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Durham Smythe – September 13, 2023 Download PDF version

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

TE Durham Smythe

(Are you trying to outdo Patriots TE Mike Gesicki on Sunday?) – “That’s the enemy. They’re all the same. Enemies are faceless as they say. He’s definitely faceless for me. (laughter)”

(Do you think you have a chance to have more catches and touchdowns than TE Mike Gesicki this year?) – “Well, that’s always up in the air. I mean different offenses call for different things, different personnel and things of that nature. So it’ll be a fun little thing for us, probably towards the end of the year.”

(Have you heard how TE Mike Gesicki is enjoying the New England area?) – “I think he likes it. I obviously stay in pretty close contact with him and he’s enjoying it. He enjoys what they’re doing up there. He enjoys the area. It’s closer to home for him. So all those things together make it an enjoyable experience for him.”

(If what we saw Sunday with seven targets is a harbinger of things to come from you in terms on involvement in the passing game, not only to block but more as a fourth receiver, is that something you think is fun for you? How excited are you by that?) – “Like I’ve said over the last couple years, I just like to contribute in any way. And obviously, there’s different roles every year. A lot of these last few years, I’ve been more involved in the run game than anything else. And I’m happy to do that. But in a week-by-week basis, if things call for me to have to make a play in the passing game, that’s always fun. Obviously, when you have receivers like we do on the edges, they’ll draw a lot of attention. So that gives opportunities for guys on the inside. So it’s always a week-by-week basis.”

(Any weirdness with TE Mike Gesicki this week, considering how close you are but for the first time on opposite sides in a regular season game? What dynamic does that create in your texts to each other this week?) – “Yeah, it’s funny. I mean, we obviously stay in very close contact. But this week, ever since really the day after the game last week, it’s been kind of radio silence. And I was just telling these guys, it’s another faceless opponent. That’s all it is. So we’ll talk after the game for sure.”

(When TE Julian Hill is finally able to play, what do you think he can contribute?) – “Yeah, I said this a couple of weeks into training camp, this guy came in physically ready to play the game, which a lot of rookies aren’t really to that level. He’s physically ready to play. Obviously, he had a very good preseason. I think he can do a lot of good things for this offense, just like really a lot of the guys in the can. So we’re excited to get him back.”

(What are you talking about, you were physically ready to play?) – “Yeah, well actually I thought I was. Now you look at these guys. Six years later, these guys are much more prepared than I was. Physically, for sure.”

(I thought WR Erik Ezukanma did some interesting things – lined up at running back, did the end around, threw the ball up just before half. How have you seen him develop and progress? What’s his value?) – “When you have an athlete like that, who is really dynamic, like a lot of guys on this offense are, but he can do a lot of things because of his size and his athleticism. He’s had to come along like any rookie in terms of understanding what to do on specific plays at specific positions. I think this year, obviously, he’s been able to play a lot of different positions, which is kind of opening some more opportunities for him. Obviously when the ball is in his hands, he’s a real threat. So I think the more chances we can him the ball in space, the better for this offense.”

(What was it like Sunday to see QB Tua Tagovailoa’s offseason come to fruition?) – “I mean, we see it every day. What he does in the offseason, how hard he works, it doesn’t surprise any of us. I think that was just more validation than anything. Obviously, we all expect big things from him the rest of season in this building, and I think some people outside are starting to see that as well.”

(Do you get excited going into a game when there’s like kind of a cool set of wrinkles in the game plan? It was pretty clear that coach had a long time to figure out a lot of different ideas for the Chargers game. Do you go into a game thinking, “Wow, this is going to be interesting or fun?”) – “Yeah, I mean that’s kind of why this offense is fun, because there are a lot of different things every week. The minds are putting stuff together up there and come up with things that aren’t done often in this league and are kind of new to a lot of us on a week-by-week basis, and that’s what keeps us offense fun. As long as we can continue to execute those fun things, I’m sure it’ll keep coming. We’re just going to keep rolling with all the opportunities.”

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