Billy Turner – June 1, 2016
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Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Guard Billy Turner
(On if there are more challenges with a new offensive line coach) – “Of course. It’s like learning a new language. Any time you get a new coaching staff – no matter the position, or whatever guy comes in – (they have) their own techniques that they like to coach and (have) their own things that they like to do and their own little niches and what not. Of course there is going to be a challenge with that – breaking old habits and learning new plays and new techniques.”
(On if he thought drafting of G/T Laremy Tunsil would affect him and his status as a starter) – “To be completely honest, I was happy with the draft because I think we got better as a football team. As far as drafting a(n offensive) lineman in the first round, that doesn’t do anything but make us better as an entire team and a better offense. I’m not thinking about where I’m going to be playing the first Sunday of the year – if I’m going to be starting, if I’m going to be sitting – because what month is it? It’s June 1st today. We have the whole summer and all of training camp to be working on our techniques and whatnot to get better.”
(On what position he envisions himself playing) – “That’s a tough question, because ever since I’ve been here – my rookie year – I’ve been at both guards and both tackles. I’ve done everything but play center, essentially. The same thing has been happening the past month or so that we’ve been here. I’ve been playing guard and I’ve been playing tackle. The thing that I’m more focused on right now is developing good habits at guard – that is what I played last year – but also developing good habits at tackle. I played tackle in college so being able to get back into that mindset and get my feet right and my hands right at tackle is also going to be really important for me.”
(On if he would prefer to have one position that he can focus on) – “Everyone would. It’s not like I’m a quarterback, and I’m going to sit there and do the same thing every day. But when it comes down to it playing offensive line, you go from guard to tackle (and) it is a little different, but if you really look at the fundamentals and the techniques that (Offensive Line) Coach Foerster coaches, you’re really using the same steps. It’s the same footwork and the same kind of repetitive things. You always want to have quick hands, and you want to have quick feet, get both feet in the ground and get your hands up and ready to play. At the same time, it would be nice to have a singular position, but to be honest, it doesn’t really matter, especially at this point, because you’re learning the same things at both positions.”
(On how he would evaluate his performance last season) – “Last year, it was a little frustrating for me. Essentially, I treated last year kind of like my rookie year. My first year I was here, unfortunately, I got hurt and broke my foot. But I was able to come into training camp and get better. Unfortunately, I wasn’t starting at the beginning of the year. But as you can see watching any NFL team, the amount of different lineups they have throughout the season at offensive line can be two through all the way up to 40 different lineups. That’s just the way the NFL works at that position. I was happy I got to play and got to start. And as the season moved on and progressed, I was able to get better and work on certain things and lose some of my bad habits.”
(On if he has been taking first-team snaps at right guard) – “I’ve been all over the place. I’ve been at right guard with the first group, and I’ve been at right tackle (with the first group). I’ve been at right guard with the second group and I’ve been at right tackle (with the second group). I’ve been on … During (the voluntary veterans) minicamp, I was on both sides of the ball, and I think I’m a little more on the right side as OTAs are shaping out and moving along here. But I think it’s pretty split 50-50. I’ve been at guard and tackle with both groups.”
(On the offensive line’s potential if the unit stays healthy) – “I think anyone that knows football and knows our offensive line knows that we have the potential to be the best offensive line in football. If you look at our offensive line and just go down the list (of) how many first-round picks we have and how many guys we have that are perennial Pro Bowl players – and how many guys that are on the cusp of being perennial Pro Bowlers – we have a lot of guys. I think we have a lot of attitude on the offensive line, which is definitely going to help us out this year.”
(On RB Jay Ajayi) – “The first thing that I noticed last year with Jay Ajayi was his agility, but not only that. Whenever Jay Ajayi is in the game and gets the ball in his hands, he’s running the rock hard. As an offensive lineman and as an offense, you appreciate that 100 percent. Whenever a guy comes in, and he doesn’t pitter-patter in the backfield and he just gets that ball, puts his head down and tries to get as many yards as possible, you’re going to be running down the field to help that guy up and to get him back in the huddle to do the same thing next play. He’s a tough runner and the offensive line loves that.”
(On DE Cameron Wake and if he looks like the old Cameron Wake) – “Yes, of course. Cam Wake, he’s not really a normal human. For those of you that have seen Cam Wake play football … The last couple years playing with him and being able to practice with him, he’s the same guy on and off the field. Being able to have him back out there not only (creates) good habits for me, (but) to be able to go (against) someone that’s that caliber of player is definitely helpful.”
(On how much time he spends in the weight room and if he feels stronger this season) – “Yeah. I’m one of those guys that likes to stay in the weight room. I’m in the weight room a lot. They try to tell me to get out, but that’s how I was raised. I was raised with a weight room in my basement, and my dad has always been a guy that has worked out, so I’m always a guy that’s trying to get stronger.”
(On what he has seen from G/T Laremy Tunsil) – “Athleticism and aggressiveness. He’s a big, strong, powerful guy as you could see when he played at Ole Miss. He’s bringing the same things that he did there to our offensive linemen. Any time you’re able to get an offensive lineman high in the draft – not only that but to get someone as athletic as he is – it’s always going to be helpful for you.”
(On if G/T Laremy Tunsil has been coming to him in the meeting rooms) – “He’s kind of like (T) Ja’Wuan (James and I) were in our rookie year. He’s asking questions and asking some of the older guys some different techniques to use out there. Kind of just like me when I was (in) my rookie year, I went from tackle to guard – the same kind of thing that he’s doing. It’s not always an easy transition when you’re used to being out on the edge and having space and (transition) to get(ting) in close with guys on both sides of you. It’s definitely, I think, going to be helpful for him to play guard and tackle, because you’re able to develop better habits (like) getting your hands up quicker, working on tighter, more exclusive footwork and whatnot. You can’t step too wide, because you have a tackle out there, and you can’t step too tight, because you have a center in there. He’s been able to develop some good habits. And like I said, (he has) been like Ja’Wuan (James and I), asking the older guys (questions).”
(On if getting reps against the Wide 9 defense is helpful) – “Definitely. We obviously have a different defense than we’ve had the past couple of years. Any time you’re able to go against different defensive fronts, as far as a 5-(technique) or a head-up guy versus a Wide 9, you’re just going to create good habits for yourself. Not only that, you’re going to be able to put those things in the memory bank as the season progresses. You have 16 games and then playoffs after that, so any time you’re able to go against different fronts and different alignments, it’s going to be helpful.”
(On how different it is for an offensive lineman to face a Wide 9 defense and what are those differences) – “Every offensive lineman has different things when it comes to wide guys and tight guys. I think for me, it’s (being) able to keep my set tighter and not drifting out so much, because any time you have a wide guy, he’s only trying to do one thing – get you away from your help inside and create that space and that gap in between the two guys. Any time he’s out that wide, he’s either going to go outside, and if you drift out there, you’re going to take away his outside move right away. If you think about that, he really only has one option and that’s to come back inside.”
