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Transcript: Defensive End Robert Ayers

Eric from BBI : Admin : 9/7/2015 2:44 pm
DE Robert Ayers

September 7, 2015

Q: What kind of boost getting JPP back will that be for your defense?

A: Like I just said, not just on the field type thing—just the morale of the unit. He’s a true warrior for us. He’s put in a lot of work for us. He’s grinded, he’s busted his butt for us and this team. To have him back is going to lift everyone’s spirit, because every day he’s on our minds—worrying about him, thinking about him, wishing him well. To see him back, see his smile and his energy that he brings to this unit—it’s really going to lift us up. How he plays, and if he plays, and when he plays—that’s another thing. But just being around your brother, that’s big.

Q: How hard is it going to be for him to catch up? You’ve been in the defense for six months now, how hard will it be for him?

A: That’s like asking me, ‘How hard will it be for a Ferrari to get going?’ Again, that’s what he is. I view him as a well-oiled machine. He’s a very smart guy, so I can’t tell you how long it’s going to take for him to get things going. He’s going to do everything he can to get ready. Some guys learn faster than others. I’m not the smartest fish in the barrel myself. So he may catch on, be right there. But I definitely expect him, whenever he’s ready, to be full-tilt and to give it his all, and do whatever it takes for him to be ready. That’s the one thing I can promise you, he’s going to prepare. The results, we’re going to see.

Q: Is this a complicated defense versus other systems you’ve played in? Describe what his learning curve is going to be like? Do you view this as a complicated defense?

A: To a super-smart guy like Jon Beason, it’s probably as simple as A-B-C. To a guy like me, maybe it’s difficult. So I don’t know. It all depends on how people interpret things. I feel like with defenses, you classify and group things together to make it understandable for yourself. I think he’s done that in the past, too, the way his career went with not having much football background and learning. So he’s definitely equipped mentally to pick it up. He’s a guy that can learn on the fly. So I’m excited to see when he comes in and how fast he picks it up. As far as predicting how long it’s going to take, I don’t know. Like I said, one thing is for sure, he’s going to give it his all, and he’s going to prepare the way he always has done. That’s what I expect from him. We’re going to see how things work out, but I definitely expect for him to work his butt off and be ready.

Q: Is there a question of how much he can use his hand?

A: Pass rushing is not necessarily about pushing and grabbing and pulling. It’s about hand combat—you put your hand on me, I knock it off. You do something, I lift. If you watch JPP and truly study him, he’s not a big grab guy. You’ve got some guys who rush the passer and play the run that push, pull, grab guys like that. But JPP is so powerful, sometimes he just lifts guys without grabbing them. So for his game, the way he plays, and the way I study him and see the things he does—I think he’ll be alright. But a lot of injuries is the mental part of it. Like for me, for example, dealing with an ankle or whatever, you have to get over the mental part and teach yourself that you’re okay. I think once he does that, once he feels comfortable, I think he’ll be the same JPP that we have all grown to love and see. I’m looking forward to it and I’m excited for it. I just want to get him back and work with my guys. I’m looking forward to it.

Q: Have you been able to think about what this is going to be like if he’s out there?

A: I think the standard is set regardless of who’s out there. Whether it’s you out there, D-Tackle, playing on double teams. If you come out there with us, we’re going to expect for you to be a monster out there. That’s just the standard that we have of our guys. The tradition and the way we try to approach the game—no matter who’s out there, we have a bar that’s set and we want to reach it. Whether he’s out there, whether I’m out there, whoever—we expect to be able to play at a high level. So, that’s the way we go about things, and that’s the way we’re going to try and do it. If we get him back, he’s going to have that bar set. Hurt, injured, or whatever, if you’re out there, that’s what is expected. That’s just the mindset that we’ve had going forward.

Q: Have you ever wondered, if my hand had an injury like that, what would it be like?

A: I have. But I did that once, I broke my hand. I broke my, what, third metatarsal? Whatever you want to call it. I broke that in college once. I played with a big cast. I didn’t have anything at all. It was tough, but you manage. You look at Patrick Willis, he became a first-round draft pick with a ball (on his hand) the whole season. I don’t know if you guys remember him coming out of Ole Miss, but he played with a ball on his hand. He couldn’t grab anything. I think one time against Tennessee, he had like 25 tackles. So it’s going to be tough, but anything worth having is worth working for. I do believe that he’s going to put in that work. We’re going to see what happens, but I’m excited to have him back as a friend and as a teammate. What happens on the field is going to happen. I think he’ll be alright though.
these interviewers  
Sneakers O'toole : 9/7/2015 2:59 pm : link
are just one track minded right now when it comes to JPP. They realize there is a fanbase sitting out here that wants to think about the Dallas game, don't they?
i'm still confused,  
mirwin : 9/7/2015 3:11 pm : link
what the fuck did he do to hurt himself?
Not 1 question asked about Ayers  
NewBlue : 9/7/2015 3:11 pm : link
That is nuts....6 or 7 questions and not one about his injury.
RE: these interviewers  
Enoch : 9/7/2015 3:13 pm : link
In comment 12459604 Sneakers O'toole said:
Quote:
are just one track minded right now when it comes to JPP. They realize there is a fanbase sitting out here that wants to think about the Dallas game, don't they?


They know what their headline story is going to be tomorrow, and they're looking for material to fill it out.
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