New LB Willie Gay Jr. eager for bigger role; Saints fullbacks living the 'dream'

Three takeaways from Thursday’s video calls with newly-signed linebacker Willie Gay Jr., newly-signed fullback Zander Horvath and re-signed fullback Adam Prentice:

GAY WANTS TO PLAY: Gay was very respectful toward both of the Saints’ current starting linebackers, Demario Davis and Pete Werner – saying he has “been watching Demario since eighth grade” and “watching Pete since we was both young bucks” (Gay entering the NFL in 2020 and Werner in 2021).

And Gay said, “With us three on the field, golly man, with Demario and Pete, I feel like we can make something happen.”

But the reality is that the Saints typically use just two off-field linebackers on a regular basis. So while they should find creative ways to use Gay even when all three are healthy, Gay isn’t shy about the fact that he’ll be competing for the biggest role he can earn – and that could mean a competition with Werner at the Will position.

Gay was asked to add more context to his recent tweet where he said, “Please don’t judge my talent based on the 20-25 plays a game I played last year lol. Getting a feel for the game and momentum is REAL.”

“I mean, honestly if I have to dig into it man, I went from my Year 3 – a year where I missed four games but still was 12 tackles away from 100, so I played a lot. Then the year after that we brought in a linebacker, which is part of the game. But my snap count went down to the point where I’m looking at the sheets after the game and I’m playing at most 26 plays in a 60-play game,” Gay said. “And it was like, ‘How many plays can you actually make?’ You go in for a drive, you come out a drive, you go in for a drive, you come out a drive. Anyone who knows anything about rhythm, it’s a real thing in a football game or any sport. Just not being able to get a feel for the game or the flow of the game, it sucks, I’ll be honest.”

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Gay has experience starting games at Will, Mike and Sam. So this can be filed under a “good problem” for the Saints to have. But it will be fascinating to see if Gay makes a push to steal snaps away from Werner – especially since both are scheduled to be free agents in 2025.

“I mean of course we’ll be competing for snaps. Like I said, it happened to me last year in my fourth year of my contract. Not to take food off anybody else’s plate, but you definitely want to just get in, man, and get to the point where you’re playing – shoot, me personally – more than I was last year. I actually want to get out there and be able to show what I can do any way that’s possible,” Gay said. “Any role they want me to have. It’s a clean slate for me, I feel. They know what I can do, but they’re also hoping I show them more. So I get that opportunity and I’m thankful for that.”

NO PLAYING ‘SCARED’: One obvious role for Gay will be spying opposing quarterbacks, something that was his specialty in his first four years with the Chiefs – and something that has been way too much of a deficiency for New Orleans’ defense in recent years.

When asked why he thrives in that role, Gay said, “That’s just like playing backyard football. Coach Spags (Steve Spagnuolo) brought that package up to me three years ago, my second year.”

“We used to play a game called, ‘Scared to pick it up’ when I was young. When anybody picked the ball up, they run all over the field like chickens with their heads cut off. And I’m the one that always go track ‘em down and get the ball out their hands,” Gay added later. “That’s kind of how I look at it. Watch the quarterback. If he escapes, go get him. You have one assignment,. I love to run sideline to sideline anyway.”

Gay insisted that he is a well-rounded linebacker who can come off the edge and cover tight end and running backs too, among other things.

“Am I the best? No,” Gay said. “But ain’t no slacking when I’m out there.”

FULLBACKS FIRED UP ABOUT ‘DREAM’ OFFENSE: Horvath and Prentice both used the exact same word while describing their excitement about playing in new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s scheme. And both quickly mentioned the reigning king of their position – Kyle Juszczyk, who plays a much more versatile runner/receiver role than just blocking in the 49ers offense that Kubiak just came from.

“I think it’s a fullback’s dream, especially in a league that doesn’t use the fullback a lot,” said Prentice, who spent the past three years in New Orleans but said he grew up a 49ers fan. “I’m really excited to get back there and start learning this new system.”

Obviously this is another spot where competition for snaps seems inevitable – with possibly just one spot available on the 53-man roster. And both guys will need to show a versatility that hasn’t been a big part of their track record so far in their young NFL careers (though Horvath played running back at Purdue and flashed pass-catching ability there).

But both fullbacks appreciate the way New Orleans has always valued the fullback position, and Horvath said that also helped draw him here. And both hope to be in a position to help that grow league-wide.

“This is a copycat league. Everyone’s gonna try to do what’s working,” Prentice said. “This is the cycle, and I don’t think it’s gonna be a short cycle. I think it’s gonna be a long one. I think teams are gonna continue to try to adopt this system in some fashion. And it seems like us fullbacks in the league now, we’re building the foundation for those that are coming in behind us and with us.

“Hopefully one day we’ll have 32 fullbacks on starting rosters. So we carry the weight of the fullback position on our shoulders.”