Transcript: Tackle Matt Peart

Tackle Matt Peart

August 3, 2021

Q: What was your perspective on what just happened out here?

A: So, overall, we’re just a team. We’re coming out here to do our best and get better every single day. For me personally, I just want to make sure I work on my craft. I had some time lost, but it is what it is. I just want to get back up to speed with my brothers and love them up and be with them.

Q: How good do you feel at this point? You got a few reps today.

A: I’m just happy to be out there. Like I said, every day is a new opportunity to work on our craft and get better. I just think of it as a blessing now to be able to be out here, just to be with my brothers, to be with the family again. It just felt good to be with my guys.

Q: I’m curious, how much better do you feel entering your second year? How much more prepared do you feel than you did maybe a year ago?

A: Second year coming back, the emphasis is that much more. It’s the second year of being in the system, so the attention to detail is that much greater. Like I said before, building a cohesive unit with the guys. I’m just happy to be here, just happy we got good work in today.

Q: How tough was the end of last year for you? Getting COVID and maybe not playing as much toward the end of the year. How difficult was the end of the season for you?

A: That’s one thing with football, it’s just playing through adversity. That was my adversity going through the end of last season. I’m just so fortunate to have a great group of guys around me that really rallied around me when times got rough for me. So, I’m keeping it with stride. I just take everything day-by-day. I got out here and took everything day-by-day and tried not to dwell on all that adversity because, like I said, it comes with football. So, I’m just really fortunate that I have a group of guys that were able help me.

Q: How much did all that experience you got, they kind of eased you into it and got some snaps, how much do you think that helped as you come into your second training camp?

A: It’s amazing. Experience is the one teacher of all. That’s one thing that comes with football and, like I said, I’m just happy to be out here.

Q: Last year, they liked the way you looked, but they wanted you to get bigger and stronger. How did that manifest itself going into your second year?

A: Like I said, coming into the second year, the attention to detail is that much more. I knew what I had to do coming into the offseason to get bigger, faster, stronger, so I really took the onus to really work on my craft and to work on those abilities, and work on the tangible things that I had. Just to make sure that I come into year two not having the same little lapses here and there that I did last season. So right now, it’s just come out here and compete every single day, and like I said, grow with my guys.

Q: How much bigger are you?

A: Bigger? Ah geez, I can’t remember the numbers off the top of my head.

Q: Is there a weight gain?

A: Oh yeah, there was definitely.

Q: You were 318 pounds last year?

A: Give or take, I probably just leaned up a little more, got more muscle mass, cut more fat. But like I said, grinding the offseason program, getting bigger and stronger.

Q: Does the starting right tackle position really entice you?

A: Like I said, every day I’m just coming out here competing and growing with my guys. I’m willing to do anything to the benefit of the team. Right now, I’m just taking it day-by-day to grow with the opportunity to come out and get better.

Q: You played around 150 snaps last year on offense. Does that sound about right?

A: I’m not too sure about the exact numbers, but every opportunity I got out there on the field to play with my guys was a blessing.

Q: When you look, I’m sure you’ve analyzed every one of them, what did you see?

A: Obviously, it’s just working on my craft. You know, just building communication within the five guys on the field. I was rotational, so even working with the rotation tackles all camp, as well as building cohesive communication across the board – where I had a lapse here and there or he saw something to work better on for me when I get back on the field. It was just how we streamlined communication across the board.

Q: When you look back, did you get more action on offense than you thought you might have last year at this time?

A: I mean, every single time I got called up I just thought it was a blessing to go up there and just work on my craft, just being one-of-five on the field.

Q: Was it hard to go side to side, in and out of the lineup? Was that difficult at all?

A: Like, through practice and through the preparation, switching from right to left, the coaches do a great job getting you prepared for that and for the moment. So, when you get out there, it’s really just communicating with your guys and at the end of the day, just going out there and playing.

Q: You and (Tackle) Andrew (Thomas) talk every day I’m sure, but two young guys who could possibly be anchors at tackles for this team for a long time, is that something that is a goal for you guys?

A: I mean, Andrew’s a tremendous talent and we know what it is every time we step on the field. We just want to come out here and compete and get better every single day. That’s a testament to him and his work ethic and for me, it’s just for me to come out here and show and to just compete. Just to work on the communication and the finer details and just get better every single day.

Q: Do you feel a sense in the difference in you being stronger and faster in the full contact drills today? Do you sense, ‘alright, I can see where this is making a difference?’

A: For me, I just like want to come out here and just do the best job I can physically do on the field. Like I said, every day is a single blessing. Every day is a day to get better and work on your craft and for me, it’s just to make sure that the communication is on point and my technique and what I have to do relative to the line is always on point.