Head Coach Matt LaFleur called it an “onboarding process” that he hopes will relieve their natural anxiety when they return week after next to join all the veterans during Phase 2 of the offseason program.
“These guys don’t even know how to practice yet,” LaFleur said. “They’re learning the playbook. There’s a lot going on. They’re drinking water out of a firehose basically all day. It’s painstaking, but it’s definitely a necessary part of the process.”
So is developing good homework/study habits with a playbook they’re only seeing about 5-10% of in these opening days.
“It’s going to be upon themselves to make sure you study when you’re away from here, so you give yourself the best chance possible when you get back with all the vets,” LaFleur said.
That’s something all the rookies said they’re looking forward to as they work on getting their footing while also knowing their place as new arrivals.
Some have developed initial connections already. Keisean Nixon has reached out to the two new corners, Cisse and Jackson, while McClellan has heard from running back Josh Jacobs, as they share Tulsa, Okla., as a hometown.
“Those guys have been in the league for a long time, and those are guys that have experience,” Cisse said of the veteran players. “So trying to learn the ins and outs, sometimes it’s just best to shut up and learn from the guys in front of you first and just come from a humble place.
“Whatever they tell me, I know they’re telling me out of a place of respect, so I’m just coming in ready to work and ready to learn, and just keep improving every day.”
