Tyreek Hill – September 4, 2023
Monday, September 4, 2023
WR Tyreek Hill
(Did your team win or lose in the battle with WR Jaylen Waddle?) – “I can say that my team won, but Wes Welker and the other assistant receivers coaches aren’t fair to me because – I just don’t know why. I believe they are trying to make it a very competitive thing where they bring a different side of me every day. I think I won, but he’s going to say that they won because I ended up paying for dinner when we went. It’s crazy.”
(It doesn’t sound like you won then.) – “I think I won though. Because if you go back and watch the film and you watch how many plays that ‘J’s’ (Jaylen Waddle) team made, and you watch the plays that my side made, we made more plays. I won every one-on-one rep. We won every one-on-one rep, we won team drills and all of that. Obviously ‘J’ and them, they had a few explosive plays, touchdowns or whatever, but I think we won.”
(I’ve got to know because this is a pressing question. WR River Cracraft was your first pick, what was your thought process there?) – “He was my first draft pick because River, he’s the kind of guy – so we set rules. The rules were impact plays, impact blocks, knowing the assignment each and every play and River, the reason why he’s on the team is because he’s a smart guy who knows where to line up at every position and he’s going to make every impact block. That’s a key point for just drafting for myself because I drafted a pretty good team. I drafted guys who are smart, guys who can make plays, and guys who are still kind of learning the offense that kind of need a wing. I’m like their helping hand, the leader for them. I think I won, dawg. I don’t care what nobody says. (laughter) I don’t care.”
(Last year the Chargers talked afterwards about jamming receivers and taking away the middle of the field. What do you remember from that game and what counters are there to it?) – “Last year… no excuses because we play this game. Last year obviously was the first year for everybody in this system. Obviously, we played nine or 10 games up to that point, but I feel like this year we kind of got an understanding of where everybody needs to be at on the field. They do a great job of jamming receivers and playing to their leverage. I feel like this year is going to be a little bit different on both sides. It’s going to be a fun matchup, I’m glad the league gave us this game so we can go ahead and knock it out. It’s going to be fun in L.A.”
(You’ve played teams who have had success against the offense you’ve had before. Do you expect a similar look from them?) – “To me I think those guys did a great job, so if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
(What’s the energy right now in the locker room knowing that Week 1 is here? What’s the mindset from training camp to now focusing on the actual Chargers?) – “Right now everybody is obviously happy, and the message from all of the leaders is mindset, mentality each and every day. Because at the end of the day we still got to work today, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday leading up to that point. Just trying to keep all of the young guys focused for the guys that’s new to playing in the league. So far everybody is excited. I’m very excited. I can’t wait to see ‘Uno’ (Tua Tagovailoa) back on the field. It’s going to be fun.”
(You’re obviously close with QB Tua Tagovailoa. How excited is he? It’s been eight months since that guy has seen a regular season game.) – “Tua (Tagovailoa) is the same guy each and every day. He’s always happy, he’s always grateful for this opportunity. Just by me looking at him, I can tell he’s ready. That’s why we had those moments in the preseason, so whenever he’s out there in real action for the whole game it’s not like, ‘Oh my gosh, here I am. I’m back on the field.’ He’s definitely excited, man, I can just watch it. The way he’s throwing the ball out there on the field each and every day. Completing passes, talking trash while he’s doing it. He’s showing swag each and every day. He’s leveling up each and every day.”
(Were you relieved to get the news that you weren’t going to be suspended or were you expecting it?) – “To be honest I kind of wasn’t thinking about it, but now I’m glad everything is behind me. It took two days of me going to mow the commissioner’s lawn. That’s why I was excused. (laughter) I’m joking by the way. I’m so joking. So yeah, I’m just glad all of that is behind me. Just moving forward, I just got to make better decisions obviously. Not only for myself, but for this team, for my family, my kids and just be smart and be a pro. And just be grateful for this opportunity because I feel like sometimes we lose sight of who we are and that’s not the person my grandparents raised me to be. They raised me to be a father, son, a teammate, a citizen and I’ve got to strive to be better.”
(You’ve talked about the second year in this system and knowing it a lot better. I’m doing something on the defense being in the first year of the Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio’s system. What should they expect, how patient should they be, I guess there is going to be growing pains like you experienced in the offense. What would be your advice to them?) – “You know what man, as much trash as I talk to the defense every day about how much I played defense, I have literally no idea about what defensive meeting room would look like. (laughter) I feel like if I was on defense, I feel like the message is easy. Just play fast and run to the ball. Those guys are all on top of it. You got a bunch of veteran guys over there ‘X’ (Xavien Howard), Christian (Wilkins), Jevon (Holland), you got ‘J. Ramsey’ (Jalen Ramsey) in the meeting room helping those guys out. I believe those guys are going to be all over it and they are going to make a bunch of plays because the Chargers, they love to sling it, baby. They got ‘J. Herb’ (Justin Herbert).”
(What comes with being a captain for the team?) – “What comes with being a captain? I don’t know. To me what comes with being a captain, you definitely have to be somewhat of a leader. Even if you’re not comfortable vocally. A lot of guys show it in different ways. I’m the kind of guy, I love showing it vocally and I love showing it through action, too. It comes with that. It’s a major responsibility, man, because when you’re dealing with so many guys so many things are going to come up during the season. As that leader you have to find ways to bring this team together through adversity, through those tough times. I feel like that’s what a leader is. And then on Sunday, whenever the game day is, you just make plays.”
(Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio and Head Coach Bradon Staley – he got his start under Fangio. There’s so many defensive coordinators around the league that did their start… Not just in this game, but across the entire season, how do you think going up against that defense every day in practice is going to benefit you guys this year?) – “It’s definitely going to help us because watching the film and going against the defense, you bring up a good point. There are a lot of similarities. We aren’t going to take our foot off the gas. We’re going to continue to do what we’re doing, practicing fast, practicing deliberate, and getting to our spots for our quarterback. And as far as the offensive line those guys are going to take pride in protecting our quarterback, because clearly he’s our key to success and everybody knows that. That’s the plan, baby.”
