Christian Wilkins – July 26, 2019
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Friday, July 26, 2019
DT Christian Wilkins
(How are your first couple of days?) – “The first couple of days, I’ve got a long way to go before (I am) where I want to be. But it’s definitely good to get out here and compete with these guys, because I really feel like we’ve got a good group of guys who work hard every day, compete (and are) smart players. It’s good to get out there and compete with them, listen to them, talk to them, listen to what they think I can do better, how I can improve my game, listen to what they’re doing to how they attack and things like that just to improve my overall craft. I am just excited about that.”
(This heat is fun, no?) – “Oh, yeah. You have a different definition of fun than me. (laughter) It’s good. It builds a lot of character. I think it’ll definitely put us where we want to be as far as conditioning and going against all different types of elements and everything. It’s hot. It’s hot out here. I don’t really feel it until the end of practice. That’s when I’m just like (sighs). It’s all good.”
(How does having a defense that’s so multiple help you guys up front?) – “We’ve just got a lot of different guys who play a lot of different positions and contribute in a lot of ways. I feel like that poses a challenge for other offenses. I like what we do. The coaches do a great job with putting guys in the right positions to make plays and to help the defense as best as possible. I feel like they’re going to continue to do that all year. I’m just looking forward to everything.”
(How different has it been when you turn around and there’s a safety right behind you?) – “Not super different, because I feel like we did a lot of that stuff too a little bit back in college. It’s just great to know the type of guys I’ve got around me everywhere. (There are) so many guys who can do so many different things and make a lot of plays. It’s fun to know that.”
(You’re carrying the helmets now so you’re the low man on the totem pole?) – “I am. I’m just a funky, ole’ rookie. These guys, they love me and they respect me, but they make sure they make me realize that every day. I’m happy to do it, because those guys are my teammates and I’ve just got to respect the chain of command right now. I’m just a funky rookie, got to carry helmets, got to bring the snacks. In the spring I spent about $100 or something on snacks. I never did that before. I’ve got to get the snacks today, too. Just doing those little rookie duty things, I’m happy to do it for my guys.”
(What kind of snacks are you getting?) – “We wrote a list of things. They made a list. Some of it serious, some of it foolish. I think I’m going to go a little different. I’ll get them some healthy snacks. I don’t want my guys getting fat. I’ve got to look out for my guys too, so I’ve got to get all the healthy snacks.”
(What’s the most foolish thing?) – “Just guys being funny when they wrote down the list. They wrote things that aren’t even, I don’t know. ‘Make sure you get the pack of Essential Waters,’ or something. I don’t know. Just things that they are obviously joking (about). Seedless watermelon. Something funny. They’re just messing around.”
(That must’ve been tough to pull $100 out of your pocket? Did you go couponing?) – “Yeah, you all know I’m cheap. I’m thrifty as it is, so that kind of hurt my soul a little bit to buy $100 something dollars worth of snacks. No coupon, but Costco. I love Costco. That’s always a good route to go. A little cheaper and buying in bulk, so the next time the guys need snacks, you’ve got plenty of them. That’s a good way to go. Shout out to Costco.”
(Are you pleased with how you did in May, June and obviously two days so far?) – “No, I’m not because I hold myself to a high standard and I’m never satisfied. That’s just the approach I take to this game. No matter how good I get, no matter how well I do, I’ll never be satisfied. Also, because I know being out here, I’ve got a long way to go before I’m where I want to be. Going against these guys, until I completely dominate everything, I’m never going to be satisfied. Even then, I probably won’t be satisfied. There’s always room to improve, always areas and ways for you to get better. That’s my mindset and that’s the mindset our team should have as well.”
(What’s your ideal playing weight?) – “As long as I look good. I always look good. (laughter) I feel most comfortable between 310 and 315, where I still feel strong but athletic, slim thick, where I look good. (laughter)”
(You look slim.) – “Thank you. I know. I had a good summer out here. I told you, my beach body is going to be year-round around here. It’s always beach season. I appreciate that, thank you.”
(You’re what weight now?) – “I came in at 311. That was my report weight. I’ll try to stay around there.”
(Is it fun or challenging for you also to get an opportunity to play potentially some end when you’re in a 3-4?) – “Really, it’s just going to be fun to be out there and compete every day. Whatever the coaches need me to do, I’m going to be happy to do it for this team, because that’s what’s most important is this team. If there’s an opportunity for me to play end, linebacker, safety, quarterback, running back, if it’s what’s best for the team…”
(Don’t forget fullback.) – “All that. All of the above. Tight end. Don’t matter. If that’s what the coaches feel is the best opportunity for me and this team to win and be successful, I’m going to be happy to do that always.”
(Are you looking forward to throwing the pads on?) – “Yeah. It’s one thing (being) out here competing without pads on, but once you get the pads on, it’s a little different. You really get to see where you’re at, see what kind of shape you’re in, see if you’re physically ready to play this game, because that’s a whole other component. When you’re learning the techniques and things like that, that’s one thing. But when you come out here and put the pads on, it adds an extra element and that’s real football, now. I’m looking forward to that.”
(Do you think the offensive line has had a false perception of what you guys can do defensively because of no pads?) – “I feel like we’ve both been working on both sides. We’ve been competing, getting after it. It is just different. You kind of get a little bit of it on both sides. You can’t really get a feel because the game is not played in shorts and just jerseys. It’s played in pads. We get the real feel when we put on the pads.”
(A lot of guys in college, they play video games. A lot of NFL guys care about their Madden rating. Yours came out at 75. You’re a rookie, they may not know what you can do. Your thoughts on the whole Madden rating thing?) – “I didn’t think about it too much. I think it’s just cool that I’m in the game. That’s pretty cool. When I was a little, fat, chubby kid I dreamed of being in Madden one day and playing in the NFL. Now being 23-years old, I’m like, ‘Dang, I’m really in the Madden game.’ I think that’s just pretty cool, first and foremost. I’ll have time. Hopefully I’ll have a long career where that rating will come up a little bit. It doesn’t really matter what it is as long as I’m doing my job for my team. I don’t care whatever anyone else thinks.”
(Why do other guys care so much about their Madden rating?) – “I feel like definitely sometimes guys need to be respected a little bit more. Almost like, ’Dang, that’s what you think of me?’ Especially guys who’ve had long, great careers who are doing well and improving every year, but their Madden rating is not – I feel like guys around the league, if you know who you are, you should be comfortable with who you are. Don’t let the Madden ratings tell you otherwise. If guys around the league respect you, I don’t think you should worry so much about the Madden ratings.”
(We’ve seen you a lot with the first team, which isn’t really a surprise. Is that meaningful to you? Does being thrown in with the starters right away does it challenge you even more?) – “Honestly, I’ve just got to earn it. I feel like whether I get first-team reps or not, whether I get third-team reps, I’ve got to earn it each and every day. It doesn’t really matter to me. I just know when I’m out there whenever my number is called, that I got to produce and got to be productive and play to the best of my abilities. That’s the biggest thing I’m focused on, what I’m worried about.”
(Is being a starter this year a goal?) – “I don’t make too specific goals like that. I make more broad goals. My goal is not to be the starter. My goal is to be the best that I can be. If being a starter is a result of being the best I can be, then so be it. That’s how I make my goals and how I view things and how I attack things. I don’t make them too specific like that. Again, I’m trying to work every day to compete and be the best that I can be.”
(We know how smart you are with money. Anything you’re doing so far in your first couple months here to save or maybe you’re doing something differently than some other first-round draft picks?) – “Definitely I put everything up under lock and key, nowhere where I can really see it, making sure that I don’t want to touch it, I don’t want to think about it. I’m trying to live off a specific number (of) money this year. I’m still penny-pushing, doing those things, being as smart as I can with my money. I still don’t have a car yet, nothing crazy like that. I’m trying to be smart.”
(So most of the money from the guaranteed you put in the bank?) – “Yeah, that’s locked up.”
(You don’t have a car? How are you getting around?) – “I’m borrowing a car right now, so that’s how I’m getting around.”
(How?) – “I’m borrowing a car.”
(From a teammate?) – “No, my girlfriend’s car, actually. A nice little Jeep Patriot 2015. I’m pushing that thing. I’m borrowing that right now until I figure out my car situation, but I think it’ll be a little while.”
