Wednesday, October 2, 2019
(On what stands out about the Panthers and LB Luke Kuechly) “I’d say just discipline. They’re going to be exactly where they’re supposed to be. They’re super sound, they’re going to make you work for everything you get, so it’s going to be a good challenge.”
(On if he notices the ‘Minshew Mania’ hype) “You can’t help but notice it. But you just try to – it’s outside. It’s not in this building and it doesn’t have anything to do with what we do out there. So, just try to keep it there and not worry about it when it’s football time.”
(On if he’s seen any shirts with him on it around Jacksonville) “I’ve seen a couple shirts around town, that’s pretty cool.”
(On if it’s strange for him to see shirts with him on it around Jacksonville) “It’s pretty weird, man, seeing yourself on a shirt. But it’s definitely a good thing.”
(On how many people he’s inspired to grow a mustache) “Too many. There’s a lot of bad mustaches out there right now. But hopefully we’ll get them right.”
(On Uncle Rico’s scouting report) “He’s a gun slinger, man. If only he could get in at the end of the game maybe it would have been different, but he did what he could.”
(On if he has worn a brace before) “I’ve worn one before. It’s not a big deal. A lot of people do it as a precaution. It felt good.”
(On how his expectations of himself have risen as he gains more experience) “I don’t think it really changes. I think you always hold yourself to the highest standard no matter who you are, no matter what position you’re in. So, that hasn’t changed, and I have keep trying to live up to the high expectations I set for myself.”
(On what they have to do going forward to be successful on third downs) “We were getting into third-and-manageable. That’s been a big deal for us: just being better on first and second down. And that makes third-and-medium and third-and-short a lot easier.”
(On if he sets out to prove the critics wrong) “No, I just have to play. Complete balls, throw it on time, do my job. Because at the end of the day, I have guys here that count on me and it doesn’t have anything to do with anybody else.”
(On if the speed of the game has slowed down for him) “You get more comfortable each week. You get a better relationship with these guys, and I think that’s one of the biggest things. It’s getting better with our unit more than it has anything to do with other people are doing.”
(On how much experience he has against cover 3-4 defenses) “A decent amount. This past year at Wazzou [Washington St.], basically everybody played us in a three-man front, so I have a decent amount of experience.”
(On when he thought he was going to get drafted) “I figured I was going to go in day three. I was out in the backyard hanging out with my guys, playing cornhole. I wasn’t watching the draft. I gave my sister my phone and I was like, ‘Hey, if somebody calls, just hand it to me.’ So, I wasn’t going to sweat it. I knew I was going to get a shot and that’s all that mattered.”
(On if he was able to practice normally today) “Yeah. Was able to do everything, participate in every period.”
(On his relationship with TE James O’Shaughnessy on the field and why he targets him in the red zone) “Yeah, James is awesome. He’s a super smart player. Knows how to set up routes. I’ve been really happy for him to get those two [touchdowns]. I got him kind of smoked in the end zone earlier in the game, so to get him a touchdown made me feel a lot better about that.”
(On what he said to O’Shaughnessy after he took a hard hit) “I was like, ‘Dude, you good?’ I was worried at that point and then he was alright. But I apologized, felt bad for that.”
(On how much he liked the design of the second touchdown pass) “It was awesome. A couple teams had put it on film, and when we got into it, felt like we had the look for it, so I was very excited about it.”
(On when he realized RB Ryquell Armstead was open in the endzone on the first touchdown) “It was in the end, when I was moving back. I saw him in the back. He had a guy, they were both right there, and I knew he was going to break back out and I just kind of put it up for him.”
(On if his realistic expectation of this season was to make the team) “Yep. That was kind of the process. At first it was, ‘I want to get drafted.’ And from there it was just all about making the team. Just giving yourself a chance. If you’re on the team, you have a chance, and that’s all I could do. And then from there, just being as ready as I could possibly be.”
(On if he likes playing under center or in shotgun formation) “I really don’t mind either. As long as we’re getting guys open, then we can do whatever.”
(On if he felt different physically after the Week 4 game at Denver) “No. We celebrated, had a good time. You enjoy the company of your guys and that’s what makes the win so special, because you put so much into it. So that time after you really, really enjoy it.”
(On if he had to ice up more than usual after the Week 4 game) “You kind of get a routine of how you need to recover after games between [the weight room], therapy, everything. It’s about normal.”
(On if he wishes he was compensated in college by the NCAA for use of ‘player likeness’) “I don’t have too strong of a stance on it. I think it’s awesome to have that opportunity to play. I do think people should be able to get what they deserve, but it’s such a special thing to be able to play college football also, so I can see both sides.”
