Jevon Holland – October 7, 2021
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Thursday, October 7, 2021
S Jevon Holland
(How would you assess how the first four games for you have gone in your first NFL season? Are you happy with where you’re at progress-wise?) – “Yeah, it’s exciting. I didn’t really have an image of how the first quarter of the season was going to go. I was just going to go out there and try to support the team as much as possible. I feel like I’m doing that. I feel like I’m getting better. The more experience, the better things get. I’m looking forward to the next game.”
(In terms of making all of the calls, if you’re out there and have to do that, are you totally comfortable with that aspect of an NFL playbook in terms of making calls as a safety would?) – “Yeah.”
(What has surprised you about basic NFL offenses compared to when you were at Oregon facing college offenses?) – “I think NFL offenses, the aspect of them going to the sideline and changing the plays and then coming back and attacking our defenses, I think that’s – I like football, so it fascinates me that they’re able to make in-game adjustments just like that. And then us too, making in-game adjustments. I think that part for me is really exciting.”
(Does it require more of you maybe during the week in terms of film study and just kind of being more mentally prepared for whatever game plan might be thrown your way?) – “Yeah, definitely. I felt challenged to really hone-in on film study, paying attention. I talked to somebody a long time ago about Bobby Wagner and how he is always in the film room, always paying attention, always looking at the little details. I try to do that as much as possible to try to get the advantage.”
(I was just curious, how much film study did you personally do or did you do at Oregon? I’ve talked to some former college players when they come to the NFL as rookies and they’re like ‘we didn’t really do too much. We just kind of came for game week and we had a gameplan and we tried to practice and whatnot.’ But how much film study did you do?) – “We did a lot of film study. Coach Keith Heyward, he’s at Cal now but he was my safeties coach (at Oregon) and (Mario) Cristobal. They were great on really making sure that we knew what we wanted to do, knew the gameplan and things like that. Everybody had iPads. We could watch game film at home. I lived with two other safeties and a running back, so we always did like film study together – both sides of the ball.”
(LB Jaelan Phillips made an interesting point earlier in the week. He said I’m 22 years old and QB Tom Brady has played in the NFL for 22 years. It kind of put things in perspective. Do you have any memories or recollections as a youngster sort of watching him?) – “I’m 21 so he’s been in the league for as long as I’ve been born. (laughter) Since I’ve been watching football, Tom Brady has been the top quarterback in the league, so to be able to go out there on the field and play against him I think is pretty dope. But yeah, trying to game plan and whatnot, he’s Tom Brady. I’m excited.”
(QB Tom Brady is obviously 44 or so years old. What stands out to you about what makes him special?) – “I’m not going to get into any detail of anything like that but just know that when I’m watching the film, I’m just like there’s a reason why he’s the No. 1 quarterback for the whole gist or the whole board. He covers all of the boxes.”
(You really perked up just talking about that. Would a pass deflection or an interception against QB Tom Brady, they would have a little bit more special meaning, I would assume, for you?) – “I feel like in the league, getting an interception anywhere would be lovely. But Tom Brady is like the greatest quarterback of all-time. (laughter) It’s going to be fun. I’m excited, definitely.”
(Have you talked to your teammates about what it’s like going up against him and what to expect for? What are some of the things that they’ve said to you?) – “Yeah, he’s going to demand the best out of us. We’ve got to go out there and play our best game and support each other and stay on top of things. That’s really what it’s going to come down to.”
(I know the snap totals can vary from week to week based on opponent matchup and packages and things like that. What have the coaches said to you relative to last week you not getting too many defensive snaps?) – “Nothing. You just go out there and play. When I get the chance, I’m going to go out there and support my team. That’s basically what it comes down to. Snap count or not, I’m not really tripping. I’m just here to help the Dolphins.”
(You mentioned your coach at Oregon – who has Miami roots, Mario Cristobal – the best qualities of him as a coach were what?) – “His passion for each player. I really think that he truly cares about each player and wants us to uphold the culture that he’s established, which ultimately makes us better men, not just football players. I think that’s one of his best qualities.”
(You said you lived with [two] safeties and a running back at Oregon. Did you learn much about the other side of the ball living with the running back?) – “So I’ll tell you the names. I lived with Verone McKinley III, who is one of my best friends. Steve Stephens, also one of my best friends. And then KJ Maduike. So KJ played running back. I didn’t really try to go into the Oregon offensive scheme but he did tell me like ‘this is block protection’ or things like that, that I didn’t know. So he helped me out with that.”
(Do you think that impacts how you play your position? Does understanding what the offense is trying to do help?) – “Yeah, for sure. And vice versa, too. If you know the other side, then you can kind of predict what they’re going to do and things like that. But you still have to be able to read your keys and react.”
