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Monday Media Transcript: S Darian Thompson

Eric from BBI : Admin : 8/14/2017 4:21 pm
S Darian Thompson

August 14, 2017

Q: Did you feel any rust the other night getting back on the field?

A: Yeah. It has been a while since I’ve been out there. It felt good to actually be out there playing, but there are a lot of things that I need to work on before I’m at the level I want to be.

Q: What has it been like in camp to come in and be the starting safety?

A: Working with those guys on that defense is huge. We have a lot of playmakers, a lot of guys that contribute in their own way. I’m just excited to be a part of it. A part of this team, a part of this defense and going to continue to work just like the other guys.

Q: Were you able to pick up where you left off last year?

A: I was a little rusty. Mentally and physically. The things I did do once I got injured last year did benefit me. So, mentally wasn’t as much as physically getting my body back. I am going to continue to work, continue to grind and see what happens.

Q: What kind of things benefitted you?

A: Going to meetings when I was injured, staying in the playbook.

Q: What has it been like watching S Landon Collins come off of a tough rookie year to playing at the level he is playing at now?

A: It’s amazing. He’s an amazing player, amazing person. Being with him on the field and off the field, in meeting rooms, I can see why he’s so good. He loves the game and he’s a great player for us.

Q: Do you see S Andrew Adams pushing you to be better?

A: I think we all push each other. In a defensive room, lineman push the linebackers, the linebackers push the DB’s, of course the safeties and corners push each other and that’s how we become good.

Q: How competitive is the defensive back room in meetings?

A: Extremely competitive. We always want to win every time we step on the field. Our coaches do a good job letting that be known. So, each and every day we try to go out there and grind and focus on ourselves and continue to get better as a unit.

Q: Was there ever a point last year when you thought to yourself you could be out there making plays?

A: Not in particular because I wasn’t there. At that point, I was just rooting on my guys. Sometimes they didn’t get it, man, hopefully next time they will and a lot of the times they did.

Q: Is a big part of your game knowing what you can add to this team?

A: I would like to think so.

Q: Have you been doing anything different this year?

A: A lot more prehab and rehab just to continue to keep my body right. It’s been a long camp. I’ve been continuing to get massages and getting contrast and lasers and things like that just to keep me up and keep me going. It’s been a while since I’ve been on the field. So, it’s been a grind no doubt.

Q: How does you being on the field impact S Landon Collins?

A: I think Landon’s game is just different. Landon is free regardless of who is behind him. So I just like to be back there to be the protection for the whole team - not just him.

Q: The defense was better against the run last year than the pass. Is a challenge to match that this season?

A: Absolutely. Those numbers are something that we did look at and that we take very close to heart and that we would like to improve on.

Q: How much does it help going up against one of the best wide receiving corps in the league?

A: It’s awesome. There are no days off against those guys. We have a pretty good DB group. We have a pretty good wide receiving group and the competitive nature only helps make each group better.

Q: Is your foot 100% yet or are you still getting there?

A: My foot is 100%.

Q: With you and CB Eli Apple both headed into your second season. Do you feel like you guys can elevate this defense?

A: Absolutely. Regardless of who is on the field, if they can perform at a higher level, it only makes the players around them perform at a higher level. That would be beneficial for the whole team, the defense, and hopefully win some ball games for us.
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