CB Eli Apple
August 17, 2017
Q: What happened to your ankle?
A: Just got kicked a little bit going against some of the receivers. It’s kind of bruised up after practice, but it’s not a big deal.
Q: That was Tuesday?
A: Right.
Q: Do you think you’ll be ready for Monday?
A: I’m not sure. I’m just going to take it one day at a time and see what happens.
Q: Where you do you think you are in your progress with your new physique?
A: I think I’m right where I need to be. I still have a lot of progress to continue to make as far as continuing to stay on top of my grind, the stuff I put in my body and taking care of stuff off the field and making sure my body is always in tip top shape.
Q: How do you gauge where you are when there’s not much physicality in camp?
A: By looking at the film on some of the stuff you go through in practice. I know Coach McAdoo does a great job of putting us in uncomfortable situations on the practice field, and I think as a defense, we have reacted pretty well to that. I think I have as well, it’s just about continuing to stay on top of my grind and get better every day.
Q: Do you want to be as physical within the limit as possible?
A: That’s what we’re taught. As DBs, we want to make it as hard as possible on the offense. Especially with a timing offense like ours during practice. So, with us, we’ve got to get our hands on them and stop the offense because they’re always on a clock to get the ball to the best guys. That’s Odell, Brandon Marshall, Sterling Shepard. So, if we can disrupt the timing, it makes our job a lot easier, for sure, on defense.
Q: At DB, how fine a line is it between doing too much and just enough?
A: It’s definitely tough. I think playing DB is definitely the hardest position, to me, outside of quarterback. It’s just, once again like I said, finding that balance of being handsy, not too handsy, but to the point where you’re disrupting the timing.
Q: It’s almost a reverse of what you had to work on last year it sounds like?
A: A little bit. Every year is a new challenge, for sure.
Q: Can you talk a little bit about WR Sterling Shepard and the change you’ve seen him go through since last year?
A: Yeah, he was really good last year. One thing about Sterling that’s always been consistent is his confidence on the field. He’s a very confident player. He definitely talks a lot and makes his presence felt, and I think this year he’s playing a lot faster. I think he’s more comfortable in the offense, and comfortable with his role. I think he’s going to have a huge year.
Q: Does he seem like the forgotten guy between WR Odell Beckham Jr. and WR Brandon Marshall?
A: I don’t think so. I know we don’t overlook him at all. We know his role, his production – he was very productive for us last year, getting a lot of touchdowns for us, He had about eight, mostly in the red zone, too, so he’s a very good slot option for us, and he can also play outside. He’s very versatile.
Q: As a defense, what did you take out of the first preseason game?
A: I think we did well. I think we did as well as we could have with the stuff that we were presented with – the plays and all of that were kind of vanilla, but it was just about running fast and hitting hard and making all the necessary checks and stuff and I think we did that.
