METAIRIE, La. – Jairus Byrd played the part of a ball-hawking safety during an interview session this week at New Orleans Saints camp. Just about any question that contained the words “last year” were swatted out of the air.

“I’m talking about this year,” said Byrd, whose first season in New Orleans after signing a six-year, $54 million contract was marred by an offseason back injury and a season-ending knee injury. “What happened last year is last year, and all my attention and energy is on to this year.”

I had a good conversation with Byrd earlier this year about how eager he was to move forward and how much of the blame for last season’s defensive struggles that he personally shouldered, as he wasn’t able to develop the kind of on-field chemistry with his new teammates that’s needed.

Jairus Byrd's 2014 season was not worth remembering. AP Photo/Chris Tilley

But Byrd is apparently done looking in the rearview mirror now that he’s finally had the chance to get back on the field and start building that chemistry for 2015.

Byrd, 28, was on the practice field for almost every practice session that was open to the media during OTAs and minicamp, though he did get some occasional rest, including sitting out Thursday’s practice.

“Oh, it’s been big,” Byrd said. “Just being able to be out there with Kenny [Vaccaro], [Rafael] Bush, [Brandon] Browner, Keenan [Lewis]. All the groups that we have going in that we can use with Rob [Ryan’s] defense, I think it’s been really good just getting time to work together.

“The more reps you take, the more the communication picks up. You’re being more vocal, guys are giving more feedback back to you, what they like, where they’re getting the calls. You kind of get the feel for their body language and stuff like that.”

Coaches like Sean Payton and Ryan and teammates such as Vaccaro and safety Vinnie Sunseri have all pointed to the value of having Byrd back on the practice field.

“Even though he’s still progressing and he’s not 100 percent [physically], mentally he’s in there for 100 percent, and that’s gonna pay big dividends for us,” Ryan said.

“The secondary’s gotta be like glue; you gotta stick together. I think that’s what we’re building,” Vaccaro said.

As for whether or not Byrd will play a more vocal leadership role – or even needs to – remains to be seen.

The overall leadership void in the secondary was a big question mark last year after the Saints lost three veterans all at once (Roman Harper, Malcolm Jenkins and Jabari Greer). But leadership comes in different forms. One player who was instantly made his presence felt as a vocal leader on and off the field is veteran cornerback Brandon Browner, who joined the Saints in free agency after winning Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks over the past two years.

“Leadership is obviously something that needs to be taken by the horns,” Byrd said. “But right now I’m just trying to focus on how can we get better as a team, and whatever comes with that is gonna come with that. I don’t think you can push leadership on anyone or point anyone out. It just comes with how you’re working, trying to get better, and then things like that stand out.”

The Saints would be perfectly happy if Byrd emerges as a leader through his work on the field – something the three-time Pro Bowl selection did throughout his first five years with the Buffalo Bills, when he snagged a total of 22 interceptions and forced 11 fumbles.

Byrd demonstrated some of that ball-hawking ability in training camp last year, and he stripped a fumble away from Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones in Week 1. But he otherwise struggled to produce in his first four games with the Saints before tearing the lateral meniscus in his knee during a practice.

The entire secondary struggled with missed tackles and blown assignments during an ugly 1-3 start. Byrd was a culprit on some of the missed tackles -- especially when running backs such as Dallas' DeMarco Murray were breaking free into the second and third levels of the defense.

“I don’t think it was up to the standard with anything that we were trying to do,” Byrd said. “But like I said, this is a new year, and [we’re] moving forward.”

After being sidelined for so long, finally getting to move forward has felt great on a personal level for Byrd. He said he’s eager to strap the pads back on in training camp and preseason games.

“I’m definitely excited. I think anytime you’re away from the game as long as I had to be, you’re just grateful just to be able to do the normal things that you might have taken for granted,” Byrd said. “You definitely are more appreciative of it. I’m really excited and grateful just to be out here doing this [minicamp], running around and being with my teammates again.”