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.