Transcript: Offensive Tackle Andrew Thomas

Offensive Tackle Andrew Thomas

Q: How are you feeling?

A: Good.

Q: How's the foot feeling?

A: Sore, but I'm doing everything that the trainers are asking me to do. Taking care of it, doing a lot of treatment, trying to get it ready.

Q: Is this related to the ankle injury you had last year?

A: No, it's not.

Q: Is it something that happened during the game Sunday?

A: It was something during the game, yeah.

Q: How much do you think it's something that you can battle through as long as you need to?

A: Right now, I'm just focusing on everyday doing what the trainers ask me. We'll see how it feels on Sunday, but right now just trying to treat it.

Q: When you look at Dallas, what are you seeing from them?

A: Very productive front seven right now. Guys are very athletic – they're flying to the ball. A lot of twists up front in the pass game, so we have to be prepared for that.

Q: You've had how many left guards in how many games. How hard is it to adapt to the twists when you're with somebody new all the time?

A: For us, it's just overcommunication. When you've been playing next to a guy for a long time some things don't have to be said, but with the group rotating like we do, just making sure we're overcommunicating and understanding everyone knows who they're going to so there's no miscommunication.

Q: Do you expect to play on Sunday?

A: Right now, just focused on what the trainers tell me. We'll see what happens on Sunday.

Q: How'd you feel yesterday when you went out there then?

A: Good. I was in the rotation yesterday, in the rotation today with (Tackle) Nate (Solder) and (Tackle) Matt (Peart), so we'll see what happens Sunday.

Q: How do you overcommunicate? Are you sitting there saying if he goes this way, you go that way?

A: Just pre-snap reads. Like I'll get to the ball (and) regardless of who's next to me, if I see something – like sometimes D-linemen will tip it off – I'll say, 'Alert.' Even if it's not coming, just something just to keep their eyes on it, especially the left guard with the silent count. They're turning and looking at the quarterback, so I'm kind of their eyes pre-snap.

Q: What're you doing better this year than a year ago?

A: I think just honing in on my technique, making sure I'm consistent in my set, trying not to overset and being better with my hand placement.

Q: The game that you had in the preseason where everybody ripped you, were you sick or anything? Because we're all sitting here scratching our heads saying what we saw in the preseason is not the guy who's been out there lately.

A: I just didn't prepare as well as I needed to. I had some bad sets, some bad hand placement against those guys, but I work every day to get better at it, and that's what I did.

Q: How much has your confidence grown these four weeks?

A: It's grown. Definitely coming off of last season, even in camp, my confidence has grown. Listening to the technique that the coaches are teaching me and we're playing well as a unit. That definitely builds confidence.

Q: Is (Offensive Line Coach) Rob (Sale) teaching anything different than what you did last year?

A: Some things are different, definitely in our technique. Our scheme is obviously the same, but there are a few culture points that he has.

Q: Anything you can offer to an O-line expert like myself who will have no idea what you're talking about?

A: On the slide protections, the way the left guard will come with me – say if we're going slide to the left, a little different than last year. The center is not as much of a hold center. He's coming with us a little bit more, so we can be more aggressive on the slide.

Q: How tough is it when you're playing as well as you are to get hit with something like this at this junction?

A: It's definitely a challenge, but we prepare for adversity. We'll see what happens Sunday, but definitely have confidence in our guys up front.

Q: Is it the same foot that you had surgery on?

A: Yes.

Q: Are you aware of what people are talking about, no sacks allowed in 150 pass attempts?

A: I try not to pay too much attention to it, whether it's good or bad. (I'm) just focusing on getting better every week. There were some things last week that I definitely have to clean up going into the next week, so that's what I'm focused on.