Right guard Cesar Ruiz has wisdom for three possible New Orleans Saints offensive line starters

'I just kind of tell them, don't get down on yourself out here'

Jul 25, 2024 at 04:33 PM

John DeShazier

Senior Writer

Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Thursday, July 25.

Irvine, Calif. – Cesar Ruiz can proffer wisdom that's as sage as any 25-year-old can to the players who possibly will be the three new starters on the New Orleans Saints' offensive line, because the right guard has been each of them.

Ruiz has been the first-round pick expected to come in and start as a rookie (left tackle Taliese Fuaga), and the pick who experienced an early injury (right tackle Trevor Penning and left guard Nick Saldiveri).

He has been the pick who changed positions from college before he took an NFL field (Fuaga was a right tackle in college and is at left tackle for New Orleans, Ruiz played center in college and moved to right guard with the Saints), and the pick who didn't play to his level of expectation early (like Penning, who also experienced a position change this offseason, from left tackle to right tackle).

So the 2020 first-round pick understands what possibly may have crossed the minds of Fuaga (first round, '24), Penning (first round, '22) and Saldiveri (fourth round, '23).

"My biggest advice to them is, the extra time that you do – you hear a lot about, 'Spend extra time in your playbook' – but that extra time on the field after practice, that extra time having one-on-one with us as players, that benefits you a lot," Ruiz said Thursday, after the Saints completed their second training camp practice at the University of California, Irvine. "It benefited me a lot when I was here with (former Saints left tackle) Terron (Armstead). That one-on-one time is a big deal.

"But I just kind of tell them, don't get down on yourself out here. We're in practice, you're going to make a mistake but just learn from it. Don't repeat the same mistakes. But all those guys are doing well, they're stepping up to the plate playing their positions well right now."

Ruiz didn't have a normal offseason assimilation to the Saints due to Covid restrictions, so missing a game with an injury as a rookie may have resounded more. Penning was injured in the preseason as a rookie and missed his first 11 regular-season games, and Saldiveri was sidelined by a calf injury for OTAs entering his first year and played in just four games last year.

"Obviously, we're all anxious to come out here and play," Ruiz said. "That's what everybody is trying to do. But (injuries) are out of your control. All you can control is how you recover from those and how you bounce back from those.

"Those guys have dealt with that. I've had an injury, so I'm able to talk to them about my experience with that and how I got back from those. But it's just a matter of just staying focused and don't lose confidence, and continue to trust in everything."

Each will look to build more trust among teammates Monday.

After practice in helmets on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by scheduled practices in helmets and shells Friday and Saturday, the Saints will be off Sunday before Monday's first scheduled practice in pads.

Ruiz is ready for it, as likely are all of the offensive and defensive linemen.

"The last time I wore some shoulder pads was Jan. 8; I'm ready to play football," Ruiz said. "But I get it, I understand the ramp-up period, our safety, I'm all in with that. But I'm anxious to really get down and play some football.

"I want to get them on as soon as I can. But I get it, it's cool."

All-Access Photos: 2024 Saints Training Camp practice 7/25/24