CB Corey Ballentine -- August 11, 2019
Q: How did it feel to get that pick the other night?
A: It felt good. It felt good to know my hard work is paying off and to translate it from practice to a game, that felt good as well. I’m always looking for a way to help the team win, and I’m just glad I was able to do it with my teammates out there.
Q: You had some runs with the first-team defense, especially today. Looking back to how this all started for you, did you think this would happen? Did you think you would get to this point so quickly?
A: I didn’t really look at it like that, I was just trying to improve. I got here a little late and I was trying to learn the playbook, get to know my teammates, and get out there and do the best I could. I wasn’t really looking to be in any specific spot, but just to do my best and help wherever the coaches need me.
Q: Did you see what happened to DeAndre (Baker)?
A: No, I didn’t see what happened. They just told me to step up, so I was ready whenever they called me.
Q: How did that make you feel that you were able to get that call when your fellow teammates had to sit out for a bit?
A: Obviously I wish him the best. I don’t know what happened to him, but I’m always ready to step up whenever I’m called on. It felt good to go out there with the ones and get some reps and some practice running with a faster paced offense. I’m just taking it day by day trying to improve and not take it for granted.
Q: The aftermath of Thursday night, when you leave the stadium – what was that feeling like, what were the emotions?
A: It felt really good. I called my mom and we were on the phone for an hour and a half. It was crazy because we were just talking about how far I have come. Coming from Jamaica and all of the adversity I have been through, and now being here doing my dream. It’s just crazy being out there on the field. I had never been to an NFL game before and (now) here I am, on the field. There were a lot of emotions going through my head, but I was glad to be out there with my team and I was happy with the way I played. My team is what’s important to me, so it was definitely a good feeling.
Q: Were you able to get some sleep after the game?
A: Not really. I was up thinking about it all night. It’s just such a crazy feeling. Not everybody can say they are in the NFL, or even playing. For me to even get out there on the field, it was just crazy—and to make a play on the ball. There were a lot of emotions going through my head, so I was really excited.
Q: How do you come back down from that high getting ready to step out on the practice field today? Then obviously you get thrown out there with the ones. Did you take some time to make sure you put it behind you and move forward?
A: There are always areas of improvement for myself. I went out there and I made a play, but I’m not perfect. I still messed up a little bit. I’m always looking to clean up the little mistakes I made and go out there and communicate and play the best I can. I can only control what I can control. I just go out there and not look at it as, ‘Oh he made a play so he’s here now.’ I look at it as I can always get better and continue to improve, and hopefully there is more.
Q: What happened on the replay— does it make you realize that it is possible, and you have to watch what you’re doing with your hands as you’re running down the field? Because that flag comes out and then all of a sudden you’re like, ‘Wait a minute what did I do?’ You don’t get away with things like you’d normally would.
A: Exactly. I think that’s a little thing that I can clean up, just talking with my coach. Maybe just close my hand instead so it doesn’t look like I’m holding on. I don’t know really why they called it still, but I can clean it up. That’s on me to be more professional. It’s hard to translate that from college to the NFL. That’s my personal challenge that I need to fix.
Q: What impressions have you had about TJ Jones from when he started in camp to Thursday night?
A: He’s been pretty good. He’s been getting a lot of reps on special teams and also offense. I think he’s shifty, he’s out there catching punts and making plays on offense as well. I wish him the best and hopefully he keeps making plays and is on the team for a while.
