Raanan interviews Ben Bredeson - good stuff here.

I didn't see this posted already. Let's hear from our possible starting center.

Jordon asks Bredeson some good questions. Ben's answers are not too crazy, nothing too deep, but still interesting, especially his comments on the oline unit which really reflect on the team and locker room culture.

He has some very nice things to say about Gates and Feliciano as friends and as good people.

On playing center, it doesn't sound like the org has talked to him about this yet. However he says it's no big deal, he is already ready to do it, "if that happens". He basically says that in general an interior oline can play guard or center and practices both during the season. "You have to be ready to snap at any time". Says he was generally happy with his center play during week 17 vs the Eagles.

On injuries he says that many injuries are outside your control, but he specifically trains for flexibility and functional movement so he has a little more "give" instead of having a pull or a tear. But in the end, "The game is ruthless and sometimes things just happen."

He comments on last year's oline by noting that the coaching changes and the new offense created a learning curve but then they had a lot of growth through the season.

He doesn't really reflect on their play as such, but more on their closeness as friends and as a unit.

Said last year's unit was "closer than any unit that I have seen during my short career."

"The culture helped a ton. The ability that Dabs set up, that trickled down through Bobby (Johnson) and our room, just being able to be yourself, it was a blast coming in every day and coming to work...It was fun coming in every single day. They made everything fun."

"Not an outcast anywhere. Hanging out outside and inside the building...We saw that transfer onto the field"

He goes on to speak very highly of Bobby Johnson and specifically says (echoing what we have heard about Daboll) how he really cares about them as people and their lives, and that causes the players to not only respect him but also project that caring outward as well, creating a close but loose group of people that really enjoy each other and enjoy their jobs. These are my words but that's basically what he's saying.

I think this really speaks to the team culture in general and ties into pretty much everything we as fans hear about Daboll, his coaches and and his program.

On Evan Neal he says: "I am fully confident in Evan. 100%."

"He's a great athlete and an incredible guy. I'm not concerned about Evan. He truly cares about the team and how he can do better. He wants it more than anybody."

Notes Neal's work ethic, athletic ability and that he knows how to handle himself. Mentions that "Drew" (Thomas) is Neal's mentor.

On Daniel Jones' new contract and how many players on the team were very happy for DJ, he says "He deserved it. He's a huge centerpiece of the team. Everybody loves Daniel. I can't think of a poor opinion. Arguably the hardest worker on the team."

Calls DJ "selfless" and "a great leader". Uses as an example how DJ runs the ball as aggressively as he does because he has a killer's instinct and is a competitor who wants to win. The oline loves blocking for him. DJ is a calm quiet person in the locker room but "totally different" on the field.

Ben interview starts at around 13:45.

First though, they talk ice fishing for around four and a half minutes.
Breaking Big Blue - the Center Episode - ( New Window )