Saints coach Sean Payton said New Orleans’ defensive line is a “little deeper" than it has been in recent years.
One of the reasons for the depth, he said, has been the play of younger defensive linemen.
He specifically mentioned undrafted rookie free agent Malcolm Roach as one of the players he noticed is having a good camp, which is exactly what the Baton Rouge native is hoping to accomplish during training camp.
"My biggest goal is just to get better every day," the 6-foot-3, 290-pound former Texas Longhorn said. "Just do things to pop off on the screen, be noticed and things like that, and just get better every day.
"(I'm) Doing what Coach Nielsen's telling me with the technique. Once I do those things, when we get out there on the field, I feel like it's helping me make plays and things like that."
The former Madison Prep standout played four years in Austin where he tallied eight sacks and 22 tackles for a loss. Roach signed with New Orleans following the 2020 NFL Draft and said it's been like a dream come true playing for the Saints.
"It's something I dreamed about for a long time, just making the most of this opportunity every time I come here, every day, working my tail off and just trying to get better every day," he said. "And like I said, it's a dream come true to be here."
Roach said he's tried to be like "a sponge" and soak up information from both Saints players and coaches as he angles for a spot on the New Orleans roster.
"(I'm) Just trying to learn, and just being around those veteran guys, Malcolm (Jenkins), Sheldon (Rankins), Cam (Jordan) and David (Onyemata). They've been able to coach me up on things that, what coach (Nielsen) sometimes can't see when we're out on the field. It's just been a lot of help (all) around, helping me get better every day."
Roach said Rankins has worked with him on a spin move. Onyemata worked with Roach on cross chopping and other techniques, while Malcom Brown helped him to get his hands up quicker. Malcolm Roach expressed appreciation and gratitude for his teammates' guidance, and says he's tried to transition advice into action and top performance on the practice field.
"Every day I come in and they just see the tenacity and the motivation I play with," Roach said. "The biggest thing I'm trying to do (is) just gain those guys' respect. Once I gain my peers' respect I feel like I'll be able to fit in with the team just like them."
