New Orleans Saints Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan
Post-Practice Media Availability
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Are you ready for your big TV debut tonight?
"Well I am sure everybody is going to be tuning in watching that. It will be interesting. I hope it turns out good. I had fun doing it."
Is that a thing where they followed you?
"Yeah, it was good. It was like reality TV. They think the Ryans will be a big hit. I think my wife stole the show probably. I haven't seen any of the cut ups but she was dominating. It was good though. It was a good time. And it showed the city and that's cool. We were in New Orleans so I am assuming that's what it is all about. We will find out."
What's it like parting ways with a player and then seeing them on the field like Roman Harper?
"What a great guy Roman is, (and a) class act. You see that all the time when you spend time in the league as a player or a coach. You move so much in this business and now players are starting to change locations a little bit like coaches. You do see it but I sure appreciated him here. I know he had a great career here. I was only with Roman for one year but (he was) one of the best guys I have ever coached, (he's) smart, tough, loves football and represented the Saints really well. He helped when I came here learn exactly what this team was all about from Joe Vitt to Roman Harper to Malcolm Jenkins and guys like that. I'ill never forget him. He's great people and he's having a ton of success this year. I don't know if he's going to play or not. It looked like he got dinged up late in the (Seattle) game but what a great person."
When a guy finds success after you've coached him, do you have to forget about him?
"No I think you coach whoever is on your team and you have to give everything you have to the guys on our team. We have an excellent group of players right now, so we are coaching the heck out of those (players) but I am always happy to see the success with guys that I have had previous experience with and he is no different. I am excited about his success and just don't want to see him have a whole lot of success this Thursday."
Can you put your finger on what it entails to finish games?
"I think it is something that we definitely have to do better. We've seen it before. It has been well documented by everybody here that we need to finish better. It was great to see that game play out exactly how Sean (Payton) said it was going to play out and we did our part on defense. We played it exactly how Sean said it out to be played and we won the game. The biggest thing is we do have to play better at the end of the game. That's the way it is and it has been a process that we have to be hell of a lot better in if we want to win these games. It is something that is constantly on our minds."
Is there a time in the game where you have to be better at playing "prevent" defense?
"No, I don't think anyone nowadays is playing prevent defense. That used to get batted around quite a bit but no one really plays that. It's just making the plays at the end of the game to win games. That's what we have to do better and we took a step in the right direction this week (against Green Bay). We need to keep doing it. That is something that this team is used to with the Saints and all the winning. You do that by finishing games as a team, offensively, defensively and special teams and we need to hold our end up."
After playing Aaron Rodgers last week, is Cam Newton similar or is he more tuck it and run?
"I think Cam's looking to throw that ball through somebody to complete it. God he has a great arm. He's exciting to watch but we have to get him on the ground. I think he'll do either. He can buy a little more time but he's definitely a dangerous threat when he's running the football. I think Aaron was more of a threat throwing the ball down the field and throwing touchdown passes. This man can throw it or run it. He kind of has a combo platter going."
