S Landon Collins Transcript

Safety Landon Collins

August 1, 2015



Q: What kind of adjustments have you already had to make to go through this [camp]?

A: Just the knowledge of the game and being in the right spot, that’s about it.



Q: Spags said a couple weeks ago that safety are the most important guys in this defense. Do you agree with that or what does that mean to you when he says something like that, being that you’re a safety?

A: I agree with him because we’re the quarterbacks of the defense in the back and you have to be able to put everyone in their positions, from the linebackers on back. We can help everybody know, we’re the last line of defense. So definitely.



Q: Are you and Jon Beason the most vocal, are you the heart and soul? The head that has got to deal with stuff out there?

A: Not just me and [Jon] Beason, but the safety next to me, whether it be Coop [Cooper Taylor] or Nat [Behre] or Jeromy [Miles]. Anybody that’s next to me, us and Beason are the most vocal guys on the team. We get everybody in the right spots.



Q: How do you sort of view the safety position, the competition this summer, and how do you look at it personally knowing that there are a lot of guys that are going for these jobs, but you’re the one who gets to at least start there with the first team?

A: Just competition. You go in there not knowing what’s going to happen. They could pull you to the second team, you could be on the third team. It’s always a mental thing for me. You have an open mind because you never know where they’re going to put you at. Just be ready and don’t let it set you back.



Q: What has the adjustment been like for you from the college game to the NFL so far?

A: Not a very big adjustment. The only thing is the knowledge of the game. The speed is kind of depending on the players that we practice against. That’s about it.



Q: Do you feel like you’re up to the task? It’s not too fast for you?

A: No, it’s not too fast for me. I feel like it’s not too fast. I can read, I’m very keen on what’s going on. I pay attention a lot and I pick up the defense very well. It gives me the chance to worry about what the offense is doing and not trying to make play calls.



Q: There are a lot of young guys back there, is there anyone in the safety room that you can lean on or is it just everyone is in the same spot because there’s a new defense here?

A: In the secondary, I lean on Nat [Behre] and I lean on DRC [Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie] and I lean on Coop [Cooper Taylor]. That’s the older guys, they’ve been here. They’ve been playing special teams and, with DRC, he’s been playing. Those guys you can always count on to pick up the defense and all the coaches, so they help me out and push me throughout the day.



Q: What kind of advice does DRC give you? He’s obviously a cornerback, but he does understand what it takes.

A: He says, ‘man, it’s out there, just go grab it and keep playing balls out and nothing is going to stop you.’



Q: Did you notice an uptick in intensity from spring practices to the first training camp practice yesterday?

A: With the offense, yeah. They definitely picked it up. Different tempo, they were moving the ball fast. Eli [Manning] was definitely getting the offense quick to the line and trying to get stuff run.



Q: What’s the challenge for you when they move a little bit faster?

A: Just getting lined up. When they get lined, up know where their strength is at, know where the weakness is at, defense and offense, so I can know where to help.