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Posted at 9:48 PM on Sun., Jul. 25, 2010 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
SportsDayDFW.com sports Bio | E-mail | News tips
On how he spends his time at night during camp: "We're in there, were in meetings until 9:30 and then I'm usually in my playbook at night before I go to bed. For me, I have to put that extra work in because it's a new defense."
What is the toughest thing about being a rookie? "I think just playing against these really talented players. If you're going against the first team offense there's no room for mistakes. In college there was a little bit of room you could make up for, but here you have to be perfect every play."
How much of a help has it been having Keith (Brooking) and Bradie (James) to talk to you and mentor you a little bit? "It's been great. They're really gracious. Those are guys who have had a ton of success and I'm really blessed to be on a team with those guys. Every time Keith comes out, when he makes a really nice play I'll be like, 'How did you read, what were you reading, what did you do to make that play,' and he goes through his process of what he saw and how he plays a certain defense and it really helps me."
On practicing with the First Defense: "Part of it is you get used to it a little bit in OTAs, but once you put the pads on it's a little bit different. It's more physical. Leonard Davis is a little bit different with pads than he is without pads. It's a lot more full go, and its tougher."
Are you in the reaction stage or are you still thinking? "There's still thinking. It's just that there's a lot of wrinkles and a lot of formations, and it's the first time I'm playing again for the first time; going through that whole thing. Like I said I feel like I've looked good on some plays and on other plays I've looked bad; I'm all over the place. It's frustrating because you want to be perfect but you can't expect to be perfect. The thing you can expect is to get better each day."
On why he went to the sideline showing frustration and if it was because of his knee: I'm fine. I think the heat is getting to me. I was cramping a little bit, but other than that the knee feels great. My quad was cramping. Two days ago we were on a plane coming down here and I was tight, and it's just a new atmosphere; getting used to the field. I'll be fine I just need to get stretched out and get fluids into me. My knee is fine."
After these first practices what do the coaches tell you after they've seen the film? "I think there are certain plays where you're like this is a good job and then there are certain plays where they'll be like you have to slow down or you have to read this or you do that. There's a lot of room for improvement for me, but I think I get better with each practice, and I'll continue to get better."
SportsDayDFW.com sports Bio | E-mail | News tips
On how he spends his time at night during camp: "We're in there, were in meetings until 9:30 and then I'm usually in my playbook at night before I go to bed. For me, I have to put that extra work in because it's a new defense."
What is the toughest thing about being a rookie? "I think just playing against these really talented players. If you're going against the first team offense there's no room for mistakes. In college there was a little bit of room you could make up for, but here you have to be perfect every play."
How much of a help has it been having Keith (Brooking) and Bradie (James) to talk to you and mentor you a little bit? "It's been great. They're really gracious. Those are guys who have had a ton of success and I'm really blessed to be on a team with those guys. Every time Keith comes out, when he makes a really nice play I'll be like, 'How did you read, what were you reading, what did you do to make that play,' and he goes through his process of what he saw and how he plays a certain defense and it really helps me."
On practicing with the First Defense: "Part of it is you get used to it a little bit in OTAs, but once you put the pads on it's a little bit different. It's more physical. Leonard Davis is a little bit different with pads than he is without pads. It's a lot more full go, and its tougher."
Are you in the reaction stage or are you still thinking? "There's still thinking. It's just that there's a lot of wrinkles and a lot of formations, and it's the first time I'm playing again for the first time; going through that whole thing. Like I said I feel like I've looked good on some plays and on other plays I've looked bad; I'm all over the place. It's frustrating because you want to be perfect but you can't expect to be perfect. The thing you can expect is to get better each day."
On why he went to the sideline showing frustration and if it was because of his knee: I'm fine. I think the heat is getting to me. I was cramping a little bit, but other than that the knee feels great. My quad was cramping. Two days ago we were on a plane coming down here and I was tight, and it's just a new atmosphere; getting used to the field. I'll be fine I just need to get stretched out and get fluids into me. My knee is fine."
After these first practices what do the coaches tell you after they've seen the film? "I think there are certain plays where you're like this is a good job and then there are certain plays where they'll be like you have to slow down or you have to read this or you do that. There's a lot of room for improvement for me, but I think I get better with each practice, and I'll continue to get better."