Saints fullback Adam Prentice talks about returning to New Orleans and the opportunity ahead in a new offensive system.
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00:00 First, I thank God for, excuse me, giving me this opportunity.
00:03 I wouldn't be here without him.
00:05 I'm grateful to be back in the city, be part of this organization again,
00:09 play for the staff and be with my teammates.
00:12 I think we did a lot of really good things at the end of the year and
00:15 showed what we're capable of.
00:17 And I'm just excited to be back, be back in that locker room and
00:21 start working out with those guys and building that chemistry again here in a few weeks.
00:25 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:28 >> Adam, is it exciting for you to just kind of see where Clint Kubiak comes from
00:32 and how they use their fullback and just kind of what that could mean for
00:36 you as far as your role in this offense?
00:38 >> Absolutely, I mean, I grew up watching the Niners, I grew up for the Niners fans.
00:43 I've seen that system used a lot and I was able to talk to CJ a couple weeks ago and
00:48 just he filled me in on that offense too.
00:52 And I think it's a fullback's dream, especially in a league that
00:57 doesn't use a fullback a lot.
00:58 And I think I'm really excited to get back there and
01:02 start learning this new system and get ready to go.
01:05 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:13 >> Adam, you mentioned you guys were kind of catching a stride late in the season.
01:16 What do you kind of attribute that to?
01:18 And we talk about, is there any type of carryover?
01:22 But how could you use that from last year maybe to translate to this year?
01:25 >> I think whenever you finish the season on a strong note,
01:29 I think you definitely carry that momentum in,
01:31 because that's the last thing you remember.
01:33 Obviously, the guys that are the back, we remember that,
01:36 remember the success we had.
01:39 I think that's just motivation and momentum to bring forward and build on.
01:44 And I think that does attest to just the chemistry we started to build and
01:49 just the work we put in.
01:51 Nothing comes easy in this league, winning is not easy.
01:55 And I think we just started to catch our stride late.
01:57 We started to click with each other.
01:59 And we have a lot of those guys and those pieces back.
02:02 And I think we're very capable of doing what we did,
02:06 continuing on what we did at the end of the season, but also going a lot further.
02:11 >> Adam, obviously, you don't know exactly how the new offensive system is gonna
02:16 play out, but I'm sure you had conversations about their vision for you.
02:20 And just after being here for a while, what do you guys kind of agree are the best
02:25 assets you bring to the team and maybe what's some of the untapped potential still?
02:29 >> I think my specialty is the blocking.
02:34 I would say I'm primarily a blocking fullback, but
02:37 I'm capable of doing the other things.
02:40 And watching you check, run that offense and block the way he does and perform.
02:46 I think that's something that I can bring to the table.
02:49 It's not something I've done in the past, but
02:51 I think it's something I'm definitely capable of.
02:53 And that's something I'm excited to start incorporating into the game.
02:58 I've not been asked to do a lot of those things in the past, but
03:03 I know I am capable of doing those things.
03:05 And I'm just excited to see what this offense looks like.
03:09 I've obviously never been a part of an offense like this.
03:12 So that's something I'm very excited to get back and start learning.
03:15 >> And I'm sure you noticed that they signed a fullback a week before you
03:20 re-signed.
03:21 I mean, what were the conversations like about whether that'll be a competition or
03:25 whether they actually see room for two in this office?
03:28 >> I'm sure it'll be a competition.
03:30 Every year you come into the league,
03:32 there's always gonna be a competition at your position.
03:34 And amongst the team, competition makes you better.
03:39 And I'm excited to work with Xander.
03:41 And I think it's always a good thing when you get around other fullbacks.
03:46 You can pick their brains, you can learn from each other.
03:48 Cuz usually there's not more than one on the roster.
03:52 So anytime I get around other fullbacks, I love it.
03:55 We can talk ball, there's nobody else in the league that
03:59 knows a position like another fullback.
04:01 But I think also too, there's also competition amongst yourself,
04:05 trying to be the best you can be and contribute the most you can.
04:08 And also, trying to keep the position alive.
04:11 There's not very many teams in the NFL, some would argue it's a dying position.
04:15 I disagree, but it's the competition to keep the position relevant and
04:20 keep it a priority among rosters.
04:21 >> Does that make- >> I wanted to ask you about that in
04:26 particular.
04:26 I mean, I don't even know how many fullbacks are on active rosters in
04:31 the NFL right now.
04:32 So what's that like going into free agency knowing there's only a select
04:36 number of teams you could really realistically land with?
04:41 What's that kind of feeling like?
04:43 >> I think it's tough.
04:45 I think there's not, like you said, there's not a lot of opportunity.
04:49 So that just means you gotta make the most of the opportunities you do get and
04:53 continue to prove your ability and
04:57 your worth on that roster every single day you step in the building.
05:01 And just keep plowing.
05:03 I mean, it's nothing that any of us fullbacks in league have really,
05:08 it's nothing new to us.
05:09 There's not many college teams that use a fullback and
05:12 there's not many in the league.
05:13 And we're a tight group, I believe, that we wanna keep this position alive.
05:20 And I think we're doing a pretty good job of it.
05:22 And that's something that we would like to see grow in the league.
05:25 And that only happens when we continue to prove that this fullback position is
05:30 a valuable asset to a team.
05:31 [BLANK_AUDIO]
05:34 >> Do you know Zander at all?
05:35 [BLANK_AUDIO]
05:37 >> Sorry, what was that?
05:38 >> Do you know Zander at all, the other guy that they brought in?
05:41 >> I have not met him.
05:43 I followed him a little bit when he was with the Chargers, but
05:45 I haven't met him yet.
05:47 >> And could you just kind of provide some details on kind of how your deal came
05:51 about, like when they signed Zander, did you know you were still coming back?
05:55 Or was it up in the air?
05:56 What was kind of the timeline for you in terms of returning?
06:00 >> Yeah, so I had talked to him before I left the building after the season.
06:04 And they expressed that they would like to bring me back,
06:07 that it's just because of free agency.
06:10 You take a little bit of time and just gotta be patient with the process.
06:13 But so I knew that there was some interest to them wanting me to come back.
06:17 And I expressed that I wanted to come back and be a part of this organization.
06:21 So I knew it was just a waiting game and just had to wait for them to reach out and
06:27 deal with all the stuff that free agency brought.
06:31 This is the first year that, first offseason I had to experience free agency.
06:34 >> And with so many of these teams around the league now trying to replicate
06:41 this offense that you could call it the Shanahan offense or what Clint does.
06:45 Could we see a resurgence of the fullback you think maybe a little bit like given
06:50 the importance of that position to that offense?
06:54 >> Yeah, I hope so.
06:54 I think it's been an offense the last few years that has proven to be very effective.
07:01 And this is a copycat league.
07:03 Everybody's gonna try to do what's working.
07:05 It's kind of just rolls and cycles.
07:07 And I think this is the cycle and I don't think it's gonna be a short cycle.
07:12 I think it's gonna be a long one.
07:13 I think teams are gonna continue to try to adopt this system in some fashion.
07:16 And that's what I was saying, the more that as fullbacks that are in the league
07:19 now, we're building the foundation for those that are coming in behind us and
07:24 with us to build this position, to build this group of guys.
07:28 And hopefully one year we'll have 32 fullbacks on starting rosters.
07:33 So I think we carry the weight of the fullback position on our shoulders.
07:40 [BLANK_AUDIO]
07:43 >> Adam, will you change anything up about just your offseason program given that
07:46 there might be some stuff you're asked to do that you haven't done a whole lot of?
07:50 Will there be any different type of training or
07:52 different guys you might work with?
07:53 >> Yeah, I mean, I've started, I stick to pretty much the same program in the sense
07:58 of strength building and stuff, but focusing a little more on speed training and
08:03 just ball handling.
08:04 I don't do a ton of ball handling.
08:07 I know that that's what they'd ask Kyle to do in the past and other guys.
08:12 And it's something that I'm willing to do and
08:15 just something that I just need to be focused on.
08:18 Obviously, I've touched the ball a few times the past few years, but
08:22 I wanna make sure that when I do touch the ball, I'm being a positive contributor.
08:29 I'm just accomplishing everything that I can when I'm asked to do whatever it is.
08:33 [BLANK_AUDIO]
08:36 >> And will you kinda study some of the stuff they were doing there,
08:40 like some of the motions and the routes and
08:42 will that be kind of be part of your process too?
08:45 >> Yeah, absolutely, and I'm sure that a lot of that will start when we get back
08:48 for OTAs.
08:48 I don't know what film access I have to yet.
08:52 That's something, if I can start before we get back, I'd love to.
08:56 And I'm sure they'll have a bunch of cut ups of tapes.
08:59 So that'll be something I'll just dive into right away once we get our iPads back
09:04 and I get access to XOs and I can start watching.
09:08 I'm excited to learn there's a lot of great fullbacks that are playing in this
09:11 system that are still playing in the league.
09:13 And like I mentioned, I talked to CJ a couple weeks ago, so
09:16 I'm sure I'll be picking his brain a little bit just trying to learn and
09:20 absorb as much as I can as quickly as I can.
09:22 [BLANK_AUDIO]
09:29 >> And sorry if this is dumb, but why is the fullback so important to this offense?
09:34 What does that position add and kind of does it unlock at all in a sense?
09:39 >> Yeah, I think the way it's been used in this offense,
09:42 I think it's a level, it's versatility.
09:45 Where somebody can go in there and block, run the ball, catch the ball,
09:50 motion around, the way it's been used,
09:54 been used in so many different facets that teams that are playing against it
09:58 don't know what to expect.
09:59 And I think that's an edge.
10:01 Because if the fullback comes in and all he's doing is in there to run block,
10:05 he knows it's gonna be run play.
10:06 But if he comes in there, if it's pass, he's pass blocking,
10:09 he's catching the ball, he's running the ball.
10:12 If you have no idea what he's doing, it's an advantage for your team.
10:16 And the more you can do, the better.
10:17 [BLANK_AUDIO]
10:21 >> Thank you.
10:22 >> Adam, can you talk what it was like first year with Derek Carter there?
10:27 And I'm sure going into your number two,
10:30 everybody's gonna be familiar with him and what to expect.
10:33 >> Yeah, I think Derek's a great leader, a great teammate and
10:38 great player to have on our team.
10:39 And I think that attributed to some of the success we had late in the season.
10:44 We all started to click and just mesh.
10:46 And I think the more time we'll have with him and the rest of this team and
10:51 starting to know to age here in a few weeks,
10:53 I think it's only gonna be a benefit to us.
10:54 The more we're able to get around each other and bond and work with each other,
10:59 I think it's gonna be all the benefit for us.
11:01 [BLANK_AUDIO]