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Wednesday Media Transcript: WR Odell Beckham Jr.

Eric from BBI : Admin : 1/4/2017 5:31 pm
Wide Receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

January 4, 2016

Q: What do you expect your emotions will be like on Sunday?

A: I expect to be very excited, very anxious. It's a situation I've never been in, something I feel like I've always dreamed of. I've had to sit back and watch playoffs the past two years since I've been in the league and even before that I was watching playoffs. I'm really excited right now. I don't want to say that I don't know what to expect, I know obviously what's at hand but...I'm just ready for it. I wish it was tomorrow, but we get some days to prepare and get ready for it.

Q: All season long you've talked about how much you want to make the playoffs. Has the feeling sunk in yet?

A: I don't think so, until I get Lambeau, that it'll really hit me. We went there earlier in the year, Sunday night game. We didn't come out and put our best foot forward, but it's truly an incredible, amazing atmosphere to play in. One of the historic places, in my opinion. I think it should be very exciting against a red-hot team, a very good team, offensively and defense, and they're just playing at a high level. Obviously, it's win or go home, so you have to put your best foot forward and that's what we plan to do.

Q: Victor Cruz said that Green Bay plays a lot of single high. You haven't seen a lot of that this year, you've seen a lot of double coverage, two high safeties. Is that something you guys could take advantage of?

A: That's what you hope for, but I don't see them playing single high, I see them going with the two high, going inside, two-man with the inside corner and the safety over the top as far as that goes. We’ve just got to find ways to get in where we fit in and everybody has just got to be on point, make plays when your number is called.

Q: You ever watched tapes of Jerry Rice in the playoffs? Tell me your recollections of that?

A: A lot of points he put up on the board. He just was in the right place at the right time. He made the plays when they needed to be made, so I've seen the highlights, I've watched them for years. Obviously, the best to ever do it and this was a time where he stepped it up even more. That's just what you have to do, you’ve got to bring your A game, you’re a-plus, actually. You've got to bring the very best that you have and you have to leave it all out there.

Q: This is where legends are made.

A: Absolutely. I'm excited about the opportunity to even be able to play in the playoffs. For me, it's like...I feel like I've talked about it for years since I've been here and it's finally here. It's not really here until Sunday, I think, or even when we take off to go to Green Bay and it all kind of will settle in. I'm just trying to hold it all together and I just don't know where I'm going to be at. I know I'm going to be very amped up and very excited.

Q: Are you going to be able to sleep on Saturday night?

A: That's usually the day I sleep the best. Throughout the week, I don't really sleep as much. Last night I was kind of tossing and turning a little bit. I'm excited man, I'm excited.

Q: We all know about your big play potential, is that ability something you see as the X factor in this game?

A: We all have to make plays and whatever it is, whenever your number is called, if it's a slant, you take it to the house; if it's a deep ball, you take it to the house. We need those big time plays and we're going to need them from everybody, so I pride myself on making plays, I pride myself on being the very best that I can be, so these plays, they all have to be made. Each ball has to be caught, each route has to be ran precisely and you need to be where you're supposed to be when you're supposed to be there. It's all about the timing. The big plays are definitely going to help. If we come out and execute and do things the right way, we out-execute a team, I don't know if the big play's an x factor, so to say, but they definitely can't hurt you.

Q: Everyone has different motivation. Eli said he thrives off being an underdog. Where do you fit in, in that category?

A: That's kind of how it's been for me all of my life. I've always been the underdog, going into college, when you had the little rivals ratings. Even going into the league, I always felt as if I had a chip on my shoulder. I don't think it'll ever leave. That's just how I was raised, how I grew up, as the underdog. You thrive on these moments. Like Eli said, you thrive on being the underdog. You thrive on these special situations knowing that big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games, and that's what we all need to do.

Q: Do you appreciate that your life isn't ordinary?

A: Even when I was sitting here being like, 'be careful what you ask for' and stuff like that, but I wouldn't trade what I have for anything in the world. God's put me in a great position. I'm truly, truly blessed. It's life, it's ups and downs and finding ways to maintain and stay yourself throughout it all and just go with the flow and enjoy it. I genuinely feel like I try and enjoy every moment, every second of life. Tomorrow is never promised and when you walk out of this building, it's never promised. I don't want to say that I live every day like it's my last, but it's pretty close to it.

Q: What do you think about the attention the Miami trip has attracted?

A: Right now, I'm really more focused on the Packers and the Giants. Any of those questions, whenever y'all want to sit down and have a little side to side, we can do that after the playoffs.

Q: There was a report there were drugs being handed out on the boat...

A: Like I said, we're focused on the Packers and the Giants. Anything else doesn't really bother me.

Q: What's the coldest you've ever played in?

A: It's perfect football weather.

Q: When you look at the Packers secondary, there are a lot of guys out of position. Is that something you guys could take advantage of?

A: That's obviously the plan. They're, like I said, a red hot team. They've won six in a row, they had to win each and every game to get in. It's about finding the best matchup that you think you have and going at it. Like I said, we have to make plays everywhere, all across the board, offense, defense, special teams, all three groups have to come together and truly execute. One special teams play can be the difference in the game. We could’ve had a great offensive game, great defensive game and the special teams is what sets it apart. So, all three phases have to be clean.

Q: The bond between you, Victor Cruz and Sterling Shepard, you've talked about back when Sterling joined here, but what has it developed into?

A: A brotherhood. These are guys who I ride for. Right, wrong or indifferent, I'm always going to be on their side, to their defense or whatever it may be. Sterling Shepard is like a little brother to me, Victor is like the big brother to me and I'm right in the middle. I get the advice from Vic, I give the advice to Shep or vice versa. We all work together and I don't think you see that as much with receivers in just the nature of the position. This is a group that genuinely looks out and cares for each other. Not just us three, obviously Tavarres King, Dwayne Harris, everybody in that room, it's a very close room. It's a place where what we talk about in those four walls stays in there, for the most part.

Q: One of the challenges of this game, everyone is saying, is can the Giants offense do enough. Is that a challenge that you embrace?

A: Yeah. We have to come out and, like we've been saying all year, we have to put our best foot forward. We have to do more than we've been doing. The defense has done a phenomenal job all year, putting us in this position and now it's our turn. It's our turn to step up and now is a better time than ever.

Q: Why do you like pressure moments and a big spotlight, big stage?

A: I just don't know what more you would ask for. It's 4th and one, it's 1:36 left on the clock, you're down five, you need a play or you just need a first down to stay alive, but you score a touchdown. It's something about those moments, knowing you have to get it done. There's no ifs, ands or buts about it, there's no way around it, you just have to get it done. I do enjoy those moments. It's like taking the last shot, you never know if you're going to fail unless you shoot.

Q: How much has Victor Cruz meant to your career?

A: I do not know if words really do it justice, what he's done for me as far as being a big brother, teaching me the ins and outs of the game. Little does he know, I've taken a lot of stuff from his film. He's genuinely a big brother to me. A guy who's looked out for me since the night I met him after the draft and we'll always be that way. We're pretty much family for life. I wouldn't rather go into any other playoffs with these guys that I have now.
Love it!  
18E : 1/4/2017 5:47 pm : link
If this doesn't get you fired up....you're in a coma.
RE: Love it!  
Joey in VA : 1/4/2017 6:01 pm : link
In comment 13305375 18E said:
Quote:
If this doesn't get you fired up....you're in a coma.
Well to be fair if you're in a coma you can't read
You got a point there  
18E : 1/4/2017 8:18 pm : link
Joey :-)
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