Jake Haener meets with the media following Saints training camp on Friday.
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00:00 >> [INAUDIBLE]
00:03 >> Yeah, I mean, I think when I wanted to come into camp,
00:06 I wanted to show them that I could play.
00:07 They got me in.
00:09 I just tried to learn fast, be decisive, and make really good decisions from the start.
00:14 I think I've done that.
00:16 I think at this level, you just gotta be as consistent as possible.
00:19 So I've had a great start to camp, but I gotta finish strong.
00:25 >> A lot of rookies struggle, but why do you think you've been able to pick up on some of these set pieces?
00:29 >> I mean, I put a lot of time into this.
00:31 I try to pride myself on knowing what to do and knowing where to go in football and
00:35 not having any excuses.
00:36 Just because I'm a rookie, I don't wanna be able to make excuses that,
00:40 I don't know this progression, I don't know these moves.
00:43 I want them to feel comfortable putting me in the game if I have to go in.
00:46 Try to make great throws, great decisions.
00:48 >> Yeah, are there still any times where you're doing your self-thinking?
00:54 >> I mean, yeah, this is a pretty complex system, I would say.
00:58 I put a ton of time into it.
01:00 A lot of the time I had off was calling guys on FaceTime,
01:03 a lot of the guys in the class and going through stuff with them.
01:06 Just trying to be as organized and as prepared as possible.
01:09 I think preparation is the biggest key to success.
01:12 And I always pride myself on that.
01:14 So just coming in, trying to be prepared for, just all one, two, three, and
01:18 then four, five, and six, try to learn as I go.
01:21 And just try to be as decisive as possible.
01:25 >> You had said you wanted to go to Montana or somewhere during the summer.
01:29 What did you end up doing in the off season?
01:31 >> Went to Montana for a week and a half.
01:33 Went up there with my brother.
01:35 Spent some good time up there fly fishing, training, throwing.
01:38 And then came back to the Bay Area and did some of that stuff.
01:40 So just try to be as productive with my time as possible and
01:44 enjoy the little time off that I have.
01:47 >> And then you got to come back to this weather.
01:48 >> Yeah, got to come back to this.
01:50 So you know where I'm from, it's not as hot, but
01:52 Fresno's obviously probably 110, 115 right now, so I'm used to the heat.
01:57 >> Jake, you mentioned talking to Fugrees and working with them back in February.
02:01 >> Yeah. >> And then talking with their
02:03 department, this offense.
02:04 Have you seen that play off at all so far at camp?
02:06 >> Yeah, I mean, I'd like to think so.
02:07 I feel like for a rookie, learn fast and
02:11 try to make the necessary jumps and decisions to be able to come out here and
02:15 execute, I think that's the biggest thing.
02:17 As a rookie, showing them that you're capable of handling mentally what they
02:21 throw at you and then also being able to throw the ball accurately.
02:23 I think it's paid off up to this point in camp and I just gotta stay consistent.
02:27 >> How do you feel you're handling the play look?
02:30 >> You guys are watching every day.
02:31 I think I'm going out there and executing and doing what I need to do to show them
02:36 that I can play at this level.
02:37 I think that you carry that underdog mentality every step of the way.
02:41 And no matter what anybody says, I still carry that same chip on my shoulder and
02:45 that same energy and just process and play.
02:48 >> How do you feel as far as your position kind of lends itself to
02:54 leadership and command of the huddle, all those kind of intangible factors as a rookie?
03:00 Making that transition to one of the youngest guys on the team,
03:04 but yet you've got to command guys maybe five, six years old.
03:08 >> I think those guys wanna go in and see that you're not scared to command a huddle.
03:11 And I think from the count by showing that I want that role and
03:14 I'm not scared of that role, and I pride myself in that.
03:18 And I think you either have that or you don't.
03:21 Since I was a kid, I've always gone into a huddle and looked at people in the eye and
03:24 told them to play and told them what they need to get to.
03:27 And I would say just have that energy about myself and have that aura that
03:32 whenever I'm in, we can get the job done and execute at a high level.
03:37 >> Did you justify yourself about no flavoring on your snowball?
03:41 >> It was flavored.
03:42 Brian is over exaggerates.
03:44 It was lemonade.
03:46 It was hot out.
03:47 Wanted a frozen lemonade.
03:48 Brian's like, there's nothing on it.
03:51 So yes, there was flavor.
03:52 >> You had a chance to pick Brian or
03:55 John Gruden at all in any way, take advantage of that resource?
03:59 >> Yeah, here and there.
04:00 I definitely think he's a good resource for us.
04:02 And I think that's obviously why he's here.
04:04 He wants to be able to sit and watch and be able to add and
04:08 take anything that he thinks might be good for us for the season.
04:13 I didn't get any chance to get to learn from a guy like that.
04:15 >> More serious question though, on the rookie class,
04:19 just how have y'all come together and just bonded together this year?
04:23 Just a lot of you, you got AT, you got Nick, all these guys,
04:26 but just kind of the bond y'all formed throughout this whole entire process.
04:29 >> Yeah, I think naturally, the more time you spend with people,
04:31 the closer you get with them.
04:32 And this class has been super productive, and
04:35 I think there's a lot of really good players in this class.
04:38 Nick's done a really good job, AT, Kendra, Brian.
04:40 I mean, everybody that we picked has done a really nice job, and
04:42 they show up, I think.
04:43 So I think it's just a learning curve.
04:47 There's more information, there's more that we need to process, and
04:50 obviously there's a lot more that we need to hold on our plate mentally.
04:53 So I think once you kind of take that in, absorb it, and
04:56 then just go cut it loose, I think you'll see us make a lot of plays.
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