benefactor of the portal, so it’s unlikely we’ll see him taking a stand against it.

Things like the NIL and the portal have led to some controversy, but seeing how coaches decided to publicly respond to each topic has been interesting because they stand to reap the benefits but also could be hurt by them.

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LSU coach Brian Kelly talks about what has surprised him about LSU

Kelly said he’s been impressed with his players’ willingness to change their routines.

Transitioning from one head coach to another is always a difficult task.

You get used to what one coach has you practicing every day. That coach has an agenda and a format on how, when, where, and why he wants to do things his way. It is hard to break habits. You have to pretty much re-calculate your internal clock to get used to doing things a new way.

That is what coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] is trying to do with his ball club this year. Here is what Kelly had to say about what has surprised him with this LSU team.

“I don’t know that I’m surprised,” Kelly said, according to On3’s Tyler Mansfield. “I like their willingness to adapt to each day. There’s been a lot for them to handle. This is quite different for them – different in the way that we’re preparing them. So, I think they’ve done a really good job with routines because we’ve changed their routine. Routines are about, ‘OK, I’ve gotta do this at 12, I’ve gotta be here at three,’ but they have habits instilled in them, as well.

“We’re trying to reshape habits – and that takes longer. I think what I’m most pleased with is that they’re willing to do away with old habits, and at the same time stick to some of these routines that we’ve built in. I don’t know I’m surprised as much as pleased with their willingness to do what’s necessary, in my opinion, to be a championship team.”

To be committed to excellence and to want to be a championship team, you have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. You can not get up every day and do things the same way they have been for the past few years and expect things to work.

The game changes every day. Formations change, schemes change, strategies change, and if you aren’t growing with the game, you are going to get left behind. You will find yourself outside the top 25 and at the bottom of the SEC.

It’s good to see the players embracing change and preparing for the upcoming season.

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