S Bennett Jackson
August 3, 2015
Q: How’s the transition from safety going?
A: I think it’s going pretty well. I’m out there, I’m a little more confident now going through OTAs and what not—making my mistakes there. But I think things are going smoothly right now. Just out there playing a little faster than I usually did in OTAs. Just more comfortable so I’m able to play a little faster.
Q: Are you playing faster than you thought you would considering what happened to you physically?
A: Not necessarily. I kind of thought about that during OTAs, I tested it out plenty then. When you don’t feel something for a while, you stop thinking about it. I really don’t think about it anymore.
Q: What’s been the biggest obstacle so far to the position transition?
A: The biggest obstacle to me is probably giving the checks. Last year at corner and at nickel, I was the one who received all the checks, so I relied on the safety. Now, it’s just more of I’ve got to be the one to process the formation in front of me and give out the checks. Just make sure everyone is aligned.
Q: The linebackers have said it’s a very complex system. I don’t know how complex it is on your end. Do you feel that way?
A: Yeah, definitely. I mean a lot of it relies on the linebackers and the safeties. I think coach Spags and all the defensive coaches are doing a good job getting the information to us and allowing us to get the information to everybody else.
Q: What have you liked so far about the position? Is there something about safety that appeals to you that maybe corner didn’t?
A: I just like being back there, being back in the middle of the field, being able to run and attack the ball in the air. And definitely just being able to run down and hit somebody. At corner you don’t get too many chances to run down and fill a hole and hit somebody. It’s different, it’s something that excites me, and I’m looking forward to it.
Q: Who do you lean on to help you because there aren’t any real veteran safeties on this team to answer any questions?
A: Honestly, we all lean on each other. We’re kind of a tight knit group at safety. If any of us have a question, we all ask each other. If one guy doesn’t know, you just go to the next guy. Yeah, we pretty much all rely on each other.
Q: You have a couple of guys that are heavy hitters, in-the-box safeties. You’re coming from a coverage standpoint, do you think that helps you get more reps with the ones?
A: I think there are guys that are more physical tacklers than me, but I don’t know how coach is going to do the rotation. I think I have good ball skills, I think I’m fast, I’ll be able to attack the ball in the air. Just play to my strengths.
Q: They’ve said that they’re going to move you guys in and out. When you’re out there with Landon yesterday and you see the first team guys, does it hit you? Does it even enter your mind when you’re with those guys as opposed the second team guys?
A: I mean, it hits you, maybe at first, it being my first time being out there. As you get going through practice, things come a lot easier because a lot more guys are communicating. All the guys around you know what they’re doing. It’s just more motivation to kind of keep it going.
Q: Different with Eli back there flinging it around?
A: Definitely different with Eli back there, but he gives us a great look and we give him a good look. We just continue to push each other.
Q: Are you fully recovered from last year and how much was last year a learning experience with everything you had to go through?
A: I feel like I’ve fully recovered, yeah. Last year was a tremendous learning experience for me. Just kind of learning how NFL training camp goes. Just how the system works, how meetings go, everything. How to maintain your body. A ton of information. It’s just helps me this year kind of know what to expect and know how to get my body ready for training camp.
Q: Your own personal status between being on the roster, being off the roster, being on the roster last year. With everything you went through last year, how tough was that to not know exactly where you stood? Now you’re back here with a chance to start.
A: That was definitely stressful. Shoot, I remember the day I got that text to get cut, it’s definitely humbling. I got another opportunity to go on the practice squad and then I got another opportunity this year. You really just have to make the best of all your opportunities and I’m trying to make the most of this one.
Q: Did you ever believe that it would turn out this way? When you got cut, did you think, ‘that’s it?’
A: Well it’s just a text that comes in and then I kind of realized. Yeah, I mean I always thought I had the talent to play, I know I have the talent to play. Sometimes things just don’t work out. I definitely think I can do it, I’m just going to continue to keep pushing myself with each practice. Each practice is a new learning experience and go from there.
Q: Did you keep that text at all, did you look at it?
A: No, I mean it’s just come in. I spoke with all the coaches and everything and we went through why everything happened. Then I got placed on practice squad and I got to learn a lot on practice squad too. I got to go up against Eli [Manning] a lot and work with other guys. It’s just more of a learning experience.
Q: Is it almost remarkable how the world changes in the span of a year? You go from getting cut and not knowing where your future is to this year—having a new position and having a chance to contribute?
A: Yeah, I mean it’s why you’ve just got to make the best out of each day. You never know what’s going to happen tomorrow. So, my motto is always try to make today your best day because you never know what’s going to come tomorrow.
