New Orleans Saints Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan
Post-Practice Media Availability
Friday, August 23, 2013
What are you looking to improve upon against the Houston Texans? I'm sure you are going to be looking at the run defense against their zone scheme.
"Yeah, that is something we are going to focus on. They have one of the top offenses in football so it will be a big test for us. I thought we handled the zone-read type of plays last week well and now we'll see this stretch-type offense and it will be a big test for us. We are looking forward to the challenge."
How much are you looking at the guys who will see more action with the first team due to injuries, particularly at outside linebacker where guys will see significant snaps with the ones?
"We're looking at everybody. We're evaluating the whole team. Whoever is out there is getting evaluated. I think we've seen a lot of snaps with some people, maybe more than we're anticipating this week, but whoever is out there is being evaluated. Our whole job and our whole goal hasn't changed, we want to get the best 53 (man roster) for our team and this will be a big week for that."
Some people say you study tendencies of the other team more than most defensive coordinators? Is that accurate and is that something you pride yourself in?
"I can't speak for everybody but I definitely pride myself in that. I want our team to be the most prepared we can be. It's not really that way in the preseason. I think we're evaluating the right guys and our focus is all on that. I think in the real season, you want to be able to study teams. You want to try to put our guys in the best situation we can be. And to me, that takes a lot of film study. That is something I have always taken pride in, that I'm willing to work, whatever it takes. So I don't have much of a social life. I just want to do well. I have always prided myself in that."
Would you describe your philosophy as sort of a hybrid of the 3-4 and some of your father's defenses?
"I think your personnel dictates what you are if you have experience. I've been 3-4, 4-3, everything. All of our coaches have, Joe Vitt, Bill Johnson, Wesley McGriff, these guys have been around all the schemes. We want to put the best people out there who give us the best chance to win and prepare accordingly."
How did Malcolm Jenkins do calling the plays? 
"I thought he did an outstanding job. Malcolm's one of our leaders. He has a great voice in our meeting rooms and everyone respects him. It was easy to give him that job and he did an excellent job."
Isn't that usually the job of a linebacker?
"Those guys are doing an excellent job. We want to constantly see who is going to give us the best chance, who the best voice is for our defense and those are things we keep looking at."
What have you seen out of Chris Carr and Rod Sweeting so far?
"I think, Chris Carr, we kind of know what he is. He's an excellent veteran who has played a lot of games. He's played a lot of games for me. He's doing a lot of things right. Sweeting's a kid that has come on and done some good things. I think whether they're battling each other or not, I think everybody's evaluating and we're going to keep the best 53."
Do you think the defense was in a position to make a lot of plays last week?
"Yes, that was good. Our guys from day one mentally this is a very sharp group. They have a lot of pride. We've all had our feelings hurt. We want to do the best job we can, we have a lot to prove to everybody and we're working constantly every day to try to do that."
What have you seen out of Chris Carr and Rod Sweeting so far?
"I think, Chris Carr, we kind of know what he is. He's an excellent veteran who has played a lot of games. He's played a lot of games for me. He's doing a lot of things right. Sweeting's a kid that has come on and done some good things. I think whether they're battling each other or not, I think everybody's evaluating and we're going to keep the best 53."
