Defensive End Olivier Vernon
Media Availability, April 24, 2018
Q: What do you think of the new regime?
A: Hey, it’s a fresh new start, clean slate. It’s a clean slate for a lot of guys, including myself. Just ready to get it moving and see how it goes.
Q: What do you think of the new leadership?
A: Everything’s just brand new right now. We’ve got a lot of new faces on the team and on the staff. Right now I can just only go from what I’ve seen already, which is a lot of new faces, a lot of new people in this building.
Q: Are you excited?
A: Most definitely. It’s getting closer and closer to the season, that’s always an exciting thing. Just ready to keep it moving.
Q: How is the team going to use you?
A: Right now, you might have to ask Coach. I just know right now that it’s a whole different defense and whatever the game plan is, whatever we’ve got in the playbook, I’m just going to follow what it is.
Q: Do you like what you’ve seen so far from the new defense?
A: Yeah, it’s got different schemes, a whole new different scheme. It’s a changeup from last year. It’s something different.
Q: How do you feel about being a stand up guy on the outside, in a two-point stance?
A: It’s nothing really different for me, I’ve done that in the past. Right now, it’s just different play calls, different terminology. So, that’s basically it.
Q: How much and where have you done that in the past?
A: I mean, I stood up and was in a three-point when I was here and when I was in Miami I stood up. So, nothing much that’s different.
Q: How much of what you did last year will be a help for you this year?
A: You know, we’ll have to see. Like I said, right now is about digesting the playbook, getting everything in right now and everything else is going to play in.
Q: Defensive Coordinator James Bettcher said he’ll probably use you like he used Chandler Jones in Arizona. Are you familiar with how they used him?
A: Yeah, I mean he was still rushing a whole lot. I think he led the league in sacks last year. So, he was still down there rushing and getting after the quarterback and when it came down to the schemes and stuff like that, using him and dropping him and stuff like that. So, we’ve just got to see.
Q: Are you going to be in a new position room?
A: That’s one thing I’ve got to get adjusted to a little bit, but yeah. Right now, in a different room. Just trying to digest everything.
Q: You’re now one of the bigger guys in your position room, right?
A: Yeah, a little bit. But we’ll see how everything goes.
Q: How do you feel, health-wise?
A: I feel pretty good. Feel pretty good. I know it’s a little far right now, but just waiting to get back in the pads.
Q: Have you been frustrated that you haven’t been able to make it through a whole season and have you changed anything to try and prevent that?
A: Yeah, I missed my first game last year and it turned into four, so that wasn’t normal for me. So, my position is staying how it was before, always trying to stay healthy and play a full season. Once you’re healthy, you can be out there. If you’re not, you can’t make any plays for the team.
Q: What was your reaction when former defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul got traded to Tampa Bay?
A: That’s over my head right there. I know JPP, man, that was my boy. We didn’t play [too long] together, but in the time that we did play, it was great. He was a great guy, a great teammate, a great player. So, I wish him the best down there in Tampa. I know he’s going to do his thing and handle his business.
Q: Why did you come to voluntary program this year?
A: Well, I have to learn the playbook. It’s something different, so I had to show up and learn the many faces that we have here, get the chemistry down pat and link up with the coaches.
Q: Are you disappointed that offensive lineman Ereck Flowers isn’t here?
A: (JOKINGLY) I saw him in the building, so I don’t know what y’all are talking about.
Q: Is it invigorating at this point in your career to have a new system and almost a clean start here?
A: Yeah, I mean, it’s always good when you have a clean slate. I mean, I treat every year like a clean slate. You go every year, it doesn’t matter what you did last year, the year before. You come in and it starts at zero again. So, we haven’t even had our first practice yet, but I think I’m excited and everybody else is.
Q: Do you pay attention to all of the chatter and rumors surrounding this week’s NFL Draft?
A: I’ll be honest with you, not really. But whoever we get, I know it’s going to be a great decision on the people that are picking, to add guys that can help contribute to winning on this team.
Q: Does it intrigue you to play the same type of role as Arizona’s Chandler Jones, seeing what he accomplished last year?
A: I mean, we’re two different players. Chandler Jones is his own player, I’m my own player. He had a great season last year and that just happens. He was doing what he had to do, they had a great defense and right now, we’re just trying to get everything down pat, chemistry as well. And we’ll see from there.
Q: Do you have to train differently for your new role?
A: No, not really. Just been training the same way I’ve always been. In the past I’ve done drops in coverage and everything like that, so it’s not really that much foreign territory for me. But, we’ll see how it goes.
