1 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:09,640 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Command Center Podcast. I'm Julie Donaldson. Second 2 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: year of cornerback Benjamin Saint. Juice was thrust into a 3 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: starting role midseason following the trade of William Jackson, the 4 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: third Pittsburgh. The Montreal native and Minnesota product thrived in 5 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 1: his new role, but unfortunately the end of the season 6 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: was derolled by an ankle injury. Prior to heading home 7 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: for the offseason, he popped by the Players Club for 8 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: a chat with London Fletcher and Santana Moss all Right said, Juice, man, 9 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: you had a breakout second season in the league. Obviously 10 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: didn't didn't in the way you wanted to with battling 11 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 1: the ankle injury. How do you feel you played and 12 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 1: what led to your your success on the field this year. 13 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: M I feel like from year one to year two 14 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:51,199 Speaker 1: it was a big confidence boost, um knowing that I, 15 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:53,159 Speaker 1: you know, belonging this league and I can be a 16 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: true like CB one starter here. And obviously that's just 17 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: part of the proces, you know, going from a rookie, 18 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: you playing against some top guys, you huning the game. 19 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 1: At the same time, everything is fast, so you're trying 20 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 1: to figure out if you fit in and where you're 21 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:06,479 Speaker 1: fit in all that stuff. And I started the season 22 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: at nickel, which is something that you know I needed 23 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 1: to do for the team to be successful. Then moved 24 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: back to corner and when I went through these you know, 25 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 1: top receivers and matchup and I saw, like you know, 26 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 1: I was performing well and all that stuff. That just 27 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 1: gave me the confidence and say like, okay, I can 28 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: do this like week in and week out. And like 29 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:23,320 Speaker 1: you said, unfortunately, like you know, it's part of the game, 30 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 1: I got injured, like somebody fell on my ankle. So 31 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 1: that's really the only thing I wish for twenty twenty three, 32 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:31,039 Speaker 1: a full season of being healthy so I can show, 33 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 1: like you know, the team, the fans and all the 34 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 1: people that can do this day and day out. Well. 35 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:37,680 Speaker 1: One of the things we know, man, those things come 36 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 1: and you gotta just stay preyed up. I mean, because 37 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: I used to pray so much just to make it 38 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: through the season. Man. But we know it comes. You know, 39 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 1: it comes with the territory all. One of the things 40 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: I wanted to ask you is just watching you play 41 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: this year, was it a difference to you when you 42 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: moved outside? Oh, that was something that was natural to you. 43 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: I mean you played the inside so well. I almost 44 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: thought that that's where you did all, you know, throughout 45 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: college and whatever else it was. But was playing on 46 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 1: the outside first for you or it was something that 47 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: you can do without happening to really think about where 48 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: you had on the field. Yeah, so outside, like you said, 49 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: as my natural position. That's why I played Like my 50 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: whole career, I never really played on the inside, but 51 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: I was always, uh, something I was on the back 52 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: of my mind because when I was getting recruited and 53 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: you know, um in a draft process. I was also 54 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 1: something that they brought up. There's like you taught you quick, 55 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 1: so like you know, if we need to move you 56 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:29,679 Speaker 1: to safety and nickel, can you do that? And I 57 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: always said yeah, And the opportunity came and I was 58 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 1: able to, you know, to to be prepared for that 59 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 1: and play pretty well. And I think that's one of 60 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 1: the assets that I have, is being how tall and 61 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 1: big I am. But quick, I can still be in 62 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: you know, in the slide and you know, blitz and 63 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 1: all that stuff, and it's fun for real, Like it's 64 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 1: it just opens up the game and the scheme. You 65 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 1: know that I can remember recalled interviewing you and you 66 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: told us about you were playing hockey and being you know, 67 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 1: and that helping you with your quickness and change of direction, 68 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: being a six three corner, that that that skill. Said, 69 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: What's what were you? What were you like on that hockey? Uh? 70 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 1: On that ice, mad I was tough for I would say, like, 71 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 1: you know, I'm very confident. I wanted this to come 72 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: out cocky, but like if I kept playing hockey, I 73 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:14,679 Speaker 1: think I would have made to the NHL. I would 74 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: man into the league just because of how like my 75 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,080 Speaker 1: work ethic and you know, how gifted athletically, you know, 76 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,920 Speaker 1: shout out to Pops you know has done a good genetics. 77 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 1: But uh yeah, hockey, Like I said, like it's usually 78 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: most of the guys like they do track, you know, 79 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:28,519 Speaker 1: all that stuff, so they're pretty fastened linear speeding on 80 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,639 Speaker 1: stuff hockey so much, you know, side to side, stopping 81 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: on the dome, like playing defense. Came back with all 82 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: that stuff like that helped me as a dB, and 83 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: I'm starting to see the transition from I'm like, Okay, 84 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: that's why I can move so well because I've you know, 85 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: I've mastered those skills as a young kid. All the 86 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: way until I was fourteen. What are one of those 87 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: moments you take this off season and look back on 88 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: and say, oh, this is who I need to be. 89 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: You know, this is the game where I showed that 90 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: I had had my best outing and this is what 91 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 1: I want to I want to take this over to 92 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 1: the off season and build from it. I would say, honestly, 93 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 1: that first game that I was put back at corner 94 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: and I had like four or five pv us against 95 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 1: the Eagles, even though we lost, like that that was good. 96 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: But I would say like, like, I'm looking at the 97 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: stats that Justin Jefferson is putting up against DBS. I 98 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: see like one hundred and eighty yards, two hundred yards, 99 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,160 Speaker 1: three yards, not you know, I held them to one 100 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 1: touchdown seventy two yards. You know, as you know, a 101 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 1: second year corner that's just you know, getting his name. 102 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 1: So that's if I can recreate that type of performance, 103 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: And that kind of was my eye opening moment, like, Yo, 104 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: that's the top receiver in the league, and my team 105 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: has enough confidence to say like this is who you're 106 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 1: gonna follow the whole game. And so if I can 107 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: build off that this offseason, that'll be perfect for all 108 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 1: your commander's news and analysis. Be sure to tune into 109 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: Command Center weeknights but five and ten pm on NBC 110 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,919 Speaker 1: Sports Washington. 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