Christian Wilkins – August 5, 2023
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Saturday, August 5, 2023
DT Christian Wilkins
(Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio told us yesterday that he believes you’re one of the best players in the league. Bottle of wine for a comment like that? What do you think?) – “I didn’t know he said that, but that’s definitely a lot of high praise because Coach (Vic) Fangio is not just throwing out compliments like that so that just speaks to the high standard he holds for me and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure I meet that high standard each and every day I take this field, take the meeting room, drive on the way to work. It doesn’t matter. Off the field. I’m going to try to hold that high standard I hold for myself and the high standard he holds for me because I know he doesn’t just throw out comments like that. I didn’t know that (he said that), but I got a lot of respect for Vic just being around him for the few months we’ve been working together and got a lot of respect and a lot of praise for him.”
(Do you think the playlist has something to do with the defense’s performance?) – “I can’t take all credit for that, but yeah. (laughter) I think it had a little something-something to do with it. But no, guys just came out today, just locked in. We just want to keep growing and improving as a defense every time we take the field and I feel like we’ve been able to do that this camp so far, but now we’ll have a chance to do that against another team here in a couple days.”
(How much do you put it on yourself to set the tone for defense every day?) – “I put a lot of pressure on myself when it comes to this game and I kind of like it that way because I just feel like who is it going to be if it’s not me? And my teammates are counting on that, and that’s what this organization is counting on. So I try to just bring the energy every day, set the tone, kind of just be that spark, be that light for the guys in this building.”
(I remember last year you said that getting into a routine had a really big impact. Where is that rooted in or was that something you always had or something switched with that?) – “Yeah, I’ve kind of always been like that, but it’s constant work. It’s a constant grind just to kind of improve that routine and improve your process and looking for little things that always give you that edge and that advantage, but it helps me to stay locked in and focused. I know what time I’m waking up, I know what time I’m eating breakfast, I know what time I’m getting to the facility, I know what time I’m doing everything at the facility. It’s like clockwork. Just trying to stay within that and not stray too far, it allows me to just be locked in and stay focused and have a good routine and hopefully it leads to more success.”
(I just want to piggyback off of what was just asked, how do you balance wanting to be that leader of the defense with your own routine? I know you take care of your body a lot of time in that respect.) – “I don’t know, just being around some good leaders in my time here, just being around good leaders throughout my life. Just kind of finding that, just kind of taking a little bit from everybody, but also a big way for me to lead is by example, first and foremost, so guys kind of see what I do and follow along and it just allows me to – it puts me in a good position to continue to lead and be a vocal leader and just have guys’ backs and do all that for them.”
(It looks like DT Jaylen Twyman had a pretty good day today. How have you seen him come along in camp so far?) – “’Baby T’ man. It’s been good to see the things he’s been doing. He’s like your annoying little baby brother. Just asks every single question about football non-stop. Like every single – he’s just non-stop full of questions and I love that because he challenges me. Now he’s got me thinking like – he’ll hit me with something sometimes and I’m like, ‘dang,’ now I’ve got to find an answer for him. But I just love the strides he’s made and you like to see that in a young guy who struggled a little bit early in his career here and still trying to find his way and navigate because I was once in a similar situation where I was struggling early trying to find my way, trying to navigate and that’s all he’s trying to do and all the young guys in our room – (Josiah) Bronson – just trying to motivate them and keep them on the right path.”
(You set career highs for tackles for loss each year. I’m wondering how, after having some time now with this scheme, you think it may be conducive to continuing a trend of tackles for loss as well as potentially setting a career-high for sacks?) – “The biggest thing is I just try to come in every day with a daily focus of getting better. Stats will come, all that will come; but the biggest thing is – I don’t know – I don’t make goals or specific stats or anything I want. I just kind of have general goals that if I lock in on those general goals every day, it’ll lead to everything I want personally, for this team and for this organization, I feel. So not something too specific, but more just general goals that I know if I’m reaching those and being the best in those areas, then everything hopefully that I want will come.”
(Is contract totally out of your mind and if so, how do you accomplish that because it seems very significant?) – “The biggest thing with that, all that stuff, I just try to focus as much on ball as possible and leave all that other stuff up to the organization and my representation and just control what I can control with my guys and with this team. I definitely feel like I’ve done enough and done a lot to earn a new deal and a new contract; but again, I’m just focusing on ball and improving every day and just giving my all to this organization and hopefully they’ll give their all back to me.”
(Is that something you’d like to have a deadline or timeline on, start of the season or something, where hey, I’d love to at least have an answer – yes or no – by a certain time?) – “Again, I’m just trying to focus on the everyday, first and foremost and be the best teammate I can be for my guys, be there for them and just stay in my lane there. Again, like I said, if I continue to be humble and do right by this game, I’m really big on respecting the game and doing right by the game and if you do that, the football gods will always bless you. So that’s kind of my approach and that’s how I approach each and every day.”
(Have you had encouraging signs, talks in those negotiations?) – “Again, like I said, I’ll keep all that between the organization and my representation. I just try to be the best that I can be every day, however I see fit.”
(Speaking broadly though, it’s got to feel great that defensive tackles are now being paid like quarterbacks – $20-25 million a year. What is your reaction when you see those kinds of deals?) – “No, absolutely. I just love it for the evolution of the game and how far we’ve come as a position. Again, like I said, I’m big on respecting the game so it’s my job to carry that torch for those Warren Sapps, those Vince Wilforks – all those guys that I grew up watching and learning from. I have a responsibility so I love what we’ve been able to do as a position for the game and hopefully we’ll continue to do that.”
(The defense seemed to have a nice day today. What are your thoughts on how the defense performed today?) – “Yeah, I think we just came out strong and we stuck together and we were just able to compete. That starts at the top with the leadership on this team, on this defense and just were able to have a little fun out there and even when other guys were going in, other guys were rotating, we just tried to make sure that we supported those young guys that were out there – the subs, the rotation – and just be there for them and support them however we saw fit. It was good. We were just able to have a lot of energy on the sideline and just able to compete and have a good day.”
(The energy that you have in the backfield. Do you know who you’re yelling at? Do you remember what you’re yelling? Is everybody getting it?) – “Nah, I mean it’s just – I don’t know. I’m a sick twisted individual. (laughter) I don’t know. Again, that’s just passion. That’s just love because there’s nothing like making a big play because they’re so hard to come by and I don’t know. I just love this game a lot and when you think about just all the work you put in, that’s a great reward.”
(Is there any different feeling to coming back to the stadium from the fans and everything?) _ “That was great. It definitely just changes your mindset. It was nice that we were able to do this during camp because you’re in the monotony of camp. You’re just coming in every day driving to the facility, so this was a nice changeup. It just was a little bit of different energy and I told the guys before practice – the d-line – I was like, don’t take this for granted. Any time you come into this stadium, it’s a time to compete and put on. Don’t disrespect this game. Don’t disrespect this organization. Put on every time you come to the stadium. So that was a lot of fun. It added a little more juice. It was nice to have the fans around. I had my playlist popping. I mean, it was cool. Someone messed it up. I want to talk to the person who messed up my playlist. They played it all out of order. They had one job to do, but it’s all good. (laughter) It worked out. It’s all good. It worked out. It was straight. I saw some head bobs from people who were hating before. So it was cool. I think I won the people over.”
(What did they mess up?) – “No, they just played it out of order. I had a specific order of how I wanted my songs played, just the timing. But it ended up – I guess I know how to choose them because the songs worked out well anyway, so that was cool. But yeah, just different energy today and I loved it and it was just a good break in camp.”
(We heard you got hell. Don’t act like you didn’t get hell.) – “No, stop playing. I am very diverse. I know it all, so I’m good when it comes to my music.”
