Chris Olave knows he won't get the title of a "red zone threat" from most onlookers due to his frame.
But that's the area where the Saints rookie knows he can make a major impact on his team, and particularly his passer.
"I believe I’m a quarterback’s best friend," Olave said this week on SportsTalk with Bobby Hebert, Kristian Garic and Mike Detillier. "They know where I’m going to be at and I know where the ball is going to be. So I just try to stay consistent with that and try to get open and make the job easier on the quarterback.”
Listen to the full interview with Chris Olave in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
The first-round pick out of Ohio State says he's been working most on balance and creating space at the NFL level, both things that he sees as vital to his success as a rookie and beyond. He doesn't know yet whether he'll be deployed more in the slot or on the outside, but it's the deep-ball ability that can truly change games.
"I’m trying to put myself in the best position for us to win," Olave said. "If that’s doing intermediate or taking the top off, I feel like I can do that. So I want to just be able to make my teammates better and we’ve got a huge, explosive offense and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
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That touchdown-scoring prowess was shown early and often in college, with 35 touchdowns over four seasons and a career average of 15.4 yards per catch. Turning 50/50 balls into 80/20 balls was a major part of that, he said, as he takes pride in coming down with contested catches.
"That’s what separates good from great," Olave said. "And that builds the quarterback trust a lot when he can just put it in your radius and he knows you're gonna come down with that at any time."
Saints rookies reported for training camp on Tuesday with veterans joining on July 26 ahead of the first team practice the following day.
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MORE FROM CHRIS OLAVE
ANY PERSONAL GOALS/ADDED PRESSURE ON ROOKIE SEASON?
“No pressure at all. I feel like I’ve been in this position before. There’s a lot of expectations on me but I have the highest expectations on myself, so I just try to get better every day. Of course I have a lot of goals, but the main goal is just to win. And I want to be able to win and help my team win and I feel like that’s my main goal, so just try to put myself in the best position every day, work my hardest … and when that time comes it’s gonna be fun to watch.”
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ON RECENT MEETING WITH CITY LEADERS
“I want to make an impact and help the city out and build a positive impact on and off the field. I feel like I want to meet with some people to be able to get into the city and help some kids out and try to make a better life for them. So I definitely got a great strategy and I’ll definitely make a plan moving forward.”
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ON OHIO STATE-SAINTS PIPELINE
Even with the retirement of Malcolm Jenkins, the Saints still boast six former Ohio State Buckeyes. That group includes Olave, as well as CB Marshon Lattimore, CB Bradley Roby, WR Michael Thomas, TE Nick Vannett and LB Pete Werner.
“It’s like a pipeline we’ve got going on. The Saints love Ohio State and Ohio State loves the Saints. The coaches have a great relationship. … I feel like you’ve got to love a place like Ohio State. It’s a great tradition, one of the powerhouses in college football. So Ohio State develops us and prepares us for the NFL. I feel like that’s why a lot of teams like Ohio State.”