S Landon Collins
August 19, 2017
Q: How do you believe you guys as a defense can go from good to great in Monday’s game?
A: As a defense, how can we do that? By making the right calls. Playing our technique and doing the right things, getting off the field on third downs every time we touch the field and getting our offense back the ball. It’s possible, so that’s how we become good to great.
Q: What do you personally try to accomplish in the preseason?
A: Personally, just getting my body to sustain the long periods. Getting ready for the season, really. Something I’m trying to work on while doing so is reacting, reading my keys and be able to read route progressions at the same time.
Q: Is it tough for you to play only a quarter and a half?
A: No. When they take out their starters, it’s kind of like I don’t want to be put out there with the JV squad, or something like that against them. So, most of it is just trying to play ball with the guys they’re going to go with. As much time as we can get with them, and get a little experience with them, it’s always great.
Q: Do you know any speed other than full speed?
A: Yeah, I mean, when I’m on the field, I’m going to be full speed. I don’t know any other speed. If I go half speed, I feel like I’m going to get hurt. If I don’t go to the speed that I’m determined to, I just feel like I’m sluggish. So, there’s only one speed for me.
Q: Do the guys give you a hard time about that?
A: Oh yeah, they did. They were like, ‘bro, what are you doing out there trying to hit people like that?’ That’s just my game. If they put their shoulders on me, I feel like I’m going to get hurt and I can’t let them just bully me. So, at the same time I just got to go full speed, it’s just my nature. I can’t see anything else other than doing that.
Q: Where do you see the progress in the defense?
A: We’re still building. We definitely picked up where we left off, but we’re still building. Taking it week by week, practice by practice and getting better.
Q: How much do you see this year the same defense as last year?
A: It looks similar. The only difference is our line, the only thing we’ve got to fill in is for Hank (DT Jonathan Hankins). We’ve got some key guys doing that, they’re working really hard at it. The only thing defensive back-wise is be key and be sound back there – linebackers, too. So, the difference is a little bit in the D-line.
Q: Are you and S Darian Thompson back where you need to be?
A: We’re good. I think it’s more developing on the field when we actually play a preseason game. I think that’s what the biggest concern is about; him playing faster and being able to get his reads and get a little bite on the offense and what they like to do. I think that’s the biggest thing for Darian, getting his feet wet on the field. When we’re in practices, it’s natural, but once you get into game time, it’s really full speed and you can’t make any mistakes or mental errors. If you get a mental error, you go right ahead.
Q: How much do you think it’s going to help to have a guy like S Andrew Adams who got so much experience last year?
A: It gives us a security, I would say. You’ve got a guy that played, so if one of the guys goes down, even myself goes down, we’ve got a guy that can step in that’s played a lot of opportunities and play on the ball. He knows the game, he’s best to be able to play and he’s got a position on the team.
Q: With the celebration rule changes, do defensive guys think about what that’s going to look like?
A: I don’t even think it’s about touchdowns for us, because once we make tackles for loss, sacks, we’re trying to get up and celebrate. You know, we’ve got all type of things. We’ve got the little belly rub. We haven’t changed a lot of things for us, but we’ll see. I know Snacks (DT Damon Harrison) when he’s eating on people. The only thing I think is you still can’t do the arrow. The bow and arrow, correct? I don’t think we can do that or any gesture that’s offensive. Other than that, we’ve got a couple things up our sleeve. So I mean, it’s big. It’s a big key, and we’re kind of like, it’s more for entertainment.
Q: But you’re not worried about the offense rubbing it in your face?
A: Oh us? No, it is what it is. They got the opportunity to score. They worked hard to get down there. So, if they can score, go ahead and do it.
Q: So, belly rub is good, bow and arrow, no good?
A: Right. Belly rub is good, bow and arrow is no good.
