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Transcript: Offensive Tackle Evan Neal

Eric from BBI : Admin : 8/19/2022 3:53 pm
Offensive Tackle Evan Neal

Q: Looking around the o-line room and it's shrinking. A lot of guys in the training room?

A: Yeah man, it's camp. It's camp. They'll be back for sure. They'll be back.

Q: Having different centers, your fifth or sixth center – how difficult is that for you as a tackle when you have different centers? I know in the game, in the preseason game you might have a different center.

A: It hasn't really been really difficult at all, honestly. The communication has been the same from all of us. We sit in the same meetings, we all speak the same language. There really hasn't been an issue or a difference at all as far as communication and things like that. It's been pretty seamless if you ask me.

Q: They haven't asked you to play center yet, have they?

A: No, not yet. I don't think they are going to do that (laughs).

Q: They might, I don't know.

A: Hey, I may snap the ball over the quarterback's head. They may not want me to do that.

Q: If you do it once, they won't ask you to do it again.

A: You are right about that (laughs).

Q: How much feedback do you give the coaches on what you are comfortable doing and not doing? Whether it's within the scheme or a certain set, do you go to them and say, 'I'd rather do this than that,' or 'I'm better at this than that?'

A: No, I'm comfortable and confident that I will be able to perform and execute anything that the coaches ask me to do in our scheme and our offense. It's a similar scheme that I ran in college, just different verbiage and different terminology. I don't really have those kinds of conversations with my coaches because everything they ask me to do is well within my capabilities.

Q: What have these last few weeks been like? You had an opportunity to go play in a game and see what you kind of had to work on. What did you come out of that thinking and concentrating on this week?

A: A live game scenario, a live game situation – it was definitely a great experience to have. I need to continue to work on the same things that I have been harping on with myself and the things that the coaches have been emphasizing as well. Just different technical things as far as like set angles, hat placement and my base. That's pretty much what I need to work on, things that are definitely going to help propel my game to the next level.

Q: Have you ever heard that you are too top heavy?

A: I don't really listen to that. At the end of the day, I'm definitely not a finished product but I'm getting better and better every day. I belong here, I belong in this league and like I say, I'm just going to take it day by day. I am going to get better day by day by going out there, going to practice. I'm going to win reps, I'm going to lose reps. That's all a part of it. The preseason games and everything and so forth are just extra experiences that I'm going to get under my belt and I'm going to learn from all those mistakes and learn from the things that I need to get better at.

Q: Did you hear that? Did you hear that someone on the internet gave some analysis that you were too heavy as a player?

A: I really don't take the time to focus on what goes on in the internet. It's the internet, everybody has their opinion. I like to listen to the opinions that matter.

Q: (Former Cowboys Wide Receiver) Michael Irvin actually was talking about you, he said he worked out with you, spent some time with you and raved about your work ethic. What was that like and what did you take from talking to him?

A: It was really cool. Michael Irvin, he's one of the greatest of all time for a reason. I trained with him this offseason – a very, very strenuous workout. That cat is dang near 60-years old and he's in there, you see the fire in his eyes like he has to still play. There's a reason why he has a gold jacket and there's a reason why he is as great as he is. There's definitely no mistake about that. Just to be able to be around a guy like that and pick his brain and just listen and learn from him is definitely a blessing.

Q: Did he talk trash to you about the Cowboys?

A: (Laughs) Not so much. Not really.

Q: That doesn't sound like him then.

A: Like I said, he didn't really talk too much trash. He gave me advice, but it was kind of like, he gave it to me because he wanted to give me the advice but also he was like, 'Ah, you've got to play my Cowboys.' That was kind of the extent of that.

Q: How did you like that bubble-screen play when you ended up getting down the field like that? How do you like that as a tackle and as a lineman?

A: I really like it. To be able to go out there, get in space and showcase my athleticism. We had a successful play on it, so I definitely get excited whenever (Offensive Coordinator Mike) Kafka calls plays like that.

Q: Do you see a different look in the safety's eyes when that happens?

A: Yeah, a lot of guys really don't want to take me on. Well, a lot of smaller guys I should say. A lot of them try to get out of the way and things like that, but hey, I'm just trying to execute my job.

Q: (Wide Receiver Darius) Slayton said it was like getting behind a fire engine in the lane.

A: That's probably what it was like for him.

Q: You were doing that drill yesterday when they were swinging that heavy bag at you guys. Just about everybody took a step back. You were able to catch it without moving back.

A: Yeah, I'm a large human, I have a lot of mass. The bag wasn't that heavy either. I was pretty much able to absorb it. I know I probably weigh more than the bag.
I like the sound, the timbre, of his demeanor, if that makes sense  
ColHowPepper : 8/19/2022 5:11 pm : link
A lot of self-awareness, I would say. But, wtf:
Quote:
Q: Have you ever heard that you are too top heavy?

A: I don't really listen to that. At the end of the day, I'm definitely not a finished product but I'm getting better and better every day. I belong here, I belong in this league and like I say, I'm just going to take it day by day. I am going to get better day by day by going out there, going to practice. I'm going to win reps, I'm going to lose reps. That's all a part of it. The preseason games and everything and so forth are just extra experiences that I'm going to get under my belt and I'm going to learn from all those mistakes and learn from the things that I need to get better at.

Q: Did you hear that? Did you hear that someone on the internet gave some analysis that you were too heavy as a player?

A: I really don't take the time to focus on what goes on in the internet. It's the internet, everybody has their opinion. I like to listen to the opinions that matter.

How the fakk does one beat, or two consecutive beats, ask those two questions in sequence? Neal first gives the obligatory 'I don't listen to that', but then follows up with a considered and I thought intelligent and solid answer re. the learning process, going to win some reps, lose some reps, and absorbing the lessons of pre-season. And then joe schmo as if he hasn't listened--listened--to the answer his interviewee gave at all, comes back with the same or worse crap. Dog manure
RE: I like the sound, the timbre, of his demeanor, if that makes sense  
jhibb : 8/19/2022 5:52 pm : link
In comment 15785300 ColHowPepper said:
Quote:
A lot of self-awareness, I would say. But, wtf:


How the fakk does one beat, or two consecutive beats, ask those two questions in sequence? Neal first gives the obligatory 'I don't listen to that', but then follows up with a considered and I thought intelligent and solid answer re. the learning process, going to win some reps, lose some reps, and absorbing the lessons of pre-season. And then joe schmo as if he hasn't listened--listened--to the answer his interviewee gave at all, comes back with the same or worse crap. Dog manure


Completely agree. It's ridiculous and that kind of thing happens way to often with these guys.
Smart, tough, dependable......  
Simms11 : 8/19/2022 10:22 pm : link
He’s all that......comes across as an exceptional young player.
If you watch or listen to his interview  
SCGiantsFan : 8/20/2022 9:47 am : link
there is a moment when he is looking around seeking the next question, but none came. The reporters seem to be flat footed and not have anything of substance to ask him.

You could see the thought almost cross his mind, "okay we are done here if that's it." It was a bit humorous
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