Thursday Media Transcript: T Nate Solder

T Nate Solder
June 14, 2018
 
Q: I know it was a little behind you, but it looked like Snacks swung a helmet at Will Hernandez’s head. As a veteran, is this a situation where you need to say something or is that something the coaches need to handle?
A: We just have to focus on getting better, we have to play better football, we have to be a strong unit on the offensive line and we have to do what we can control. Those things are battles, they happen, emotions rise and you work through it and move on.
 
Q: You probably don’t like fights necessarily, but do you like the fire you see out of Hernandez?
A: No (I don’t like fights, but) I have a ton of respect for Will. He has been great. I really enjoy playing next to him.
 
Q: Do you have a better sense now of how this offensive line is coming together even though no contact is really allowed?
A: You can’t make summary statements like that. I think the key that we have to keep harping on and focusing on is just take it one day at a time, get better, not putting the cart before the horse and not taking anything for granted. We’ve got a long ways to go.
 
Q: What have you seen from Ereck Flowers?
A: I have been very impressed with his character and his humility – work ethic, everything.
 
Q: He had told us that when you got here he was hurt a little bit. Are you impressed with the way he has handled that?
A: I don’t think I would have handled it as well as he has handled it. I am very impressed.
 
Q: How has he handled it?
A: Very well.
 
Q: How though?
A: Like I just said, his work ethic, the way he goes about his business, the way that he has put it behind him, he’s just doing his thing and he’s trying hard and he cares and he’s asking questions. He is doing everything that you would want a guy to do.
 
Q: Aside from the coaches, you know as a veteran that a lot of things can go wrong on your down time before training camp starts. Do you talk to the young fellas about that?
A: If you take a step back in the next five weeks and you’re not pushing to get better and increase your conditioning and getting mentally prepared for the upcoming season, you’re going to be behind. I think that if I need to communicate that, then maybe some young guys don’t understand that, but I think that is something that you have to pick up and you have to roll because there is no such thing as an offseason.
 
Q: Do you have a feel for this team now after OTAs and mini camp?
A: A little bit. I think that those things continue to develop and mature and improve as we go into camp.
 
Q: Can this team be competitive?
A: This is the NFL, every team is competitive, every team is really good. This team is going to come down to how we perform when the lights are on and we are really getting after it – as with every team.