Bradley Roby seems more than suited for the challenge.
Granted, it'll be a substantial one for the New Orleans Saints defensive back, and his teammates, to replace the production provided by C.J. Gardner-Johnson, the slot corner the Saints traded to Philadelphia on Tuesday.
But Roby has played that position, and others, at a high level during a career that's entering its ninth NFL season.
"Just having depth is a good thing in the secondary," Roby said Wednesday. "Every team needs that, guys that can come in and play, play at a high level, and versatile guys, guys that can play different spots. We're a team that has a lot of guys that can do that, so we're fortunate in that aspect.
"I'm down to do whatever the team needs me to do to win. I'm comfortable there, inside or outside. Whatever we need to do to win, that's what I'm going to do.
"My first year, my rookie year, I played a lot of nickel and then I moved outside. Then a couple years later I moved inside. So it's kind of like, throughout my career I've been moving around a little bit. And that spot's all about being comfortable, knowing that it's a little different than playing outside. Everything happens faster. It's fortunate throughout my career that I've been able to be in and out."
For certain, it appears that Roby will be in the Saints' lineup on defense. He had what he considers one of his best training camps, a year after joining the Saints days before the regular-season opener and not having enough time totally to catch up and catch on to the entirety of the scheme.
The comfort gained from having an entire offseason in the program, plus the knowledge gleaned from playing snaps last season, showed up on the field in the form of a defensive back who more than held his own in coverage from the slot and outside during training camp.
"I think just coming in and being more comfortable, high competition level – everyone is competing against each other and with each other," Roby said. "In our room we still have a lot of good guys talent-wise. You look around, you see (Pro Bowl cornerback) Marshon (Lattimore) make a play, 'I want to make a play.' I think that's big for all of us."
Coach Dennis Allen said the plan at slot corner may adjust from week to week, depending on the opponent.
"We'll look at it, we'll game plan each week, see where we're at, see who we're playing, see what they like to do, see what the matchups are like," Allen said. "We'll make that determination on a week-by-week basis. I love the guys that we have in the room and we'll put a good plan together and be able to be successful on defense."
Whatever is the plan, Roby said he'll be ready if slot is the call for him.
"It's really just about getting those snaps, getting those reps, making sure if I don't get reps for a few days on the inside, maybe on walk throughs or maybe on scout team I'll go inside and get those reps," he said. "It's really just about your steps and feel and knowing the defense, knowing where everyone is supposed to be. It's plenty different."
ADEBO INJURY: Allen said that cornerback Paulson Adebo's absence from practice, as well as the preseason finale, is attributable to a left ankle injury.
"He injured his ankle prior to the Charger game," Allen said.
Adebo said he's improving each day and feels he'll be back on the field soon.
FRESH LEGS: The bonus week of practice has allowed the Saints, as much as anything, to gain some physical recovery.
"We had a couple of days of walk through, got out here and had a nice little practice today," Allen said. "(Thursday) we'll get a little bit more. You go through a tough, hard training camp, a lot of padded work, a lot of hot days, and so the most important thing is having your guys fresh and ready to go for the opener. So that's kind of where we're at. And fresh and ready to go as much mentally as it is physically.
"They looked pretty good today. I thought they had a lot of energy today, I think our guys are excited. We're anxious to kind of get rolling here."
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold.
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Paulson Adebo, CB #29
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Zack Baun, LB #53
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Marquez Callaway, WR #1
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Andy Dalton, QB #14
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Marcus Davenport, DE #92
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Demario Davis, LB #56
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Andrew Dowell, LB #50
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Kaden Elliss, LB #55
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Justin Evans, S #30
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Blake Gillikin, P #4
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Carl Granderson, DE #96
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. J.T. Gray, DB #48
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Deonte Harty, WR #11
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Taysom Hill, TE #7
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. James Hurst, OL #74
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Mark Ingram, RB #5
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Juwan Johnson, TE #83
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Tony Jones Jr., RB #34
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Cameron Jordan, DE #94
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Alvin Kamara, RB #41
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Lewis Kidd, OL #66
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE #90
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Jarvis Landry, WR #80
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Marshon Lattimore, DB #23
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Wil Lutz, K #3
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Tyrann Mathieu, S #32
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Marcus Maye, S #6
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Erik McCoy, C #78
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Chris Olave, WR #12
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. David Onyemata, DT #93
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Andrus Peat, G/T #75
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Trevor Penning, OT #70
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Adam Prentice, FB #46
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Ryan Ramczyk, T #71
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Malcolm Roach, DT #97
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Bradley Roby, DB #21
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Cesar Ruiz, C/G #51
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Tre'Quan Smith, WR #10
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Daniel Sorensen, S #25
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Kentavius Street, DT #91
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Alontae Taylor, CB #27
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Michael Thomas, WR #13
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Calvin Throckmorton, OL #76
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Adam Trautman, TE #82
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Payton Turner, DE #98
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Shy Tuttle, DT #99
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Nick Vannett, TE #81
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Dwayne Washington, RB #24
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Pete Werner, LB #20
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. P.J. Williams, CB #26
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Jameis Winston, QB #2
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Zach Wood, LS #49
Check out the faces of your New Orleans Saints players who take the field during the 2022 NFL season for the Black and Gold. Landon Young, OL #67
