Transcript: S Xavier McKinney

S Xavier McKinney

Q: How did you like being the defensive coordinator for a play or two?

A: It was cool. I could have called a better defense, but I called what I called, and things happen. But it was fun, though.

Q: Did you know that was going to happen?

A: Yeah, we did it before in OTAs. We've done it a couple times kind of just where it's a competition thing between me and (Quarterback Daniel Jones) DJ. We'll be able to call basically the whole period for the defense and him for the offense. It's fun doing it. It's a competitive moment. Obviously, we're both trying to win so we are both trying to call the best play for us to succeed.

Q: Even though this is a new defensive system, you look really comfortable in it. Am I seeing things or am I accurate? If so, what is it about this defense that just kind of fits and you're comfortable?

A: I am definitely still learning it, but I definitely feel a lot more comfortable because I'm able to kind of do everything. That's kind of been my main focus for a couple years now. Like I said, I'm still a little bit rusty. I'm still learning through some things. It's definitely been fun being able to be everywhere on the field. It's something I always like doing.

Q: You mentioned you're still learning it. Having gone through the install during OTAs and then starting to get things at step one during training camp, does that help to reinforce that?

A: Yeah, it does. I think as far as the plays go, obviously I've got that down because we went over it a couple times now. But it's about being in different positions and seeing how you can disguise different looks and kind of throw off the offense a little bit. When I say learning it, that's what I mean by that. So, I try to go back and look at what the Ravens did in the past, how their players did it. I actually talked to (Former Ravens Safety) Eric Weddle a couple times during the offseason. He helped me a lot actually with just kind of how to disguise certain things and how to be on the same page with (Defensive Coordinator) Wink (Martindale), and things like that. We had good convo. He really helped me out in terms of looking at film, studying film, how he did it when he had Wink, so he was really helpful. That's what I mean by still trying to learn it and get stuff down pat.

Q: So more of a selling it than execution?

A: Yeah, more selling it.

Q: How did you like being the defensive coordinator for a play or two?

A: It was cool. I could have called a better defense, but I called what I called, and things happen. But it was fun, though.

Q: Did you know that was going to happen?

A: Yeah, we did it before in OTAs. We've done it a couple times kind of just where it's a competition thing between me and (Quarterback Daniel Jones) DJ. We'll be able to call basically the whole period for the defense and him for the offense. It's fun doing it. It's a competitive moment. Obviously, we're both trying to win so we are both trying to call the best play for us to succeed.

Q: Even though this is a new defensive system, you look really comfortable in it. Am I seeing things or am I accurate? If so, what is it about this defense that just kind of fits and you're comfortable?

A: I am definitely still learning it, but I definitely feel a lot more comfortable because I'm able to kind of do everything. That's kind of been my main focus for a couple years now. Like I said, I'm still a little bit rusty. I'm still learning through some things. It's definitely been fun being able to be everywhere on the field. It's something I always like doing.

Q: You mentioned you're still learning it. Having gone through the install during OTAs and then starting to get things at step one during training camp, does that help to reinforce that?

A: Yeah, it does. I think as far as the plays go, obviously I've got that down because we went over it a couple times now. But it's about being in different positions and seeing how you can disguise different looks and kind of throw off the offense a little bit. When I say learning it, that's what I mean by that. So, I try to go back and look at what the Ravens did in the past, how their players did it. I actually talked to (Former Ravens Safety) Eric Weddle a couple times during the offseason. He helped me a lot actually with just kind of how to disguise certain things and how to be on the same page with (Defensive Coordinator) Wink (Martindale), and things like that. We had good convo. He really helped me out in terms of looking at film, studying film, how he did it when he had Wink, so he was really helpful. That's what I mean by still trying to learn it and get stuff down pat.

Q: So more of a selling it than execution?

A: Yeah, more selling it.

Q: How did you get hooked up with Weddle?

A: Wink actually.

Q: He said, 'Hey you should talk to this guy.'?

A: Yeah, so we were talking about it a little bit during OTAs. We kind of went back and forth about it. Then he actually gave me Weddle's number. Then we talked, and then we scheduled a couple phone calls, got on a call, kind of went through some things, went through some film stuff. I asked him some questions. He just gave me some tips about a lot of different things. It was really helpful, and I enjoyed getting that experience from him.

Q: So, you did film stuff with him remotely? He was on, and you were on, and you could see what he was seeing?

A: Yeah, we just got on phone calls. We didn't really get on – we didn't watch film film. But I mean it's easy for us to visualize what we're both kind of talking about. A guy like that, obviously, he's a special player. It was easy for him to explain it to me where I can understand it.

Q: Did he give you any good insight into Wink other than just the X's and O's?

A: Yeah, he did. He gave me a lot of good insight. He definitely helped me. Just being in OTAs, obviously, I was the play-caller and he was the play-caller all the time, so he definitely helped me with being able to communicate it the right way and being on the same page with Wink. He kind of just let me know that Wink is an open book, and he's definitely a player's coach – somebody that's going to listen.

Q: You said the play-caller, I see the green dot. Are you getting the signals, or is it (Linebacker) Blake (Martinez) or one of the linebackers?

A: Right now, I'm getting the signals. Like I said, it's a process. Obviously, it's a little different, but I did it in in OTAs, so I'm pretty much used to it now. But yeah, I'm getting the plays around.

Q: Is it unusual for a safety and not the middle linebacker to do that?

A: I mean I guess for me because the last two years it has been the backer. Obviously for me it's different. I talked to Wink and it's not something that's new to me. I've done it before – I did it at 'Bama. It's not something that's surprising or it's not something that's too hard. It's different when you've got grown men in the huddle and you're trying to get the call to everybody. Obviously being on the backend of it, you might have to run 30-yards and run back to get the play to everybody. It's not too unusual to me.

Q: How's your voice projection?

A: (Laughs) Yeah, you've definitely got to say it with your chest, but it's not too bad. I think once everybody got used to my voice – just hearing it – they got used to being able to get the whole call. Obviously, we've had some hiccups here and there because it was new to everybody, but I think we're good now. I'm making sure I'm still getting it to the backers, and they'll get it to the front. We're working through it, obviously. Not too bad.

Q: Do you see yourself being a coach down the line once your career is done?

A: That's a tough question. I can't answer it right now, but obviously, I want to still be in the realm of working in the football space. : Yeah, more selling it.

Q: How did you get hooked up with Weddle?

A: Wink actually.

Q: He said, 'Hey you should talk to this guy.'?

A: Yeah, so we were talking about it a little bit during OTAs. We kind of went back and forth about it. Then he actually gave me Weddle's number. Then we talked, and then we scheduled a couple phone calls, got on a call, kind of went through some things, went through some film stuff. I asked him some questions. He just gave me some tips about a lot of different things. It was really helpful, and I enjoyed getting that experience from him.

Q: So, you did film stuff with him remotely? He was on, and you were on, and you could see what he was seeing?

A: Yeah, we just got on phone calls. We didn't really get on – we didn't watch film film. But I mean it's easy for us to visualize what we're both kind of talking about. A guy like that, obviously, he's a special player. It was easy for him to explain it to me where I can understand it.

Q: Did he give you any good insight into Wink other than just the X's and O's?

A: Yeah, he did. He gave me a lot of good insight. He definitely helped me. Just being in OTAs, obviously, I was the play-caller and he was the play-caller all the time, so he definitely helped me with being able to communicate it the right way and being on the same page with Wink. He kind of just let me know that Wink is an open book, and he's definitely a player's coach – somebody that's going to listen.

Q: You said the play-caller, I see the green dot. Are you getting the signals, or is it (Linebacker) Blake (Martinez) or one of the linebackers?

A: Right now, I'm getting the signals. Like I said, it's a process. Obviously, it's a little different, but I did it in in OTAs, so I'm pretty much used to it now. But yeah, I'm getting the plays around.

Q: Is it unusual for a safety and not the middle linebacker to do that?

A: I mean I guess for me because the last two years it has been the backer. Obviously for me it's different. I talked to Wink and it's not something that's new to me. I've done it before – I did it at 'Bama. It's not something that's surprising or it's not something that's too hard. It's different when you've got grown men in the huddle and you're trying to get the call to everybody. Obviously being on the backend of it, you might have to run 30-yards and run back to get the play to everybody. It's not too unusual to me.

Q: How's your voice projection?

A: (Laughs) Yeah, you've definitely got to say it with your chest, but it's not too bad. I think once everybody got used to my voice – just hearing it – they got used to being able to get the whole call. Obviously, we've had some hiccups here and there because it was new to everybody, but I think we're good now. I'm making sure I'm still getting it to the backers, and they'll get it to the front. We're working through it, obviously. Not too bad.

Q: Do you see yourself being a coach down the line once your career is done?

A: That's a tough question. I can't answer it right now, but obviously, I want to still be in the realm of working in the football space.