- 3 weeks ago
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00What do you make of your start?
00:02I'm just trying to stack days.
00:04The whole defense, our whole message is keep being consistent.
00:07Just be consistent, be consistent.
00:08Day in, day out, just keep getting better.
00:11How do you think you would come back for year two and just the year that you had?
00:16Obviously, I learned a lot, but I feel like everybody knows towards the end of the season,
00:20I started to really find my stride.
00:21I started to figure things out.
00:23I'm going to try to carry that out into year two.
00:25Are you in better shape than you were a year ago?
00:28Oh, yeah, for sure, definitely.
00:29What weight is down?
00:32I'm pretty much around the same weight, 245, 250, but I feel good.
00:36I'm moving good, so.
00:38How do you carry that over?
00:40What do you do?
00:41Do you watch film yourself from last season?
00:43What do you remember that you actually can carry over?
00:46I would say more just like my process, my routine, like leading up to the games,
00:50how I'm preparing, how I'm studying film, how I'm practicing.
00:53I feel like that really helps a lot.
00:54You were in year one.
00:57How did you think you were as an edge center?
00:59How do you look at that part of your game going into year two?
01:01Yeah, I think that's like, you know, everybody knows who I can be as a pass rusher.
01:04I feel like, you know, for me to really take that next step and be who I want to be,
01:07is me being consistent and applying, you know, everything.
01:11The run game, the pass rush, walking from just doing everything at a consistent level.
01:15Last year we saw you, Abdul, at camp specifically, all over the place.
01:19Whether it was in the middle, outside, being lucky, being right.
01:21Now it's good.
01:22You're pretty consistently going against Andrew.
01:24Yeah.
01:24Does that help you to kind of be in just going in that one spot consistently?
01:29Or is it, and what's the battle been like with him?
01:32Yeah, Andrew, he's the best of the best.
01:34You know, whenever we're going against each other, you know, we get the most out of each other.
01:37Yeah, you know, if I beat him, I'm going to let him hear about it.
01:39But he's the best of the best.
01:41But then, like, I'm in one spot right now, but I'm still going to be moving around.
01:45I'm going to be over the guards, be over the centers.
01:47And, yeah, it's going to be fun.
01:48He said when, you know, you let him hear about it.
01:51Yeah.
01:52He's one of those guys who said, I don't come back, and he doesn't listen to anything.
01:56No, he's going to be quiet.
01:57He's going to let his game do the talking.
01:58But he's a great battle.
01:59I love playing against him.
02:00Does that get you going?
02:02Do you wish the guy would kind of answer you back a little bit?
02:04Oh, yeah, for sure.
02:04You know, I like to trash talk a little bit, but it's all fun.
02:07It's all love at the end of the day.
02:08When you say coming off the field, he can't F with me, you're talking about Andrew?
02:12No, I'm just talking about me.
02:14You know, I'm in the moment.
02:16It's not more personal with Andrew.
02:18It's just me being who I am.
02:19He did say yesterday that he can see differences in your game.
02:23Yeah.
02:23In the way you string pass rush moves together and in your knowledge.
02:28Do you feel that kind of growth as well?
02:31Well, I'm trying to grow.
02:32I'm still growing, but, you know, it means a lot coming from him,
02:34especially, you know, the guys he's been against, how long he's been doing at a high level.
02:37So, yeah, that means a lot coming from him.
02:39Who can you be as a pass rusher?
02:42You're going to find out.
02:44Do you have goals?
02:45Yeah, definitely.
02:46I want to be a defensive player of the year for sure.
02:48Abdul, for a lot of people, this is their first time being in the state of West Virginia.
02:52You don't have to look too far for you.
02:53A couple of years ago, you were playing in Morgantown against WVU.
02:56What can you account from that day?
02:58Was a Nittany Lion win for you guys?
03:00Yeah.
03:00Was that a tough place to play in Morgantown?
03:01What can you account from that day?
03:02That was, like, my first game, like, actually playing as an edge rusher.
03:05So, I was, like, I was learning a lot going along.
03:07But it was a fun time.
03:09You know, it's my second time being in West Virginia.
03:11It's, like, a beautiful atmosphere.
03:13So, I'm enjoying it.
03:13And you went against Wyatt Bile, a guy who's also playing in the NFL with Jacksonville.
03:17What was it like going against him as your first guard as an edge?
03:19It was fun.
03:20Like, I learned a lot during that game.
03:21Like, actually how to rush against a pro-caliber tackle.
03:24And I learned a lot.
03:25Did you get the defensive player of the year this year?
03:28Absolutely.
03:28Why is that?
03:30Just my process and knowing who I can be as a person and a belief in myself.
03:34I know what I'm capable of.
03:37And I know if I put the work in and believe in myself, trusting myself, trusting my teammates,
03:40trusting my coaching, I can be wherever I want to be.
03:43Do you know what it's supposed to look like the first couple days for a rookie in training game?
03:47What have you seen from Ardell?
03:49And especially that play and coverage where he dropped off and used a long week span?
03:53Yeah, I haven't been watching much of Ardell.
03:54But I asked his linebacker coach, like, how he's been doing.
03:56He said he's been doing, like, outstanding.
03:58Obviously, he got all the physical traits.
04:00But he said more important, like, the mental side, he's been doing a really good job.
04:04Can you look back, like, one year ago today, you know, your first week of the camp,
04:10and think about what you were then as a player and what you are now?
04:16Do you think it's dramatically different?
04:20Not too dramatic.
04:21I'm still growing.
04:22Like, I'm going into year two.
04:23But obviously, like, I learned a lot last year.
04:26And so, you know, I'm never going to, like, repeat the same mistakes.
04:28You know, I got my feet wet now.
04:30So, I'm going to ball rolling.
04:31Is there anything that you would look back and say, if I could tell myself one year ago
04:36what to expect or what to take out of once?
04:39What would be your advice to yourself?
04:41I mean, I don't really think like that.
04:42I feel like, you know, everything happened the way it was supposed to.
04:45You know, I learned from it, moved on from it.
04:46So, you know, I'm ready to go into year two.
04:48What have you learned about Coach Harbaugh?
04:51I learned a lot.
04:52Like, just being with him ever since we started a couple months ago.
04:55Like, seeing how he is as a person, how he comes in.
04:58He's the same person every day.
04:59So, he's been pretty good for us.
05:01Going up against Jackson every day now, what have you seen?
05:04Like, the steps that he's made in year two?
05:08Yeah, I talk to him every day before practice.
05:10You know, we go out there with the mindset that we're going to compete
05:12and make each other better.
05:13Just what you're seeing in his game more specifically?
05:15I mean, I don't really know how to really play quarterback, but, you know, he's talented.
05:19I remember, like, yesterday doing a walkthrough.
05:23It's, like, little stuff.
05:24It's not a walkthrough, but it's, like, you know, it's, like, mid-tempo.
05:27The back right now, I had the back.
05:29He, like, fake, like, no look past.
05:31These are little things like that.
05:32I know he can be a special player.
05:33Anything in particular being here that you don't give them or appreciators
05:36with you, the facilities, anything that stands out to you so far?
05:39No, this is all good.
05:40It kind of reminds me of my college.
05:42Like, there's a bunch of trees, mountains everywhere.
05:44Like, good football energy.
05:45So, it's been good.
05:46Thanks, Tony.
05:48Is your start of training camp what you envisioned it to be coming back
05:51and what you're coming back from?
05:54Yeah, I mean, back day one, ready to go.
05:59I feel great.
06:00So, you know, we've had hiccups in the past,
06:03but I think we're getting over those now.
06:04So, it's been feeling great.
06:06Is there anything physically you're still working through?
06:08Or is it just like, hey, I feel kind of like my head did before?
06:12Yeah, I mean, obviously, with an injury like that to an extent, you know, you have things
06:17around your body that, you know, that bother you throughout the rehab process.
06:22And for if it's your right ankle, your left leg might start bothering you because you're
06:26using it more when you're getting back into shape and stuff.
06:28But I think we're starting to get to the point now where I'm feeling pretty even, pretty consistent
06:33in both legs.
06:34And things that were bothering me are starting to work their way out now.
06:38It seems like they don't have you on if you're just out there pulling out.
06:41Oh, yeah.
06:41It's time to play football.
06:43I mean, I don't think that their mindset is that way right now.
06:50I'm coming up on what?
06:52I think it's 10 months we're coming up on.
06:53Yeah, 10 months on the 26th.
06:56So, we're four months past the due date.
06:59So, it's been a great process.
07:02It's been awesome.
07:03You know, it was a long, hard road that I've took.
07:06But I told them I was going to be ready day one and look where we are.
07:11How have you seen your role change this staff, this offense now compared to last year?
07:17Are you doing more?
07:18Is the role expanding?
07:20What's the thing?
07:20Yeah, I mean, obviously Harbs runs the ball a lot.
07:23You know, and Coach Nagy is going to do it.
07:26You know, he always emphasized to us that we're going to run the ball.
07:29And it seems that way in practice.
07:31You know, we run the ball a lot.
07:32So, I think what they say is what they're going to do.
07:36And I believe that, you know, if we're going to run the ball a lot,
07:39there's got to be running backs to run the ball.
07:40So, I think that me and the guys in the room with me are going to have a really good
07:45year
07:45and enjoy playing the running back position.
07:49Can we gain, you know, some coaches believe, you know what,
07:53the running game doesn't start until the pads go on.
07:55But you guys have really been practicing, like you said, the last three days, the running game.
07:58What can you guys gain without the big physical contact with the pads?
08:04Yeah, I mean, obviously with the O-line, it's big for them.
08:07Obviously with us, it's big in our keys and our reads.
08:10But the O-line is being in the right position, knowing the flow of the game, the right techniques.
08:15If you don't have pads on and teams don't work the run as much when they don't have pads on
08:19because they can't hit each other.
08:20But if you're not working those techniques and those skills with those guys up front,
08:24when you get the pads on, those skills aren't going to come.
08:26The defensive line, it's a little different for them.
08:28You know, they get to attack a shoulder and swim or, you know, do different things.
08:33O-line have to, they need pads to, you know, really dominate.
08:36So I think throughout the process of not having pads,
08:40it's been really good to see those guys take full responsibility
08:44and making sure that their details and everything that they're doing in their room
08:47are very organized and done right.
08:52Cam, Nagy's had some physical guys in Kansas City, Pacheco and whatnot.
08:56What's he said to you, not just running the ball, but running it physically
09:00and really a part in the middle of the people?
09:02Yeah, I mean, not only me, you know, Trace, Motor, Turbo, all of them,
09:06he comes into our room all the time and says, you know, we're going to run the ball, so be
09:09ready.
09:10You know, he constantly reminds us that it's going to happen.
09:14And as a running back group, I think as a total group we have come together
09:19and that's how we're going to play as a group.
09:21We're going to be physical, we're going to run hard.
09:24And, you know, me and Trace have had a lot of talks, you know,
09:27in the past eight months of me being injured and coming back.
09:30And, you know, I think you're going to see a little meaner side of him this year too.
09:35So I'm super excited to get the ball on the ground and, you know,
09:39see the physicality come out of all the guys.
09:49Yeah, I mean, obviously I do some dumb things here and there, you know, but I learned from it.
09:55You know, my coach talked to me, told me how he felt, and I learned from it.
09:59And will I go do that backflip again?
10:00Probably not.
10:01So, I mean, we live and we learn and, you know, we move on.
10:05Is that different when game time comes around now?
10:08I mean, when game time comes around, we'll see what game time comes around.
10:11But right now we're focused on training camp and we'll keep the backflips off the field for now.
10:15You said emphasis on the run game in practice.
10:18How has Terrell had been the hard-over?
10:20He's going to make that more difficult for you guys in terms of your install?
10:24I think that's a good question because I talked to the other guys
10:30and having two guys that are 6'4 plus at linebackers,
10:37I'm not saying I'm intimidated, but it does intimidate seeing those guys above them
10:42because when your linebackers are engaged with your guards
10:47and you can see your linebacker's head, it's a little like, oh, he's there, you know.
10:53So seeing those guys and seeing how big they are,
10:55I think it will help understand that, you know, he's there.
10:59So it helps me, honestly, more because I can see where he's at
11:02and it helps them because, you know, they're able to see us.
11:06And I think it's going to work hand-in-hand together
11:09because when we go against other guys, I think it's going to be a little easier.
11:12Was there a moment you felt 100%?
11:14Was it this camp? Was it a month ago?
11:16Was there a moment you felt like I'm fully healthy again?
11:20I've felt 99%.
11:22I think the 100% is when I put shoulder pads on and I'm able to hit someone.
11:27That's when I tell you I'm 100%, but for now I'm 99.9% okay.
11:32What has Abdul Carter showed you in this camp?
11:34I mean, Abdul's a freak. He's a good player.
11:37He's, you know, the reason he was as high as he went,
11:40the reason he's going to be a really good player this year with a lot of sacks.
11:44He's, I mean, throughout the process of the offseason
11:47and obviously I had an injury so I was doing different things than the team was.
11:53But coming back to the locker room and hearing nothing bad about anybody,
11:57that just tells you that people are doing the right thing
11:59and working their butts off to get better.
12:00So seeing him on the field, I mean, you see him out there.
12:03He's working his tail off and trying to get better every day.
12:06What do you think you learned the most out of your rookie year?
12:11Out of my rookie year, don't live a play short.
12:14I mean, I got hurt. That was the end of the story.
12:18Do I wish that play I could have maybe stepped two steps harder
12:22and maybe got out of the way of that linebacker? Probably.
12:25But, you know, I can't take that back now.
12:27So just playing every play as hard as I can and making sure that, you know,
12:31I keep a positive mindset throughout everything.
12:34How much does it help having Harbaugh having a relationship
12:36where he can have this kind of conversation with you
12:38and you feel comfortable saying, hey, take what he says, listen, keep it going.
12:41But how big is that for your growth to have that relationship with him?
12:45Yeah, I mean, me and Harbaugh have had a couple talks, good ones, bad ones.
12:51Like, not bad, but rough conversations, being honest with each other.
12:54And, you know, you can tell he cares, man.
12:57You can tell he wants the best for this team.
12:59He wants what everybody wants to do.
13:02We all want to win.
13:02We all want to win the Super Bowl.
13:03We all want to win the championship, everything.
13:05So he wants that for us.
13:07When guys aren't doing that,
13:09he's going to make sure that we know that we're not doing that.
13:11So I think, you know, having conversations with him
13:14and being able to constantly take in what he says and feel that he cares.
13:19I mean, that's the biggest thing for me, man.
13:21Every day he comes out here and he cares about it as soon as he wakes up in the morning.
13:25Cam, fan engagement here.
13:26What has it been like for you taking in the fans from West Virginia?
13:29I know you didn't play West Virginia when you were at Arizona State this past year,
13:33but what has it been like taking in these fans
13:35and seeing everybody flock from coast to coast being able to come to this camp?
13:40Yeah, it's been awesome.
13:41I mean, people say I'm the people's guy, so I'm going to continue to be the people's guy.
13:44And, you know, keep giving kids high fives.
13:47You never know when that kid's going to cry because he got a high five for me.
13:49So I'm going to continue to be who I am and, you know,
13:52hopefully make everybody happy around me and continue to be positive.
13:55And, you know, if a kid wants a backflip, he'll see the backflip when it's touchdown time.
14:01You said something at the fan, the open, the night where all the fans were at,
14:09when you guys were on stage about rushing for 300 times for 2,000 yards.
14:13Obviously those are really high goals and you have a left backfield with Tracy.
14:17Do you see those as realistic goals to chase?
14:20Do you set super high goals to chase?
14:22Is that kind of what the idea is?
14:23Yeah, I mean, if they're really high goals, then they're probably good goals to hit, right?
14:28So I'm going to – if those are the goals that are really high and really hard to achieve,
14:32I'm going to try to achieve those.
14:33So that's the goal.
14:34Thanks, Cap.
14:35Appreciate it, guys.
14:36Have a good one.
Comments