Devin Neal is ready because he makes it his business to be ready.
The New Orleans Saints will be counting on that Sunday when New Orleans (2-9) faces Miami (4-7) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Neal, a sixth-round pick (No. 184 overall) this year, soaked up his most extensive playing time last Sunday against Atlanta, after Alvin Kamara exited the game with a knee injury in the first quarter. Neal totaled with seven carries for 18 yards and five catches for 43, setting season highs in carries, catches and receiving yards in the 24-10 loss.
"College was the last time I had a workload like this," Neal said. "(But) I'm no stranger to it. I'm used to it, and I prepare myself in a manner that when (it's time), I'm ready to go, I'm ready to execute and there's not much of a lapse when whoever is out. That's just my job, honestly."
The workload doesn't figure to lessen against Miami; Kamara missed the final three quarters last Sunday and didn't practice Wednesday.
"I think the coaching staff has done a phenomenal job with keeping me in the loop, keeping me in practice, still getting reps," Neal said. "So I felt really comfortable being out there. At the end of the day, you never know — especially with my position. The first guy can go out just like that, so I have to be prepared. I have to watch film the same way, like I'm going to be out there taking every rep. That's my mentality when it comes to this.
"It's just more opportunity for me to keep showing what I can do. More opportunity to show that I can be an all-around back, that I can play in this league and be efficient on the ground, catching the ball, pass blocking, do it all."
In limited action this season — 17 carries for 61 yards, 12 catches for 64 yards in seven games — the 5-foot-11, 213-pound rookie from Kansas has shown flashes in all those areas.
There has been an element of violence to his style, noticeable to teammates.
"I was really proud of Devin and what he was able to do," quarterback Tyler Shough said after the Falcons game. "He was laying the boom quite a few times. He was doing his job really well."
There was, at least, a bit of expectation for that when Neal was drafted after he ran for 4,343 yards and 49 touchdowns on 760 carries, and caught 77 passes for 711 yards and four touchdowns, in 49 games at Kansas.
"I played him for two years (in college), my freshman and sophomore year, so I already know what Devin can provide to our team," said rookie left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., whose Texas teams won both of those games. "It wasn't anything that I haven't seen before. His explosiveness, his ability to find the hole and kind of hit it any moment he wants to. He's a great player, he's a great back. He knows the game of football very well, like the back of his hand."
Right guard Cesar Ruiz said Neal understands what the position requires.
"Every week he gets more opportunities than he's ever gotten, and you see it progress week by week," Ruiz said. "He's just playing really good ball, seeing things and reading things really well."
And his biggest opportunity might be presenting itself at an optimal time.
Dolphin opponents average 142.6 rushing yards per game, fourth most in the league, and Miami has had games of 239, 197, 172, 157, 156, 150 and 140 rushing yards allowed.
New Orleans gains 91.5 rushing yards per game, fourth fewest. Neal is ready to help the team improve on those placements.
"I still feel like I've got a lot of work to do," he said. "I can continue to get better, continue to find ways to get better for this team to ultimately win games. I just think there's another element to our game that we can just keep stepping up and keep getting better, and that's what we've got to focus on."
