for display only
Big Blue Interactive The Corner Forum  
Back to the Corner

Archived Thread

Tuesday Media Transcript: DT Damon Harrison

Eric from BBI : Admin : 6/12/2018 2:44 pm
DT Damon Harrison
June 12, 2018
 
Q: What do you make of the new defense and defensive coordinator James Bettcher?
A: He’s a good dude. Obviously, I’ve played in a 3-4 before under [New York Jets Head] Coach [Todd] Bowles, and Coach Bettcher and Bowles worked together, so I have a lot of familiarity with the system. It’s just all about reaching in that memory bank. Everything I was told to forget, I’ve got to remember again.
 
Q: Is too much made about the differences between a 3-4 and 4-3 defense?
A: Yeah. Obviously, in some sets, it will be different, but it’s no different for the guys in the interior. It’s more so for the outside linebackers. Outside linebackers who are still defense ends. So, yeah, I think people just think about it too much, they put too much into it. There’s really no difference at all.
 
Q: How would you describe the overall outlook for the team, with so many changes from last year?
A: I mean, obviously, there’s a lot of excitement right now because it’s new. We all have to learn. It’s not like we’re coming back and we know everything. So, everybody has their thinking caps on and just knowing that we all don’t know anything. We’ve still got a long way to go, but I like what I see from everybody so far.
 
Q: What about the morale of the team?
A: Oh, it’s high. It’s high. It’s a new staff, you’ve got no choice but to be happy.
 
Q: What is your sense of linebacker Alec Ogletree’s command of the defense?
A: He comes downhill, man, and that’s something you can appreciate as a nose tackle and a defensive tackle. That means those centers and those guards have got to make decisions really fast. If not, he’ll be in the backfield and he’s a smart guy. I’m just excited to get in an actual game with him because I know those guys on the line, they have to respect what he brings to the field, so that should open up a lot for me.
 
Q: Does it surprise you that there is so much enthusiasm and optimism surrounding this team coming off of last season?
A: No, because I honestly don’t think we were what our record was last year and I know it’s tough to understand that. Going 3-13, I think what we were, you would expect guys to come back down on themselves. That was just a humbling season for everybody. So, if anybody was on their high horse, they have no choice but to get down now and get back to the drawing board and work all over again, which is a good thing to see.
 
Q: Is the communication between coaches and players much different than what you’ve experienced in the past?
A: No. Again, that just goes back to everything being new. You can’t be out here making plays without knowing exactly what you’re doing and knowing what the guys beside of you, to your left, right, or behind of you are doing. So, it’s very encouraging that at this point, we’re all forced to communicate and I just hope that we just bring that into the season.
 
Q: Are guys talking more with each other in the locker room?
A: No, I wouldn’t say more, it’s the same. We’ve always been good with communicating in the locker room. But again, everything that we do out here, we bring it into the locker room. We just don’t do it out here, we talk ball in the locker room every chance we get.
 
Q: Why did you decide to skip parts of the voluntary OTAs?
A: I was minding my own damn business.
 
Q: What do you see from running back Saquon Barkley?
A: The guy can play, man. ‘Saquad’, that’s what they call him, or something like that. I’m excited to get out there in training camp, so I can hit his ass [laughs]. See what he’s made of. I told him, it’s not Penn State. He’s not going up against [defensive tackle] Josh Banks at Wake Forest. But no, the guy’s explosive, you can see how they will use him in the offense, which will be to our benefit.
 
Q: Did Head Coach Pat Shurmur tell you not to hit Barkley too hard?
A: Hey man, you get him between the lines, get the ball in your hand, I don’t give a damn what anybody says. It’s time to work. So no, I don’t think we’ll be able to hit him too hard, but I’m going to hit his ass.
 
Q: What have you seen from offensive linemen Jon Halapio and Brett Jones?
A: Well, obviously, Halapio was a guy who was on the practice squad last year, who worked his butt off. And you can tell the coaching staff likes him a whole lot, just because of his aggression, he’s a strong guy. And if we’re going to be that ground and pound team, then I think that plays exactly into his strengths. And again, he worked his butt off and he earned the reps that he’s getting now. And everybody knows Brett. Brett was starting last year, he brings that toughness and that same type of strength to the line, but he also can move. Halapio can move, too. That’s an interesting battle that I’ve been watching myself, just to see the guys rotating in and rotating out. So, I get to watch it firsthand.
 
Q: What is your impression of defensive tackle B.J. Hill?
A: He can play. He can play and that’s the first thing our defensive line coach told me when I got here. He said, ‘You’re going to love 95.’ He said, ‘He can play.’ So, I got out here and I’ve been watching him. He’s strong and he’s got some wiggle to him and he has some move to him. So, that’s somebody else who I think with some time and a little more experience will be a dominant player in this league, as well as Dalvin Tomlinson, who I think will take the next step this year.
...  
Eric from BBI : Admin : 6/12/2018 2:46 pm : link
Q: What is your impression of defensive tackle B.J. Hill?
A: He can play. He can play and that’s the first thing our defensive line coach told me when I got here. He said, ‘You’re going to love 95.’ He said, ‘He can play.’ So, I got out here and I’ve been watching him. He’s strong and he’s got some wiggle to him and he has some move to him. So, that’s somebody else who I think with some time and a little more experience will be a dominant player in this league, as well as Dalvin Tomlinson, who I think will take the next step this year.
RE: Saquon Barkley Ground N Pound  
mittenedman : 6/12/2018 2:59 pm : link
We're going to like this offense.

Defenses will have to play Barkley first because he'll be the centerpiece. Giants have a big power run blocking OLine and Eli Manning working the play action game. Shurmur is an outstanding play caller. Could be the best offense in the league.
Ha!  
Sneakers O'toole : 6/12/2018 3:16 pm : link
Q: Why did you decide to skip parts of the voluntary OTAs?
A: I was minding my own damn business.
RE: Ha!  
DonQuixote : 6/12/2018 11:16 pm : link
In comment 13989575 Sneakers O'toole said:
Quote:
Q: Why did you decide to skip parts of the voluntary OTAs?
A: I was minding my own damn business.


I know. Can you just imagine if OBJ said this??
Back to the Corner