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Saturday Media Transcript: Tackle Ereck Flowers

Eric from BBI : Admin : 8/4/2018 1:47 pm
Tackle Ereck Flowers
        8/4/18
 
Q: Since training camp has started how does it feel being on the right side?
A: I think it’s going well, I’m getting better at it every day just trying to get comfortable.
 
Q: Do you have a feel for this line yet? Do you have to see what happens in a game to figure out if you’re any good?
A: I mean yeah, we haven’t played any games together yet, but its going well. I think we will get better with each game.
 
Q: What has been the toughest adjustment for you moving over?
A: When you move over you kind of have to switch everything, your muscle memory, a lot of different things. It’s going pretty well though I have gotten a lot better at it since I first started.
 
Q: What’s been the most difficult part? What do you have to focus on in terms of working at it?
A: A little bit of everything, its different footwork, it’s different everything. There’s different ways of looking at silent counts, everything is a little bit different.
 
Q: Who has helped you the most during the transition?
A: A little bit of everybody, Pat [Omameh] and the whole line have been very supportive.
 
Q: What’s the biggest thing to help chemistry up front?
A: Time and reps.            
 
Q: Are you feeling good about that chemistry and continuity?
A: I think we’ll have our first run this Thursday and we’ll see where it goes from there. We’ll try to build each week.
 
Q: Do you think there will be a time where you say “I got this, I got the right side”?
A: I think as games go on, I haven’t played a game there. As you get more reps you get more of clearer picture.
 
Q: How much does going up against a defense like this that blitzes a lot help you prepare for a game?
A: It helps a lot. It helps everybody a lot. I don’t think I have been to a practice where we’ve done this many blitzes and this many different looks. It’s definitely great in terms of preparing for games.
 
Q: What has Nate [Solder] brought to the O-line room?
A: A little bit of everything. He is a great dude that works hard. It’s a great addition.
 
 
Q: How has he [Solder] helped you?
A: Different ways, we work together sometimes practice. A lot of the times he works with Will [Hernandez] and I work with Pat a lot so it’s kind of like we are on opposite sides but its been good. I can go to him if I need any questions answered.
 
Q: How much does this offense help you out; is there anything different for you from things in the past?
A: No, you still have to do a lot of the same things. It’s an NFL offense.
 
Q: Do you feel a chip on your shoulder after everything that’s been said about the offensive line?
A: Anytime I’m on the field I want to play my best regardless of who says what. I want to play my best regardless so it doesn’t matter what anybody says.
 
Q: It seems like Pat Shurmur has tried to have relationships with players and get to know a little bit about them. How have you found Pat Shurmur?
A: He has been great from the time I got here. Ready to get the season going and learn more from him.
 
Q: Has there been a moment in training camp where Barkley did something and you kind of went wow?
A: Yeah, he’s been great. Its kind of crazy because I really focus on what I have been doing so its kind hard. I don’t really keep tabs on him I just try to do my job.
 
Q: Has he ever buzzed by you and you said wow?
A: Yeah, he’s been great.
 
Q: Do you like right tackle?
A: Yea I like it, it’s cool, it’s been great.
 
Q: Do you think it might help you in terms of your career moving forward?
A: Whenever they need me to do, I’m going to do. It’s been great, I love playing next to Pat and I’m ready for the season.
 
Q: What’s it been like next to Pat? You guys are both switching sides, he has spent most of his career on the left side too, does that help or slow things down?
A: Pat is great, our lockers are next to each other and we are with each other all day so it’s good.
 
Q: What’s been your impressions of the defense, they look like they are swarming and can be a handful. Does anything stick out to you?
A: I think they have been playing very well. In Arizona, they also had a lot of looks when we played them last year so I kind of expected that. I can’t wait to see it in pre-season and the regular season games.
 
Q: Are you interested to see what this offensive line will look like once games start?
A: Yeah, it’s very interesting. At the same time, you have to know it’s not going to start off perfect and you have to work and build each game.
God his answers are canned.  
chopperhatch : 8/4/2018 1:54 pm : link
Just totally blah and sounds like he hates being at the podium.

This is an opportunity to show some maturity by unveiling the changes hes gone through and how improved himself mentally. Instead he sounds like tye petulant block head who finished the season suspended.
RE: God his answers are canned.  
BigBlue4You09 : 8/4/2018 1:56 pm : link
In comment 14029514 chopperhatch said:
Quote:
Just totally blah and sounds like he hates being at the podium.

This is an opportunity to show some maturity by unveiling the changes hes gone through and how improved himself mentally. Instead he sounds like tye petulant block head who finished the season suspended.


He’s just not an intelligent man
The questions were not the best  
Reale01 : 8/4/2018 2:56 pm : link
Who has helped you?
How great is Saquan?
Do you like the right side?
Can you play the right side?
You sucked last year Will you be better? Why?
You sucked last year Do you have a chip on your shoulder?
Do you want to throw last year's coaches under the bus?
Not so sure about his intelligence  
TonyinCentralNJ : 8/4/2018 2:59 pm : link
He strikes me as a shy man for whom interviews are painful. He has taken a lot of abuse, so who can blame him>

That aside, I wish him well. We all should. He is swallowing his pride at what some view as a demotion, seems to have come to play, and however canned he seems, he also seems committed to get better.

(And his answers are clear and grammatically correct, so perhaps he smarter than some think he is).
I've been one of his harshest critics...  
Milton : 8/4/2018 3:17 pm : link
But I view the interview as nothing but positive. His answers may have sounded canned, but they were the answers you want to hear. I've only read the transcript, so I can't speak to his body language, but he didn't come off as defensive or adversarial (which was the case in the past).

And nothing about his answers suggested anything to me about his intelligence (in either direction) other than that it reflected his understanding of how best to respond to the media. As for the media, I thought they asked the questions that they needed to without being too provocative.

I'm encouraged, which is a far cry from how I felt about him in March or April.
I mentioned that when I saw him Thur  
Dave on the UWS : 8/4/2018 3:41 pm : link
I thought he looked fine at RT. My expectations for him are competent play as was the case most of last year. If the line is strong on the left and competent from center to RT that would allow the playmakers to excell.
RE: God his answers are canned.  
ColHowPepper : 8/4/2018 3:45 pm : link
In comment 14029514 chopperhatch said:
Quote:
Just totally blah and sounds like he hates being at the podium.

This is an opportunity to show some maturity by unveiling the changes hes gone through and how improved himself mentally. Instead he sounds like tye petulant block head who finished the season suspended.
Have to admit somewhat similar reaction as expressed in your last sentence, but more along the lines of, ok, I'm here, I have to be here, make it as positive as possible, so I am going to say what the media (and FO) wants to hear, even if I can't wait to bolt in FA next year. I hope it's not this and that there is some sincerity there. But as from day 1 as the #9 overall, he's a difficult guy to read.
RE: I've been one of his harshest critics...  
chopperhatch : 8/4/2018 3:54 pm : link
In comment 14029547 Milton said:
Quote:
But I view the interview as nothing but positive. His answers may have sounded canned, but they were the answers you want to hear. I've only read the transcript, so I can't speak to his body language, but he didn't come off as defensive or adversarial (which was the case in the past).

And nothing about his answers suggested anything to me about his intelligence (in either direction) other than that it reflected his understanding of how best to respond to the media. As for the media, I thought they asked the questions that they needed to without being too provocative.

I'm encouraged, which is a far cry from how I felt about him in March or April.



???? The answers you want to hear?

"What have you learned from Solder?"

"A little bit of everything"

"Whats been different about the change? What do you have to work on?"

"A little bit of everything. Everything is different."

"Who has helped you the most?"

"A little bit from everybody"

Q: How much does this offense help you out; is there anything different for you from things in the past?
A: No, you still have to do a lot of the same things. It’s an NFL offense.

I understand that he doesnt like giving answers, but right now he is being called a bust by fans and by analysts. He's gone from starting LT, to RT and next step is Guard if he doesnt fix his mistakes. He is playing for his next contract and that will take some convincing if he wants the likelihood of it being a big one to go up.

While his position coach spoke highly of him, it def takes some PR mitigating by the player to convince coaches that he is a commodity.

I have defended Flowers more than most. While he may be improving in meeting rooms, he sounds like a shit teammate and somebody who could be a dividing personality in the lockerroom.
RE: God his answers are canned.  
Milton : 8/4/2018 3:58 pm : link
In comment 14029514 chopperhatch said:
Quote:
Just totally blah and sounds like he hates being at the podium.

This is an opportunity to show some maturity by unveiling the changes he's gone through and how improved himself mentally. Instead he sounds like the petulant block head who finished the season suspended.
Is this your read based on the transcript or did you see the actual interview (which I did not)? Because based solely on the transcript I don't see any of the negative stuff you're talking about.
RE: RE: God his answers are canned.  
chopperhatch : 8/4/2018 3:59 pm : link
In comment 14029565 ColHowPepper said:
Quote:
In comment 14029514 chopperhatch said:


Quote:


Just totally blah and sounds like he hates being at the podium.

This is an opportunity to show some maturity by unveiling the changes hes gone through and how improved himself mentally. Instead he sounds like tye petulant block head who finished the season suspended.

Have to admit somewhat similar reaction as expressed in your last sentence, but more along the lines of, ok, I'm here, I have to be here, make it as positive as possible, so I am going to say what the media (and FO) wants to hear, even if I can't wait to bolt in FA next year. I hope it's not this and that there is some sincerity there. But as from day 1 as the #9 overall, he's a difficult guy to read.


At this point, he may not even be in the league in 2 years because of his attitude. He'll probably play just well enough to get a three year deal with a smaller signing bonus. He'll either take that and be cut after the 2nd year or he'll sign a 1 year prove it offer and never actually prove it.

Honestly, I cant stand players like this. All the talent in the world, but a shitty attitude towards the work thT needs to be done.
chopper  
Milton : 8/4/2018 4:04 pm : link
sorry, missed your 3:54pm post while I was typing my previous post. I just view his answers as him being not the most verbal guy in the world, not him being defensive or a dick. Sometimes it's hard for someone who isn't good with words to articulate a specific reason for something and so you generalize everything.


It's all in the inflection - ( New Window )
You can see this interview on Paul Schwartz twitter feed  
arniefez : 8/4/2018 4:06 pm : link
This guy can't be gone soon enough. The fact that's he's the starting RT is a recurring nightmare.
RE: RE: God his answers are canned.  
chopperhatch : 8/4/2018 4:07 pm : link
In comment 14029575 Milton said:
Quote:
In comment 14029514 chopperhatch said:


Quote:


Just totally blah and sounds like he hates being at the podium.

This is an opportunity to show some maturity by unveiling the changes he's gone through and how improved himself mentally. Instead he sounds like the petulant block head who finished the season suspended.

Is this your read based on the transcript or did you see the actual interview (which I did not)? Because based solely on the transcript I don't see any of the negative stuff you're talking about.


The transcript. Milton, you honestly were able to glean thoughtful responses from his answers to the questions asked? If he really was learning so much from Solder (a little bit of everything) he would have gone into specifics about hand placement, footwork, reads, etc. If he really sought to give insight as to what is different about the new position, he would have provided more than "everything is different."

His answers are very much how ColPeppers summarized: "Look, I dont want to be here, but am told that I have to be by my agent and contract. Next year Im a free agent and hopefully I will be somewhere else."
RE: chopper  
chopperhatch : 8/4/2018 4:11 pm : link
In comment 14029578 Milton said:
Quote:
sorry, missed your 3:54pm post while I was typing my previous post. I just view his answers as him being not the most verbal guy in the world, not him being defensive or a dick. Sometimes it's hard for someone who isn't good with words to articulate a specific reason for something and so you generalize everything.
It's all in the inflection - ( New Window )



Lmao, great skit!

But I guess. Inflection.
RE: You can see this interview on Paul Schwartz twitter feed  
Milton : 8/4/2018 4:16 pm : link
In comment 14029581 arniefez said:
Quote:
This guy can't be gone soon enough. The fact that's he's the starting RT is a recurring nightmare.
I don't know, I think he's trying. He clearly has social anxiety issues, notice how he avoids eye contact. In the past I think his social anxiety translated into being anti-social and that dates back to his days at Miami when he was said to be a quiet loner who spent all day in the weight room working out with his dad.

In any case, I've been on his case since his rookie year for his attitude. I'm on record as saying that Gettleman would've cut his ass in January if it weren't for the fact that his contract was guaranteed and he still had trade value. But I think signing Rosenhaus as his agent has helped him see the big picture. I'm encouraged, but it's not like I have high expectations.
Here's the inflection.  
chopperhatch : 8/4/2018 4:16 pm : link
My reaction remains the same.
Could not give less of a shit. - ( New Window )
I think you guys are way over analyzing this  
gidiefor : Mod : 8/4/2018 4:29 pm : link
he actually looked pretty benign to me - even threw out a couple of genuine smiles

considering that he didn't give interviews in the past and that he tried to beat up a reporter once -- I thought his interview shows a marked improvement in his ability to deal with others -- and he seems to genuinely like Pat O
We don't need him to talk, we need him to block  
Jimmy Googs : 8/4/2018 4:35 pm : link
it would be nice if certain posters had just as little to say as Flowers...
I don’t think this speaks to a bad attitude.  
yatqb : 8/4/2018 6:00 pm : link
I just think that he’s a bad interview.

I also think that he gives his all on the field, but isn’t as talented as you’d hope that a 9th overall pick would be (to say the least).
Some people just get very nervous doing interviews.  
fredgbrown : 8/4/2018 7:31 pm : link
It takes practice and some players like our own Mario Manningham are terrible at doing interviews.
And everything like that - ( New Window )
He sounds fine to me  
Reale01 : 8/4/2018 8:47 pm : link
Let's see how it goes.
People reading into..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 8/4/2018 9:25 pm : link
interviews almost always do it with a bias.

Whether it is right or not.

Mac continuing to talk in platitudes and discussing shit like the Duke and such ended up being one thing people would latch on as him being incompetent, but that just perpetuated because of the bias against him. Flowers could say he wants to be the best tackle in the NFL and people would rip him (just see Hart for that)....
It's a pretty simple equation with Ereck Flowers...  
M.S. : 8/5/2018 8:09 am : link

...so long as he's not going against an edge speed rusher, he'll be OK in pass defense.

But the moment he's matched against speed, watch out Eli!

As for his "attitude," I'm not sure what to make of it, save for I don't give a shit.

The question is: Will he or won't he be a serviceable right tackle?

A lot is riding on that.
I'm surprised he didn't elaborate  
mittenedman : 8/5/2018 8:19 am : link
a bit on how Shurmur's O is a better fit for him.

I've posted this before but Shurmur runs more of an old school offense than McAdoo. IE he huddles up, gets his OL down in a 3 point stance and firing off the ball at the LOS. Flowers spent 4 years in a 2 pt. stance with McAdoo which takes a lot of his physicality off the table - which is his chief asset.

Flowers getting low, moving forward and leaning on you all day is a different animal than having him standing up moving backwards.

I'm not saying he's shown great run blocking so far - I think he's lost his confidence and he leans too much which causes him to fall off blocks. But again, starting a run block from a 2 pt. stance is a different ballgame. You can't get that initial surge (leverage).

I'm cautiously optimistic this guy can put a much better season together in Shurmur's O, which plays in the run game much similar to Gilbride's.
mittenedman  
ColHowPepper : 8/5/2018 12:50 pm : link
nice comment.

Watching the video, I come away with what I said earlier, hard guy to read, could be any of a/uncomfortable and awkward in front of mikes and reporters, stressed, b/reaching, searching for the right words to fit the narrative to square with being the good teammate even as he counts the weeks until he's out of NY, c/totally genuine, this is who he is.

What FatMan says of course has validity, we often see what we *want* to see to comport with our own narrative, based on how one perceives the aggregate of events.

Not for nothing, but it may well be that Flowers, like many athletes from small towns and/or a regional culture very different from the NE is terribly unsuited to fit the mold here in the Big Apple, the spotlight, the scrutiny, the same, tedious, not terribly thoughtful questions from the same beat writers. He snapped with Ranaan last year. It would be nice to see more aggression in the run game: he'll have that opportunity.
Does anyone find it odd  
Joey in VA : 8/5/2018 12:56 pm : link
That every player interview and there are what two or three daily before practice, are at the podium except for Flowers. They are shorter and informal and I am convinced it's by design. They know he hates it he's uncomfortable doing it and they make it easier than the standard interview done at the podium. If he's not someone with social anxiety I would be floored.
Flowers has clearly struggled over the years and been a target  
Jimmy Googs : 8/5/2018 1:04 pm : link
of blame by everything he hears, reads and comes into contact with (not unwarranted). So its not surprising he wants to limit his access and words with the media to the bare minimum.

Probably the smartest thing he has done in a while.

Again, we don't need him to talk, we need him to advance his blocking...
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