1 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: Let's welcome to the playoffs, and just how these past 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: six games prepared you for what you're about to face. Yeah, Um, 3 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: I'm not trying to make it bigger than what it is. Um, 4 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: obviously there's more on the line and everything. Um, but 5 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: I think, you know, having six games under my belt 6 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: in terms of just playing in an NFL game and 7 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: trying to win for four quarters, Um, you know, to 8 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 1: help me get to this point. And um, all the 9 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: guys in the locker room got my back, They've we've 10 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:34,880 Speaker 1: all grown together, so um we're ready for what's ahead. 11 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: The other day that the weight of the world's not 12 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:39,199 Speaker 1: on your shoulders because of all the playmakers that you 13 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: have around you. That's something that's been kind of instilled 14 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: in news since you took our starting wrong. Yeah. I 15 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 1: feel like that's you know, sort of been my mindset, 16 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,599 Speaker 1: you know. Um, right when Jimmy went down, Um, all 17 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 1: I had to do was go into a coach, asked 18 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: me and and get you know, Debo b A, George Christian, 19 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: those guys the ball. And um, it hasn't changed for 20 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: all the games that I've played in so far, and um, 21 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: that's still going to be the mindset you know, going 22 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: into playoffs team twice for the first time of your 23 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 1: career in the NFL, how does that change your preparation 24 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:13,399 Speaker 1: if at all? Yeah? Um, I mean we played them, 25 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 1: which seems like yesterday, um and so um for myself, 26 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: it's you know, come back in, what have they done 27 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,480 Speaker 1: different the last couple of games? Um? You know, what 28 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: did we do to attack them the first time? Um? 29 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 1: And and and go from there. But again, not try 30 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 1: to overthink things or do anything crazy. Um, just stick 31 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 1: to what you know coach has dialed up. I'm just 32 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 1: gonna try to play my game and go from there 33 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 1: and just keep it simple as as a point guard 34 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: in this offense, spreading the ball around with that many weapons. 35 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 1: Did you ever play basketball? No? I didn't. Is this 36 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: football and baseball? So yes, that answers your question. Yeah. Sorry, 37 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: it was very lively today. If you sense that energy 38 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 1: from everybody since we started, yeah, um, I mean Fred 39 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: said it really well I practice yesterday. He's like, man, 40 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 1: you should feel this, you know, this feeling in your gut. 41 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: You know, man, in we're in playoffs. It matters obviously, 42 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 1: every single day, every meeting, every minute matters. Um. So 43 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: like there's a good vibright now going on you know 44 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:12,919 Speaker 1: obviously at practice in the locker room. So it feels good. 45 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: It's good energy. Um, we just gotta translated onto the 46 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:18,360 Speaker 1: field and and be detailed with everything because everything matters. 47 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: So um, all the guys are really juiced up. Defense 48 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: playing pretty well the last few weeks. What you've seen 49 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 1: from them on the film, Yeah, I mean I feel 50 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:30,359 Speaker 1: like they're sound there. Um, I think more disciplined as 51 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: the season has gone on. Um, you know, they lost 52 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 1: a couple of the guys, but still overall, I think 53 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:38,519 Speaker 1: they play well together. They're guys that you know, I 54 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 1: still have playmakers and athletic. They got a veteran and 55 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: and digs at safety. So um, I think overall they're 56 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 1: just a team that you respect, the defense that you respect, 57 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 1: and um they're gonna make you, um, you know, drive 58 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: and the whole bend, but don't break mentality. So we 59 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 1: have to be on point with what we're doing to 60 00:02:55,440 --> 00:03:02,359 Speaker 1: be successful. So definitely a defense that we respect apparent Yeah, 61 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:06,119 Speaker 1: um yeah that's another thing. Um, I feel really good, 62 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: you know going into this game, especially since we had 63 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: a quick turnaround last time, played on Sunday and then 64 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: we had to be ready to roll for Thursday night, 65 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,359 Speaker 1: and obviously I had the whole rib thing going on. 66 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: So I feel a lot better. Um, I'm excited about that, 67 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: but yeah I was. I was definitely hurting for that game. 68 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 1: How is McCaffrey just intentionally as a decoy? Major job 69 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:33,519 Speaker 1: means here, King and in those big plays where you 70 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 1: make a pitch to him or he was looking at 71 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: him and like the defense score your sways over the 72 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: that side of the field, I guess, just how is 73 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 1: his presence open things up? Yeah? I mean he's a 74 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: guy that can obviously run the ball, um, get the 75 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: ball out of the backfield with you know, pitches and things, 76 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: and then obviously split them out and run a route. 77 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: So he does all these things that the defense has 78 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 1: a you know scheme up and try to stop. And 79 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: so when you put all that attention on one guy 80 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: obviously opens up guys like George and Debo and b A. 81 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: So um, honestly I love it as a quarterback, you know, 82 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: so I have a guy that is so well rounded 83 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: like Christian and then even you know guys like Debo 84 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: Debo can do the same thing, right, So um, definitely 85 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: lucky and thankful to have them on my team and 86 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,160 Speaker 1: I just gotta do my job and get him the ball. 87 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: So scheduled or something that you have with George Kittle 88 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: on day one or is that something that you've kind 89 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: of sensed grow with with reps with him. I feel 90 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 1: like it's taken some time. Um. You know, when I 91 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 1: first got in, I sort of to tell the guys 92 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: um in the Miami game, like, hey, if it breaks down, 93 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: I could you know, make something happen off schedule. So um, 94 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 1: that has happened over time. We've talked about it at 95 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 1: practice and in meetings what to do if you know 96 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,479 Speaker 1: the play is not there in rhythm or on time. Um. 97 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 1: So that's something that you know, obviously George is a 98 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,159 Speaker 1: great job with if it's not there, you know he 99 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:53,840 Speaker 1: knows that he did. He has a great uh sense 100 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 1: to find space and so um, I like that a 101 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 1: lot receivers that Like George obviously a big, tall guy. 102 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 1: But is he good at you know, from your vision 103 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: as a quarterback and making himself Yeah, I mean I 104 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 1: think he does a great job of creating separation for one, 105 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: and then his frame that he has obviously has a 106 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 1: tight end. Um, he just he's a great mismatch man, 107 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 1: and he's explosive and um how he runs routes and stuff. 108 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: You know, he does a great job of just like 109 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: I said, creating space and I know where he's gonna be. 110 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: So um, I'm like I said, I'm thankful to have George. 111 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: He's he's a freak of nature, and um, I just 112 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 1: got to continue to have that connection moving forward for 113 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:36,479 Speaker 1: this playoff run. Understanding that this game, you're not trying 114 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 1: to make it too big, but as far as lifelong goal, 115 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: as you get drafted, you make the team, you're hearing 116 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:43,040 Speaker 1: this moment, what does this feel like a couple of 117 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:44,840 Speaker 1: days away from your first playoffs started, as far as 118 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 1: like a lifelong dream as you try to move forward 119 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 1: the championship, Yeah, um, I feel like I'll do a 120 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 1: lot of reflecting, you know, towards you know, after the season. Um, 121 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 1: right now, I'm looking at it like, man, we got 122 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: the Seahawks. Yes, it's the playoffs, but um, for myself, 123 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:00,599 Speaker 1: it's I gotta do my job. I'm not trying to, 124 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 1: you know, think about this storybook ending with anything like that. It's, man, 125 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: I got a great defense. I gotta play on Sunday. 126 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 1: I gotta do my job in terms of getting in 127 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:11,039 Speaker 1: the guys, the ball, um and all that will fall 128 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: in place. But definitely thankful for everything that has happened. Um, 129 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 1: but you know we still have a ways to go. 130 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: So being in the conversation for a Rookie of the 131 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 1: Year six games, Yeah, same thing. I don't. I don't 132 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 1: try to get wrapped up there in any of that 133 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,039 Speaker 1: kind of stuff. For me, it's you know, I gotta 134 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: I gotta win, you know, for as good as a 135 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:33,600 Speaker 1: team that we have. Um, I gotta just come in, 136 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: do my job and let everything else fall into place. Um. Yeah, 137 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: almost like how I answer that other question, it's sort 138 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 1: of the same thing. I don't. I don't want to 139 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:42,679 Speaker 1: get wrapped up in all that kind of stuff. It'll 140 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 1: happen if it happens. Um, whoever wins it wins it great. 141 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:49,040 Speaker 1: But you know, I'm just trying to be where I'm at, 142 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 1: be where my feed are at. So same kind you're 143 00:06:56,680 --> 00:07:01,280 Speaker 1: talking about the off schedule plays or and same with 144 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:05,719 Speaker 1: George of the same relationship. Yeah yeah, Um, Charlie Coler 145 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: and I for sure, Um, we made a lot of 146 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 1: players together. He did a great job of creating separation 147 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 1: and I always knew, Man, I got a big tight 148 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: end matched up against the linebacker safety and I can 149 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: give him a shot. So um, you know, Charlie did 150 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 1: a great job with the off schedule place to the scrambling. 151 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: He always has his eyes down field. He saw the 152 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: game like a quarterback sees it. So I think George 153 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: is the same thing. So definitely similar in a way. 154 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 1: How many different ways people trying to attack so far, 155 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 1: Like Miami came out and they just blitzed. You don't 156 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: figure they're testing quarterback like Arizona came physically at how 157 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: much have you seen so far? And how much you think? Yeah, Um, 158 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: I feel like I'm sort of saying I see something 159 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: new almost every week. So um, obviously there's what six 160 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: games of me of them out there on me, so um, 161 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 1: there's still things that I'm sure coordinators are gonna try 162 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 1: to dial up and everything and try to get me 163 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: to do some something different. But um, you know, for myself, 164 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: I just try to stay grounded and what the progression is, 165 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: what the read is, those those kinds of things. But um, 166 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 1: you know, I don't know what coordinators are thinking or 167 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: how they're gonna stop me. Or what so. Um, but 168 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: I feel like I do see, you know, different things 169 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: every single week, so we'll see it's really comfortable and 170 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: bowling black, which is unusual for a writing handing quarterback. 171 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:34,680 Speaker 1: Why do you think that is? Um, I'm not really sure. 172 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: I've asked myself that I've watched film and like, okay, well, 173 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 1: why you know have I done that? Um? You know 174 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 1: for myself, it's like, man, I feel pressure and I 175 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 1: just try to get out however I can if the 176 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:47,839 Speaker 1: play is not there. So um, I feel like the 177 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:49,680 Speaker 1: last couple of games has just been to the left 178 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: by chance. But it's not something that I go into 179 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: the play like, man, I'm gonna if this isn't there, 180 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: I'm gonna escape here or there. It's just what's happened 181 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: so far in the games. So it's really been about it. 182 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 1: High yess.