 As you get ready for the opener on Sunday the five the starting five that you've got on the offensive line what's the confidence level in them and how do you think they've kind of come together through this through to this point yeah I think that there's been a lot of good things I think that there's you know like any other game or plays there's going to be ones that we wish we had back but I do see that the building a unit I think that the confidence level will be high you know we for everybody when we we get to Sunday you know we have to build that through the week and our preparation based on what what we think we're gonna get from the Saints and and how we want to play the football game what's the challenge like as you're prepared for week one with so many maybe unknowns well you have to be sound you know I think you have to be sound I don't think you can you know think that you're gonna there's gonna be some uncarted unscripted looks that defensively you're gonna have to you know defend there's there's gonna be some fronts and some things that we face from our you know offensively that we'll have to work through our rules whether that's a pressure or whether that's a it's a coverage adjustment but that always happens and making sure that we're sound and that we you know our operation and our execution substitution all those things are are good and that give you a chance to at least execute to play with a new quarterback you go you focus more on the Saints and the system that they run or do you go back and look at his tendencies from when he was the Raiders well I think probably with a veteran quarterback there's probably gonna be some concepts that you know he he you know Derrick really likes so that he's really comfortable with but you know also I think that there's an element to what the Saints have done and will do but I would imagine that there's some things that that Derrick's like through his his career that that he would want to put in there. I think Gibson was still a work in progress. What do you like about him and specifically maybe a three four six? A work in progress well man I think it's just a veteran it's a guy that's played in this league who's who's produced in this league and with it with a certain skill set and how he develops or how he you know acclimates himself to our program and what we're doing and as soon as he can determine a role well then we'll see where we go from there. Being on defense make it easier for a guy to get up to speed since you're kind of chasing the quarterback and and things like that. Yeah but there's also still responsibilities that you have to know and alignments that you have to understand and you know whether you're working with somebody else or games and you know so if it was just a base rush and we just line them up out there on one of the tackles that that would probably be easy to do but then you know there's just a lot more you know things that he'll have to know here you know hopefully sooner rather than later. Always how they respond to practice and you know he'll do he'll do more today and he's added more you know each day I would say since last week and it was diligent in his rehab and worked hard to get back so again we have a little longer week I have to be conscious that you know we're working our execution throughout the week but also you know being mindful that that it is a longer week and that we're we're ready to go for Sunday. You said a couple weeks ago about covering kicks being the hardest hardest thing but you guys blocking for the kickoff return. We can cover kicks I could cover kickoff. You know I mean that blocking thing right where you're dropping back and guys are hauling 20 miles an hour at you that's that's the hardest skill you know when you're dropping back and you have to you know turn around plant see our three loop behind our four you know going to get them backside block you know all those single blocks on the kickoff return is what's difficult and what shows up throughout the league right whether it's missing a block or a holding call or any of those things so that would be to me one of the tougher skills. Is that I don't want to say is there a frustration there but don't you learn one from the other. No because it's a completely different you know spatial where these are linebackers and safeties the majority of them sometimes there's a running back out there where you're you're you're going forward and you're attacking and you know it's a full pack covering a kickoff like a 40 yard pass rush right you're trying not to lose you know speed you're trying to stick and avoid as opposed to now you're playing offensive linemen with a lot of different space and a fast player so just because you can cover a kickoff I wouldn't say that that necessarily translates to being able to do it now you have to rep it and understand maybe understand how the guy is going to try to avoid based on your leverage or where the kick is some of that may be able to help but it's still getting it done without grabbing a guy or tackling them putting the pressure on them to do something that's very difficult to do well if you can cover them I mean if you have confidence with with with your group and being able to cover kickoffs certainly be able to pin them inside the 20 every yard matters yeah so we'll see how it goes you know what you've seen up to this point from your guys in practice in the preseason now that it's game week what do you want to see from this group this week well to continue to build momentum all the way up until the game through through our energy that we show up with work today like we have so far through our execution of practice you know that that's what the whole goal is is to is to continue to build momentum throughout the week well for any of us minutes it's a matchup you know me as a talented player whether they run the football with them or throw it to him creates plays in space so I saw it all over the preseason when he played screens or option routes or vertical routes and so I think that would have thought that would fall on everybody with this group you haven't really done that obviously in the preseason are you just interested how do you prepare them for it and how much we'll try to prepare for it and being able to you know handle the road environment we want you know with being excited to go out there and play but but also understanding that how we communicate and come off the football and and work with somebody next to us and everybody's communication and the operation so certainly will be important for us to practice it until I guess the first year guys about the bump and intensity and heightened awareness on everything in week one or maybe from the regular season just to change well we'll get there towards the end of the week you know I'll have conversations with them and you know those those players will have different conversations with them number two yet number two quarter no about captain's point let you know tomorrow with the quarterbacks just what do you want to see practice for making that decision you know I think a lot of it is based on the game plan you know about how we feel like who we'd step in there and help us and you know will's been out a little bit but excited to get him back this week and continue with with Malik's maturity and we'll kind of see where it goes at the end of the week so good on defense well there's sound a very good scheme they got very good players and veteran players that have continued to produce at a high level for a number of years you know cam Jordan tomorrow Davis honey badger lot of more you know mixed in with some some younger players you know Werner's excellent player you know Marcus may has been a very productive safety so they put pressure on a quarterback you know DeMario does a great job on on third down in that role and cam Jordan is constantly there you know grander sin and Turner hard chargers a lot of length on the outside so their sound and they have the ability to put pressure on your quarterback consistent track record of what he's done defensively over the years do you feel like you pretty much know what they're going to do or when it's week one do you also expect several wrinkles you'll see how the game evolves I'm sure they'll have some things that they've wanted to add over the course of the offseason but they have been very successful in what they do mixed coverages and they're pretty proficient post safety man post safety zone split safety so they you'll you'll see all of those and and they do a nice job with them how much more well suited is Aaron now and comfortable in the middle and what's the kind of expectation for him as the pivot kind of the center I think he's very comfortable I think that he's taken leadership role in that room and communicating up the line of scrimmage and working with the quarterbacks and I think that that's something that we expected and you hopefully will continue to to be a great fit for him yeah hasn't kicked all that much I'm able to you know again I like what Nick is as a person and as a professional and you know has a plan for how much he wants to kick as a as a veteran player that's you know kicked a lot in his career coming off the field a lot for you guys but you've got more numbers at that position do you anticipate trying to manage his snaps a little bit more maybe as he comes back here yeah I mean hopefully right I mean I think that as we get more players that that can can rotate and sub in there and be you know productive and I think that that that's something that could happen Lars can you work some of Derek's bar strength? I think just his comfort level running the offense his operation decisiveness knowing where to go with the football so athletic enough to avoid pass rush but but also scrambles to throw so that's you know his ability to see the post snap movement rotation I know where he wants to go with football and be indecisive it's just about being sound I think it's about not chasing ghosts yeah you can prepare for a lot of different things but you also have to commit to something and practice it and then also be willing to adjust and be ready to adjust based on what you're seeing and how the game's going Kevin how does the mood change now that it's game week and you know that there's a game that counts on Sunday yeah I just think the energy is just a little bit ramped up a little bit obviously guys are able to get home spending time with family but now I think the excitement level just raises up just everything that we're doing personally as a team your routines are set people are lifting a little bit more weights people just doing a lot more because you obviously know that you know it is game week and I think everybody's excited and and you know about to kick off this long journey to the Super Bowl you're a big communications guy so what the special do you try to do this week to integrate the new guys that into this defense you know whether it's guys who just got here like Gibson or even guys that have been here all off season like or yeah I don't try to do anything special I just try to do the things that I've always been doing I think that's big for me just being the same person that I've always been continuously every day I think that's the tough part being the same person consistently every day and that's what I try to be for the new guys that's coming in just try to help my little bit show them obviously where things are and how we operate the team the type of things that we want to do and want to accomplish on a day-to-day basis but yeah I don't do anything different especially uh being a little bit more of a season vet now I kind of understand how this thing goes so I honestly don't get too amped up or you know I just kind of let those things happen and trust me by I think 12 o'clock I don't know if we're going to be a central time in New Orleans but by 12 o'clock we'll be juiced up who maybe told you when you were a rookie what the bump in intensity was like from preseason to regular season and was it a big bump like you expected and maybe what do you tell the young guys this year about that yeah I had some vets the North Jersey was the safety here and uh Rashad Johnson uh with both two starting safes when I first got here and obviously Jarrell and Brian O'Ragpo and Derrick Morgan those guys were as well um but yeah it is kind of a process you know you go through spring uh it's a little bit fast especially as a rookie and then you obviously get to training camps a little bit faster than the preseason games but then once you get to a regular season definitely kicks up another notch especially being early in the season week one everybody's fresh um and I think that just telling some of these young guys and these rookies just understanding that you know the preseason is over with it was a lot of vanilla plays teams aren't really showing anything when you get to the regular season uh it's a different ball game it's going to be you know everybody starters out there is the ones out there so um I think our guys will be prepared for it. When you look at the things you guys are trying to fix from last year the number one thing that I did you guys was was how many guys you lost to injury um you think if health is the number one thing for you guys? 100 but I would say that you know health is the number one thing for pretty much any team uh that's something that we've battled with the past couple of years we've been able to overcome it at times but that's not something that we want to continue to you know hope on and hang our hat on is that you know we can battle through injuries and things like that's something you want to have in your back pocket because obviously guys are going to go down guys are going to get hurt just the nature of our business but you know the health of our team is probably the most important thing that we can have throughout this year and you know I think that's something that I've always stressed myself personally but try to stress the guys is you know having your routines and that's something that you know starting week one you need to get that routine down packed this week so you can try to stay consistent with that throughout the year. Years or as a leader are you really trying to stress that hey something's got to be different in this room this year to stay healthy? Yeah I don't know I don't know if it's bad luck or anything I don't really believe in luck too much I think you kind of create your own luck but when it comes to the injuries yeah it's very hard to you know I guess you know hang your hat on something I don't know it's just something that's been very unfortunate you hopefully hopefully it's not you know three years in a row. Have you seen that change start to take place you say like you try and encourage guys how to take care of themselves and we've heard guys like Christian talking about like doing things differently have you seen a difference from him of the past to him this fall? Well definitely Christian Fulton is a guy that I know for a fact just the way he approaches offseason and the things I'm seeing him do every single day morning before meetings things he's doing before practice he's definitely you know mentally you know taking upon himself to make sure that he's trying to do everything possible to stay healthy this year and you know right if it happens or not I'm not sure but I know he's mentally definitely locked in on that and just like I said just for myself I mean I don't know what guys are you can only talk to guys what they're doing outside the building I know some guys we see the same body work people body maintenance people but you hope that guys are doing everything they possibly can to stay healthy for four seasons because then they this is our this is our career and this is our job and for most guys you know this career don't last that long so you want to put up put in as much time as you can to make sure you're available for the team. Issues last year Kevin second half holding lead stuff like that which is kind of uncharacteristic for y'all is that something that was addressed much this offseason? You know a lot of things were addressed I think you know that stat right there can honestly can be attributed to a lot of things I think for as far as the entire team we can just play better complementary football that's something we've always hung our hat on when you get to the second half obviously starting fast as a defense but then there's an offense when we get you know in favorable situations or favorable field position trying to go down there score points not really in the situation as a defense where you know you're trying to hold on to a certain lead in the game for the entire game sometimes those things don't always happen so as far as the entire team special teams as well just making sure we're just taking advantage of favorable situations and just playing more complementary as a team. How much does Kamara not being out change this game for you? Well it changes the game for a lot honestly he's one of the most dynamic running backs in his league we know that if he was he was playing they would feature him a lot rather than a run game pass game so I'm sure that them as a team they're going to change up some different things as far as personnel wise what they're going to do how much they're going to feature their running backs in the past game I'm not sure so that will obviously give more targets to some other guys so I mean we'll see what happens this week one who knows what they're going to do who knows what type of formations and personnel groups they can go they can go out there and do something totally different than what we're watching on film so you know that it's just the beauty of week one. What do you study some of the things that maybe concern you the most when you look at their offense and what they do do that you know of? Well I know for a fact obviously playing Derek Carr a few years he's a guy that's going to really try to air the ball out you know he's a really really really good quarterback he's a timing quarterback he's wanting to you know get to the top his dropping and let the ball go they have some dynamic receivers as well obviously Michael Thomas is back you know he's been down for some injuries a couple years but I know the type of mentality he has he's going to want to go out there and prove everybody wrong and prove to the entire world that he's back and obviously the rookie last year Olave he's a really smooth route runner has really good hands really good routes you know he can run the entire route tree so he's really good and I know some of the other guys they happen to slide in they're dealing with some injuries not sure it was going to be availability for those guys later in the week but they got some good speed and in the slots as well but also Joanne Johnson at the tight end he's one of those Darren Waller type you know tight end and well receiver in the tight ends body he has really good speed good hands and I know he's trying to take that next leap as far as being a really good tight end so they have some weapons out there to throw to and I know Derek Carr is going to try to get the ball to all of them. What about studying what they might do against you how much of it is based on the Saints offense that you've that they've run in the past versus what Carr did with the Raiders? Yeah I think it's going to be a mix of both obviously I know with him you know coming to the world he's going to want to bring so over some things that he's always been comfortable with in Oakland and slash Las Vegas but at the same time they're still going to have the same offense same OC you kind of seen some of those things in the pre-season just a little bit but you know for myself personally you know I got to watch both a little bit I like to watch some of the things he was really good especially playing the Raiders past couple years things that he was successful with against us that they're probably going to try to run again at least try to test our waters to see you know if we've been able to fix those things we watch them as well but also at the same time it's still going to be the OC's offense so we've been watching uh last year's New Orleans as well and obviously the couple times we played New Orleans as well so a lot of things to watch because like I said it's pre I mean it's week one so you know being able just to you got to kind of cover all your bases and then at the end of the day going to the game just play fast and understand that they can do whatever they want to do it's their ball as a team you guys probably haven't moved up to your standard in week one each the last couple years have you learned anything from what happened on those days and what needs to be different this weekend well everybody wants to win week one but you know I guess we've proven that sometimes you know just because you lose the first game of the year doesn't mean that it's going to be a big determine what's going to happen at the end of the year we obviously want to be able to go out during and win the first game want to win every single game you're out there but like I said I mean it's going to be a long season 17 games and you know one game doesn't define the entire season but uh if all possible we want to start out on the right foot you got to be careful not to chase ghosts in week one that's how you kind of describe that same question is that maybe something this week that you guys have to maybe focus a little bit more on yourself and a little bit less on what could happen no absolutely and because like I said it's week one and you know everybody's pretty much watching the same thing if you got a new quarterback on a new team with a new office coordinator you're watching their last year's film you can watch so much and then you get on to a game and you know they don't run the same thing you know I've been there before so like you said it is sometimes you can't be chasing ghosts and you know obviously you're going to get the game playing coach is going to put into things and we feel like it's going to help us win but at the same time it's going to be about us it's going to be about the time we put in this entire summer uh spring and summer uh the type of identity we want to be as a team obviously we're going to be physical we want to play fast we want to play violent and I think those are going to be the things it's going to help us win more often than just trying to be the smartest guy to try to I mean obviously football is a chess match but it's going to be about our identity and their identity and you know who goes out there and executes the best. What are you seeing Kevin from your uh kind of backups of safety not too much experience there because like more union brand than Matthew Jackson? I think I think they've done a phenomenal job uh obviously Elijah played a lot of nickel cornerback or you know corner slot whatever he's done a phenomenal job just being able to transition and do a lot of good things back there but also still move around the defense have some versatility and Mike Brown's the guy who came I think was on our practice squad he was late on our team late last season and he's came in this spring and summer and he's really made some strides and obviously he's been able to get himself on the 53 and I expect him to see him out there and obviously he's going to be on special teams as well but uh I think all those guys have done a great job and I have trust that if they do get out there in the game they have to uh they'll go out there and execute. When you play Kansas City in the AFC championship nobody picked you guys to be in that game nobody picked you guys to be the number one seed a couple of years later how much is that the message to the young guys as you start the season nobody knows yeah nobody knows you know at the end day nobody should really care about you know where we're being picked um all those things is what drives our business you know people analysts are going to say what they want to say we're we're going to finish last we might win the division we're going to do whatever you know none of that stuff really matters and at the end of the day it's all about proving ourselves right I've never been in the business of feeling like we got to prove anybody wrong or you know prove the doubt is wrong or anything like that it's all about what we believe as a team and if we believe we can be the team that can go out there and win a Super Bowl then that's when we're trying to prove to ourselves not to anybody else um because you know when you listen to the noise it's very easy to sway uh each week you know you get on ESPN you have a bad game you get out there and they say you suck and if you think you suck then you're probably going to suck you you know what I'm saying so I think it's just one of those things you have to just kind of block out the noise and really stay locked in and stay focused on the goal and the goal is to try to win a Super Bowl with that with new coach on the line this year you know how how well what's his approach been like you know maybe differently and how have you got developed under him do you think um it's been a little different probably like I say on the leeway like how we go about things but I feel like the message is still the same like the identity of the offense line like it's still the same thing but with Hof I say I don't know it's like it's just it's more open I would say I mean like I was talking about last time like it just it felt like you can go back and forth like y'all sharing knowledge it's not just strictly one way like he just giving to you like y'all go back and forward you got some ideas you give it to him like y'all bounce back and if it's good if it's work if we both feel confident we'll rock with it there's been a lot of moving parts all offseason up front I mean how you feel like the group has improved maybe from the time you started uh OTAs to now heading into the regular season um I feel like we done made big games since OTAs you know OTAs like nobody knew nobody and so like from then to now for playing in the preseason all the way through all the practice we've had I feel like we done made some big games just smoothing down just understanding like where we want each other to be in combos or like kind of blocks that we like how we prefer to do blocks so I feel like we're all like smoothing and like just got real familiar with each other now and obviously the personnel changes that were made throughout the offseason to revamp the line what are some of the things you guys have worked on to try to clean up the past protection um it's just working them drills every day like these are it's a new group of guys so everybody has like their different strengths and weakness and we usually work in drills that fits those players strengths and weakness and just going after every day just taking one day at a time and just keep repping it. How important is uh second halves for you guys this year that was kind of the source of strengths last year how important is it that you guys get off what on the second half maybe maintain leads that you have? Um I feel like that's a uh big key issue I feel like just starting off from beginning to end like you want to be consistent you don't want to be just focusing on the second half like you want to come out there start fast and finish the same way you don't want to know rollercoaster like of course it's gonna happen from time to time but you want it to be a smooth smooth transition like just from first first quarter to fourth quarter when people giving that same effort if we whooping in front of beginning of the uh game you want to keep the same with it um I don't I don't feel the spotlight is on us much like I'm not really thinking about like what other people think so I'm just trying to be the best offensive line in the league and that's the only thing I'm focused on. What's it been like for you I guess when you first came in you're probably asking a lot of questions that people as you found your way now you're the only returning starter on this this line um how many how much of guys been asking you questions as far as what to expect uh you know what you're doing on a day-to-day basis? Um there's many questions like a lot of younger guys and just even some of the vets like me myself I don't feel like I've arrived nowhere so I feel like it's always something you can learn so like I could be on year 10 I'll be talking to somebody that's on year seven eight like some that work for their body so I feel like we all just bounce off each other from vets from Dan me all the way to Peter like we all just give each other tips and advice on different things we could do um he's feeling great like anybody that comes in we're going to bring them in we'll help them on like we're open arms because we're a unit like offensive line it's one unit so we're just bringing the man he's smoothing in like we're getting to know him he's getting to know us and we're working now that you're a center I feel like that's kind of where where you belong and and uh how's the transition been uh the transition being great like I feel like I belong anywhere like if I have to go left tackle guard center it don't matter but it's been a smooth transition just getting back into that role and like just gaining my technique back from guard to center and just getting comfortable with being in the middle oh no not at all like that was kind of that was kind of the goal coming in from college was to be their rotational interior player exhale tighten and then transition into that center role over time you watch their front forward all Aaron the Saints what do you want to see what jumps out other than camp um they're awesome solid player you got Saunders he's coming from KC and like he's a good nose guard like I respect them all like any player I'm going against I respect them but you got to handle up I think you guys handled that well and how confident are you that this new look line will be ready on Sunday um I'm 100 confident we're going to be ready on Sunday we're going to do what we have to do like we've been preparing like this beginning of the week as well like this the real game week right here so how we uh prepare this week and get ready for Sunday like we're going to put out there on Sunday what's the feeling the building as you go from you know going to first game week of the season more of a serious yeah it's it's more of a focus like you find like we've been in camp and going against teams like week by week right now so like pre-season you're not game planning for a team that much so once you come into like the actual game week it's a different kind of focus like you have your set plays your details you have to dial in on and it's a different kind of focus in terms of uh development for Peter Skorovsky um I see in games in every aspect of the game like from run game pass pro like every week like he's intentionally trying to grow on something like he's intentionally trying to get better at something if it's physically or mentally he's doing something what about Spears your new running bag everybody knows about Derek but what's maybe impressed you about him and when was the moment when you thought this this kid may have something that first pretty well I like I seen him coming out of college to watch his college tape and everything so I liked him like even before he got here but like once we got into even like OTAs doing little drills and different types of things like the kid fast he fast he quick his agility like he can do it all he's tough so I love last two years I don't think you guys probably lived up to your own standard in week one of the way you played how important is week one and what has to be different this year um don't pass so you're there in the past now so I'm not worried about the past two but this year right now like this first week like it's a new season it's a new start new slate so we're trying to be the best you're trying to get to the Super Bowl that's the end goal of anybody every season so that's a goal right now to take one week at a time and get a w this week and move on to the next you guys on the offensive line a lot of guys here come from other teams where they were backups you were undrafted guys you know made your way in the league down your fourth year does this offensive line kind of have a chip on its shoulder because of that I would feel so like anybody who has a story behind them like there's some personality behind it as well so I feel like anybody who like just you didn't come like anybody that's in the NFL they all were starters at a point in time in college so coming from college or whatever you come from like not being a star that's humbling and so just going through that experience like that just I'll really give you a chip on your shoulder I think that Titans fans might notice be surprised by offensively this year without giving anything away and anything that might surprise him in the open in terms of difference from I just feel like the only surprising given is we're going to be better than last year like it's going to be something to watch and we're going to do our job and hold up outside of the ground be a broadcast man I have to talk to look trash a couple people you know Tim Tim Kelly here kind of tried me a little bit last week so we were talking what happened we were talking he asked me like he asked what college I went to whatever and he asked me oh do y'all still have a football team and so like after the win when they were kneeling the ball had took a screenshot of it snipped it to him and I just asked him do we have a football team so he didn't reply he didn't say nothing to me till I got here this morning Tim what did he play I know he was a defensive defensive man I don't know he played that though Eastern Illinois oh yeah put them against a bobcats we'll see what happened