Transcript: Offensive Tackle Jermaine Eluemunor

Offensive Tackle Jermaine Eluemunor

Q: On the injury to Andrew Thomas…

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Yeah, you never want anything like that to happen, especially to one of your best players on the team. So, it definitely sucks, and I know that he feels really bad about it too. And like I said, we never want that to happen. It was great that he was able to play through that during the game too, which is a testament to his determination and his strength and things like that. So, I just wish him the best.

Q: The past couple years, you've moved over to the left in maybe a situation like this. Are you expecting that to happen? Willing to do that if they ask you to do that?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: If I have to, I'll do it. But I believe in (Offensive Lineman Joshua Ezeudu) EZ, and I like playing right tackle. But I think that we have the players here in order to help soften the burden. And (Head Coach Brian Daboll) Dabs is able to adjust some things to make it easier for certain guys in there and get him going.

Q: How big of an adjustment was that when you did it in the past, where you're taking all your reps right tackle, and you got to go for a week and over maybe two weeks?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Yeah, I think people kind of don't understand how hard it is, mentally and physically. I don't really know how to compare it to anything just in regular life. But just thinking about, you're used to doing something a certain way, and then out of nowhere with like two, three days' notice, you have to switch it. It's tough. And that's a testament. I took pride in it because it helped me get here. And being in the position I'm in right now, if I have to do it, like I said, I'll do it, but my preference would be to be on the right side and let EZ handle things on the left because I believe in him and I know what he can do out there.

Q: Is this line, you five guys have not missed a snap the first six games. When this happens, is it like a jolt to the whole group?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: What do you mean by that?

Q: Is it like, I don't know if you expected to play all 17 games together. But when you're left tackle, a guy like (tackle) Andrew (Thomas) goes out, is it kind of like you guys got to look at yourself and talk to each other and say, 'okay, we got to figure this out here'?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: No, I mean, we have a veteran offensive line. We've played with guys who have been banged up before. Me and (guard Greg Van Roten) GV in Vegas last year, (Raiders tackle) Kolton (Miller) went down for a number of games, and we had to make adjustments for that. I'm sure (guard Jon) Runyan (Jr.) played with (Packers tackle David) Bakhtiari in Green Bay, and he's went down there, had to make adjustments on that. (Center John Michael Schmitz Jr.) JMS has dealt with his fair share of being banged up and things like that. So, I feel like as a veteran offensive lineman, it's kind of just go with it. Obviously, it sucks that AT not going to be able to play the rest of the season, but it's our job to soften the blow and keep things going as offensive line.

Q: Is there something to be said for, if you just put (offensive lineman) Josh (Ezeudu) in for him, it's keeping the other four guys stable. And you guys have obviously had some cohesion so far this season?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Yeah, I think that when things like that happen, you kind of want to minimize the movement on the offensive line, just to keep the chemistry going. And instead of just inserting two new guys, it's easier to insert one, in my opinion. And so, like I said, Josh, he had a great camp. He's been doing his thing at left tackle on scout team. And he's been going against the one's, he's going against (outside linebacker Brian) Burns, he's going against (outside linebacker Kayvon) Thibodeaux, he's going against (outside linebacker) Azeez (Ojulari), all great rushers. And he's held his own, so I'm excited to see what he can do on Sunday.

Q: You said that you have faith in (offensive lineman) Josh (Ezeudu). What really have you seen from him from this spring, just in terms of his work and his development?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Yeah, I mean, Josh has kind of been following me around, watching me on the sideline when I'm playing games. He's asking me certain questions about why I do certain things a certain type of way. Because if you watch my play, I'm not (49ers tackle) Trent (Williams), I'm not (tackle) Jason Peters. I'm just me and myself, and I have a different style of play out there. And so, EZ asks me this type of question, 'why'd you throw your hands that way? Why'd you set that way? What do you think of this play? What do you think about that play? What do you think about this technique versus this technique? The D-line uses this technique versus the other technique?' Just little things like that. So, he's been picking my brain about certain things. And as a backup swing tackle, you have to be ready for any opportunity that you get. And this is the opportunity now, and I believe that he's ready for that. And I'll be with him all week. I'll be with him out there on Sunday. If he has any questions, then I'll be able to help him. Obviously, I'm going to watch for him, all the rushes he goes against, I'll be able to give him pointers and stuff, too. And kind of soften the burden on him and take the burden on my shoulders to make it a point of emphasis to make sure he goes out there and does his job and has all the confidence in the world to do it.

Q: So, you kind of took him under your wing almost whenever you got here?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Yeah, I feel like that's the job of a veteran. Especially the one that I want to be, and the type of player I want to be, and the type of teammate I want to be is to bring the young guys along with me. When I was a young guy in the league, I had guys that pulled me along with and kind of helped me get to where I'm at now. And I always remember the little lessons they taught me. So, for me, knowing EZ real flexible, he can play all positions, kind of like I can. He can play left tackle, left guard, right guard, right tackle. And so, I want to just help him, kind of teach him the ways of things, and just help him go out there and be as confident as he can be.