So what is the process like leading up to the draft or FA signing?
It’s kinda just a “wait and see” process. Nobody knows what’s really going on; guys might tell you you’re gonna go this round or that round; this team is looking for this or this; but it’s hard because you don’t know what anybody is thinking. You just worry about yourself. You have to keep working out every week leading up to the draft and make sure you’re ready if your name gets called. It’s very nerve-wracking there’s so much anticipation you just want to know and get it over with.
Obviously it’s still nerve-wracking if you don’t get drafted. There’s a whole process of still trying to figure out if you have what it takes to make a team. I had lot of teams interested in me so I was lucky, some free agents just have one or two teams to choose from and I had a lot of teams approach me. So me and my agent just had to sit down and figure out which team was the best situation; where I had the best chance of making the team. It’s never about location or how that team performed the previous year. My main focus was where I could contribute the most, where I could make the biggest impact. My agent thought Jacksonville had the most needs for me and could use my skill set the most. The conversation my agent had with the Jaguars made him believe that I could get a roster spot and push for playing time so I couldn’t turn it down.
What does Jacksonville need to address in the draft?
I’m not gonna say, you never know what the franchise is thinking because there are so many guys come together to make those decisions. This business is so complex and teams are always making player changes. They (Jaguars) might go into free agency and pick up guys before the draft so you never know what the team needs until the day of the draft. I can’t really speak towards a specific position but we want to get better as a team and they’ll draft the best guys that will contribute the most to help this team win.
Thoughts on picking Tebow just to sell tickets?
I’ve heard it a lot but I haven’t really been focusing on the media. I’m just trying to focus on myself, minicamp, and the season. If they do select Tebow, we’ll embrace him as a team. That would be cool because he is from the Jacksonville area so I could see it working out with the whole ticket sales situation. Bottom line; Tim Tebow is a good player, so if they drafted Tim Tebow, it would because of the player he is. If we didn’t have any use for him it wouldn’t make sense. They’re not gonna pick him to sell some tickets. It’s all about winning and that’s the only thing we’re focused on.
What do you think/how do you feel when there are rumors that Jacksonville will soon move their franchise to LA?
There’s been talk about the team moving for economic purposes but I don’t really get involved with that stuff. Wherever we end up, I just want a job. If I have to travel to France to play for the Jaguars I’m all for it.
What is your off-season schedule like?
I get up around 10 am and work out Monday through Thursday. Every day I watch a lot of film and focus on what I could do better and correct the mistakes that I made during the games. I learned a lot from my rookie season, I’m just trying to come back 100% better than last year. That’s what this business about, just trying to always get better. I was in Atlanta working out with a personal trainer when the season ended and I just got back to Jacksonville last week working out with Luke Richesson, our strength and conditioning coach.
Do you have any expectations for yourself this year? Team expectations?
Definitely, I just want to get sacks and force fumbles. I don’t play by numbers; I just want to show the team I can be valuable and prove that I’m a hard worker. The sky is the limit with me. After completing my first year, I feel like I can accomplish anything. My goal last year was to make the team and then I started a game and it just kept building from there. I feel like I could’ve made a bigger impact if I never got injured but I put my best foot forward and I work hard and hopefully that will turn into more success for me in the upcoming season.
What players do you look up to the most and try to mirror your game as?
Robert Mathis is one player that I watch a lot. I like his style of play because he’s got the full package. I watch Joey Porter and James Harrison because they’re rush linebackers and used in the same sense as I am. I love watching those guys, their style of play matches mine but they’ve established names for themselves. I hope with work I can build the same technique and I think I could have a solid career.
How different would you say the college game is to the pro level of play?
Guys are bigger, guys are faster, guys are stronger but I wouldn’t call those the biggest difference because those are things you can adjust to. I’d say the biggest difference is the mental side. If you want to be successful, you have to study the playbook and study film. You have to work your brain and come to work with a focus and determination to want to be better every day.
