Transcript: Guard Jon Runyan Jr.

Guard Jon Runyan Jr.

Q: Can you talk about the chemistry developing with (offensive tackle) Jermaine (Eluemunor)?

JON RUNYAN: Yeah, the whole O-line. That's what training camp is for right here. Long days, probably about 12, 13, 14-hour days. You got to make light of stuff going on and be able to find out who everybody is, what they're about. There's nothing else to do besides work together, talk together, hang out and chemistry is really coming along. It's a really light group, but also when it's time to work, it's time to work and put our head down and we get to it. It has been a great first week of practice and being here around the building, seeing everybody around and excited for what we got going ahead. We still got over a month left before the regular season starts, but enjoying this process right now in training camp, everybody working to get better.

Q: I'm sure you weren't expecting to be one of the stars of Hard Knocks, but your agent conversation with the Giants that you were going to go to the Jets, if it was tied. Can you just walk us through that decision and obviously the Jets and Giants are rivals. Why were you going to go there? Was it really money that made you come here, that extra million dollars?

JON RUNYAN: Yeah, good question. Going through this process, I was trying to figure out what teams were interested, and obviously both the Jets and Giants had offensive line needs at the time and came down to it. I've got a really relationship with Coach (Nathaniel) Hackett over there, the OC and obviously I played with (Jets quarterback) Aaron (Rodgers) for three years and they have a lot of other Green Bay guys over there. So I kind of felt comfortable and I really thought that the Jets were going to kind of be at the forefront of that. And they came in, made an offer. In the end it all worked out, the money's the money, whatever. But I really believe in, you know, what (General Manager) Joe (Schoen) and (Asisstant General Manager) Brandon (Brown) and what (Head Coach) Dabs (Brian Daboll) and (Offensive Line Coach) Carm (Carmen Bricillo) and everybody else in the building is building here. I like how this team is built from top to bottom on the offensive side of the ball, especially we have playmakers all around. The O-line is going to be really solid. I firmly believe that. And we just got to give our quarterback time there to make plays. And other than that, it's going to be really exciting.

Q: It's interesting to me because that team, at least from the outside, is closer to winning a Super Bowl. Obviously they have (Jets quarterback) Aaron Rodgers et cetera. So, winning wise, they would be closer. But here, you're part of building something and you're certainly a more important piece here. Talk about that factor.

JON RUNYAN: I'm not going to say anything about the Jets organization. You could say that they are built for right now mode, to go win a Super Bowl this year. But I firmly believe in how this franchise here is built. I think they're building not just for this year. I think they're building for the next four or five years. So, that's what really excited me about it. The fact that I come here, I feel really wanted here and welcome. It's been amazing here. I've been really enjoying this organization and the people in it, especially.

Q: You guys are unique in terms of how, like the secondary, where it's five guys or four guys working as one. How do you build that communication amongst a group to where you all are seeing and speaking the same language out there on the field?

JON RUNYAN: It's kind of twofold. It's the reps you get together and how many reps you can build together as an offensive line and how valuable that communication is when you're in the huddle and then on the line of scrimmage when the picture is changing, being able to communicate with that. It starts in the film room and being in there in the film room and paying attention, even though those are some long two-hour meetings, sometimes. Being on the same page. Understanding how (quarterback) DJ (Daniel Jones) sees the defense, understanding how (center) John Michael (Schmitz Jr.) is going to identify it and then the guards and tackles being able to communicate with each other should get everybody on the same page. But it's a full team effort, all those five guys there. DJ has to know what we're doing and so do the backs and even sometimes the tight end. So, it's just a lot of film work, a lot of reps together and being able to build that trust and it needs to start now. I really like how these first three days of camp have gone so far. I feel like we left off right where we started in OTAs. And it's been really inspiring.

Q: What have your first impressions of (running back) Devin Singletary been? Everybody calls him Motor, have you gotten that 'Motor' impression from him?

JON RUNYAN: Yeah. You see it every day with him. He's a true professional. He does everything right. There hasn't been one play where there's just kind of any lapse in anything. He's 100 percent committed. He does everything right, all the techniques. He's full go until the echo of the whistle and he's really exciting to have back there. You know how slippery he is in space. He's just a technician. He's going to be in the right spot all the time and he's going to hit the right hole. He's going to be downhill. I think we're all really excited to have him in the offense. I'm excited to have him run behind me and make me and the other four guys look really good. That's always really important when a running back can do that.

Q: (Head Coach) Dabs (Brian Daboll) pretty much told us that (offensive tackle) Jermaine (Eluemunor) would be back on Sunday and, surprise surprise, he was out there today. Did that catch you off guard?

JON RUNYAN: I know Jermaine's going through that little bruise that he got from Dexter's shoulder. That would definitely hurt taking a large man's shoulder right into your ribcage and you can tell he's in a lot of pain, but he's out there and he wants to be out there. Moving over to tackle, I feel like that's really his natural position. He just wants to get on the field. It doesn't matter where he's going to play. It's good to have him out there. It says a lot about a player when he goes out there and you can tell that he's fighting through pain. He's out there trying to better himself to better the team. I think guys take note of that. It was awesome having him back out there today.

Q: Was there any talk, when he (Jermaine Eluemunor) went over to right tackle, of you going over to left guard or once you stay at right guide, you want to be there?

JON RUNYAN: As of right now, no. The whole flip-flopping thing is tough going from one side to the other, left to right. So, trying to build some cohesion with whatever side you're going on. It's tough going from left side to right side. Your whole body has to change. Everything's just reflected and your whole eyes and feet and hands is all different. It's nice being able to stick on one side and who knows, we'll see.

Q: How much have you talked to (offensive tackle) Evan Neal? From talking to him or communicating with him, what do you think he is capable of coming off this kind of injury and long rehab process?

JON RUNYAN: Yeah, it's tough. Evan's been in a tough situation and it's not his fault. Sometimes stuff just happens like that. I see him in here every day. He's working. He's with the strength staff all the time. I see him in the training room. He's battling to get back. He's doing what he can, as much as he can. Sometimes the body doesn't always respond exactly how you want, but he's in there and he's in the meeting room. He's asking questions. He's paying attention. It's an excellent team meeting room. He's always asking questions and being on top of his stuff and going back or going over plays, the install, and kind of see Evan running through whatever play we're installing there. He's a great athlete, for how large he is, how well he can move. I know when he comes back, he's locked in, and he'll be ready. And when he gets healthy, it's going to be fun having him back out there.

Q: What is it like going against (defensive lineman) Dex (Dexter Lawrence) every day in practice? You used to go against a real good one in (Packers defensive tackle) Kenny Clark.

JON RUNYAN: Yeah. I thought going against Dexter twice in four years was enough and now I got to deal with it every day. It's good. It's only going to make you better. You know, like they say, iron sharpens iron. If you're lacked on any technique, your hands miss, or you're too high, he's going to expose you immediately. So, every single play with him, you got to ring a hundred percent and you got to be locked in and focused. It's only going to make me and everybody else better being able to go against somebody like that. One of the best D-tackles in the NFL. I think he has capability, one of being the best of all-time. He moves so well for being whatever weight he's at and how big he is. It's just really awesome being able to work together with him and make each other better and build this offensive and defensive line, because I feel like that's going to be the heartbeat of this team, how well we control the line of scrimmage. Being able to work with him is a real blessing.

Q: What is your center experience? We saw, going back to Hard Knocks, (Offensive Line Coach) Carmen Bricillo said that you might get to be a backup center, emergency center type.

JON RUNYAN: I played center in the preseason with the Packers. I think once or twice, maybe about two or three quarters. I practiced it a lot. My whole rookie year, I was a scout team center. I've always been able to snap. Getting out there in the game, I've always been, kind of, the emergency center whenever we need that. I always think of myself more of a guard, but if I'm needed there in center, I feel comfortable enough and pre-practice, I'm out there taking center quarterback exchange. So, it's something I feel comfortable with. This is just part of being an NFL player, especially on the interior, being able to play left, right and center. It's kind of like being a swing tackle. That's kind of like the expectation when you're a young guy being the league, being an interior guy, being able to snap. It is something that's just always stuck with me. I feel like it's just a good trait to have and keep it in the back pocket.

Q: What do you see from, since you've had that center experience, what do you see from (center) JMS (John Michael Schmitz Jr.) and how he's come back after his rookie year?

JON RUNYAN: I praise J.M.S a lot. I say it all the time, you wouldn't believe that he's a second-year player. So smart. He's on top of all this stuff. He gets everybody up front on the same page, immediately. There's no hesitation in any of the ways that he identifies the defense. As soon as you put your hand down, you know what you're doing. He gets everybody set. He's just so strong on the inside and being able to battle against (defensive lineman) Dexter (Lawrence) every day, is just going to make him so much better. I know it's going to be a little rough here and there in practice, but it's going to make such a difference for him in the game and really excited for what he's got going and how much he helps make this offense go.