New Orleans Saints Wide Receiver Ted Ginn Jr. - 2018 Training Camp Presented by Verizon - Sunday, July 29, 2018

Can you talk about the weather in training camp in comparison to other teams?
"Hot. Very hot. I'm very excited, very upbeat. Pushing the tempo and with this heat, it's making us do a little extra, but it's been great."

What do you see about Tre 'Quan Smith so far?
"Oh, he's going to be a great player. Just getting into this league, he has a lot of learning to do. He's going to come along and as a veteran I'm going to help him. We are going to continue to make plays."

It seems like there is a lot of competition between receivers and DB's out there?
"Always, you can never really go without having competitions. These one-on-ones, the outside drills that you do just try to get the best out of everybody."

If you're gameplanning against this secondary, how difficult have they been?
"They're very difficult, you have Marshon [Lattimore] who is very, very patient, [inaudible], You have 43 [Marcus Williams] in the back that goes from sideline to sideline, he's a ball hog. Then you have 24 [Vonn Bell] and 20 [Ken Crawley] coming down and they could do whatever they want in that box. It's a great secondary, you just have to keep coming out and iron sharpens iron that's really it."

You had an Instagram post about Tony Sparano the other day, what did coach mean to you?
"Sparano was a big person in my life. Coming into this league and being able to get with a guy like Sparano, who had a lot of character, who stood behind me in a lot of ways that people didn't really understand. A real true head coach, a player's coach, rest in peace to him. He was a great guy and I learned a lot from him."

Where do you think you all are in the punt return game as returners, yourself and the whole group in general?
"We just have a lot of work to do. We have a lot of young guys, I'm like the oldest guy. We have a lot of young guys that just have to go back and get confidence. That's the most important thing is to get the confidence."

Is [Thomas] Morstead one of the more difficult punters?
"For sure, at least three or four years now (when he was with the Panthers), going against that guy he's one of the best punting on the sideline guy ever. With the cover team that we have, he should be able to come down and make some big plays for us in that department."

What can it mean to already have a full season in this offense and working with Drew [Brees] going into this year for you?
"It means everything. When I came in last year I was no different than a rookie, even though I was 11 years in. I came out here, just put the hard work in and paid attention. That's something I try to show these young guys, that if you come in and you just pay attention to what Drew says, what Sean [Payton] says, or CJ [Curtis Johnson] you can go a long way in this offense."

You came pretty close to some career numbers last year, what are some of your goals going into this year?
"I'm really not a goal-setter. I just go out and play football. However the year goes, is how it goes. I go week by week and that was just something I was taught as a kid, I just go out and let the game come to me."

You spoke a lot about being a veteran leader, do you have a lot of guys coming up to you and asking questions?
"Oh yeah for sure. On the offensive side and special teams. 'How did you do it? What makes you keep doing it?' You get out all those questions and it's up to me to get the right answers to the right guy, to help him out. That's what training camp is all about, to help one another."

Is that something you kind of embrace?
"Yes for sure, I mean that's just how I was raised. I've been a coach's son my whole life. I don't know any other way but to bring my teammates along."

New Orleans Saints Tackle Ryan Ramczyk - 2018 Training Camp Presented by Verizon - Sunday, July 29 2018

Seems like we've asked every skill position player what it's like to battle this heat but those linemen have to have a few more reps?
"It is definitely a different type of heat down here. Yesterday was even hotter than today and it's just something you have to battle through. Obviously, football's not an easy sport, so it's just something you have to battle through and keep pushing and adjust to it."

Speaking of adjustments, how much have you been able to adjust having a full year and a camp under your belt, going into your second?
"It's definitely been nice to kind of know what's going to go on during practice, what's going to go on during meetings, and understand the playbook already. Then just add onto your knowledge and keep adding on to my craft and what I do."  

Do you sort of look back at it because a year ago you only had what, if we are going by a year ago, four practices because you didn't do OTA's and minicamp, so it's crazy to think of how much has gone in?
"Definitely. I Played all last season and I got a lot of reps there and I still need a lot of improvement, and have a lot of stuff to work on, but I am feeling good right now."

What's the recovery like in between these practices? Are guys really sore or are you guys always in shape? What's the adjustment period when the full pads come on?
"Everyone's a little different, but recovery is huge. You're out in this heat so your body is already fighting to get the water back in it. You got muscle soreness, fatigue, all that so cold tubs, NormaTec, all that stuff is essential, and later on tonight too."

What about yourself personally? How do you feel you have been going day to day since you all started?
"I have been feeling pretty good. Obviously, the usual soreness, but I always jump in a cold tub after practice and usually NormaTec, so I recover pretty good."

You get pretty competitive with the defensive line, but how much more does it get when you put the pads on and are finally able to be a lot more physical?
"(It) Definitely amps it up for sure. The pads come on and then it is live football. The competitiveness comes out in everyone."

Do you feel like you learn a little bit more about those guys on defense when you do put the pads on? You get a feel for them, but do you learn a little bit more about them?
"Yes. Without pads on everything is so different. When you get the pads on its like he does this, this way, and you are able to kind of feel out how they play. It is hard to describe, it is a different feel."

What have you seen from Will Clapp in just working out with him a few days now?
"He's been doing well. OTA's he did well, and we have been seeing improvements with him as well here at training camp."

Is Max Unger kind of taking that leadership role with Zach Strief having retired and working as a play-by-play announcer? Is it Terron [Armstead]? He has been one of the guys talking and trying to pull you guys together.
"I would say Max is definitely a big leader, but all the other guys are too. We all come together, we all talk together and confide in each other, and we trust each other so it is pretty special."

*Do you find yourself kind of having more of a voice now with that group as well? *
"Yes, I think so. Having a year under my belt, it's not a lot, but it's something. I just feel a little bit more confident talking to the younger players and then talking to the older players as well and voicing my opinion."