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Wednesday Media Transcript: DT Damon Harrison Sr.

Eric from BBI : Admin : 8/1/2018 2:55 pm
DT Damon Harrison Sr.
August 1, 2018
 
Q: How’s it been getting along with the young guys [Dalvin Tomlinson and B.J. Hill]?
A: Me and Dalvin developed a great relationship last year, so it was kind of a carry over. We spoke a lot during the offseason, and B.J., he’s an interesting character, man. I don’t know if you guys have been watching, but he’s probably the most athletic defensive lineman that we have, and that says a lot. He can do a little bit of everything, which is encouraging to see, so I’m excited to get a chance to go out there preseason game one and beyond it and actually see what he can do during game day.
 
Q:  Did you know that [B.J. Hill] was going to bring that to this team?
A:  No, I just knew about the other two guys that they had on the defensive line in college. Obviously, what’s his name, [Bradley] Chubb, and the guy who got hurt here, right? I knew about those two, so I was expecting more of a bigger type of guy, but he was total opposite of a big guy who can move. Kid can run. I know you all have seen it, you’re all watching it. 
 
Q:  Does it change for you at all when you have such young guys – one’s a rookie, one’s a second-year guy, that maybe you’re bringing them up a little more?
A: Kind of. It depends on the things we’re going be running that week and the game plan, because Dalvin will tell you, I ask Dalvin a lot of questions out there and he’s able to help me for the most part, and it’s just funny being in this new system that we’re still both trying to learn what each other can do in the system and just to look at each other, ask the question and neither one of us knows the answer, which is another encouraging thing to see, believe it or not, because that means we just got a long way to go in the classroom. We gotta push each other. So yeah, it changes depending on the game plan.
 
Q:  What about the aggressiveness of the defense overall? Do you find it to be exciting and interesting the way that you’re going to attack this year?
A:  Yeah, it just takes me back to my first years in the league. It’s kind of like a Rex Ryan type defense. It’s a lot of attacking, it’s not sitting around waiting, trying to read and see the other guys on the offense are doing – it’s playing defense with an offensive mentality, so for the guys like myself and OV and Dalvin and Robert [Thomas], these are the types of systems that we love to play in. 
 
Q:  The NFL sent out a fact sheet about the new helmet rule. What are your thoughts on that?
A:  I try not to get my head involved at all, so I really don’t have an opinion either way on it. I think it’s great for the game for concussions and everything.   
 
Q:  Do you think it might lead to more penalties? 
A:  I think it’ll lead to more lower-body injuries because guys [will be] afraid to hit up high now. I think they’ll have to lower the target, which will cause more injuries.  
 
Q:  Is [the new rule] something the players have talked about? Have you heard guys talk about it and how they’re going to approach it?
A:  No, not really. It hasn’t been any serious conversations, you hear guys just saying somehow they don’t like it, somehow they could appreciate it, but I want to watch myself and see how guys adapt to it, those guys in the secondary that are affected way more than we are, and I hope they get on these offensive linemen for leading with their helmets, too, but that’s another thing. I think it’ll be good if it’ll help limit head injuries. 
 
Q:  Does all this seem very new and fresh to you after last year – new coach, new players? Last year was such a tough year. Does it feel like a refreshed feeling?
A:  Yeah, obviously, because it’s turnover in the building. It’s a few holdovers, but other than that, it’s new faces. Everybody’s trying to learn everybody to figure out what makes that person tick, what makes them go. It’s kind of refreshing. I told you in the past, I’m not a guy who likes change, so it’s a real difficult time for me.
 
Q:  Is the biggest difference for you this year that you’re not responsible for two gaps, but you attack one?
A:  You just gotta be careful when you’re saying that, because it’s not necessarily a two-gapper system, and neither was last year, but I think it’s just more of an emphasis on attacking one gap and just trying not to two gap, which will be tough for me because I’m a two gapper by nature. Just to get out of that and be able just to run up the field like some of these other guys, that’ll be cool.
 
Q:  You said in the spring some stuff about you and Saquon meeting on the field. What’s your sense of how that’s going so far?
A:  I haven’t had my opportunity. The kid can run, man. I know you see him out there catching passes out of the back field, and I don’t want to put expectations on the kid yet without having him play a few games, but I think if he continues to prepare and approach the game as he has been, I think he’ll be fine. 
 
Q: What have you thought about him just in terms of his attitude coming here? He’s a big name, big star, but he hasn’t done anything yet. How does he fit in with the rest of the team?
A: Great. Great. He’s in the locker room, he’s talking with everybody, which is a good thing to see as well. For somebody like him, it [would] be easier for him to stick with Stewart or Gallman, or even the receivers, but he’s over by the defensive linemen a lot as well as the secondary and the linebackers, so I think he’s a perfect fit for the locker room.
 
Q: We’ve talked to you in the past about being a leader – the label, are you a leader or are you not a leader. You’ve had various things to say about that. With a new defense, a lot of young players, you’ve got three new young players up front, do you feel that is in your nature that you need to be [that leader]?
A:  I think in certain situations. If the situation calls for it, then I’m willing to step up to the plate and be that, but I think as an overall leader, we have some guys who would be perfect in that role. Landon [Collins] is a natural-born leader, whether it be on the field or off the field. Obviously, you all know about Eli [Manning] and Zak DeOssie, but Ogletree as well, B.J. Goodson, Janoris Jenkins. These are all guys who show some really good leadership qualities and I think that they’re not getting their due justice on that front because you don’t get a chance to see what they do a lot, and I think they do a lot of things to help the guys behind the scenes more so than the guys who do it in front of the cameras or however you call it. 
 
Q:  Did you ask to be gradually worked into training camp, or did they just say we’re going to work you in slowly?
A:  I do what the training staff tells me. I don’t have a preference either way. I don’t know how that conversation goes.
 
Q: How do you feel physically right now?
A:  Old. I’m about to be 30, but we got a bunch of young guys in the room so I can’t allow myself to slow up mentally, being old. Physically, you can’t hide behind that, but I feel great. I feel great.
 
Q:  What do you think of Will Hernandez? You two have gotten into scuffles.
A:  You just couldn’t wait to ask that question. You should’ve just asked in the beginning! Why’d you even wait? Look, I don’t have anything against the guy. The guy will be one hell of a player in this league. You can see him working out there, and I’m sure you guys have seen it. It’s one thing to do it in college, but to do it at the NFL level is a totally different thing, and I’ve had an opportunity to watch him firsthand, and I think he’ll be a really good player in this league. That wasn’t anything but football and if you don’t believe that, then obviously you don’t know the game. 
 
Q:  You find change difficult. Is that because of having to learn a whole new system and people, or is it just sort of a comfort level for you?
A:  I think it’s more so people, because honestly, I’m not a people person, which is weird. Just not only learning a new defense, but just to get to know people – new faces, new coaches, new players – I just find that difficult because I’m a very personal guy that I don’t like to. I’m not good at talking, I’m just not, and that’s something that I have to break out of, but with this new staff forcing me to do so with them – they’re not forcing me, I have to force myself through it to see how I fit in the new locker room. That’s the difficult part.  
 
Q:  Do you have to change your game as you approach 30? Sometimes a baseball pitcher’s 100 mph fastball isn’t there anymore, you have to learn how to be a little bit more of an artist. Are you at that point yet?
A:  Yeah, I am. I am. You gotta change the body type to be able to do Coach Bettcher is asking of the defensive line, which is to get up the field and attack, and anybody who knows me and likes me, that’s not something that’s been a strong point in my game. I can do it, I like to kind of use it as a change up every now and then, so yeah. I do have to adjust, not only for the system but also for me getting up there each whistle.
 
Q: On Alec Ogletree – What specifically stands out so far just about what he brings to the table?
A: Well, number one, he came from a successful program so he’s seen what it takes to get to a certain level of success and he’s able to tell B.J. and guys like myself exactly what that takes. Being a middle linebacker, he’s naturally vocal. He has to be, and your personality shows – every middle linebacker’s personality shows, and Tree is a good guy on and off the field, and I really think that you guys would be surprised about what he brings to the table on the field as well as off it.
thank you  
ArcadeSlumlord : 8/1/2018 3:48 pm : link
nice interview
Snacks is a great interview  
section125 : 8/1/2018 4:48 pm : link
and a very honest man.
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