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Danny Barrett – August 3, 2017 Download PDF version

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Running Backs Coach Danny Barrett

(We know RB Kenyan Drake’s specialty. We know he is fast. Could he be an every down back and if God forbid RB Jay Ajayi could not play for extended time at some point during the season?) – “The beauty about the running backs that we have is that I think they’re all three-down backs. You’re talking Kenyan being one of those guys, Damien (Williams) being one of those guys as well, and obviously Jay was working very hard this offseason and throughout camp to be the same thing. I’m in an enviable position as their coach, having a stable of guys that I feel good about. (I have) a lot of confidence in each guy when he gets on the football field.”

(Among RB Storm Johnson and RB Senorise Perry and RB De’Veon Smith, who of those three have stood out to you?) – “I think all three have done a good job. Senorise and Storm, obviously, because of their experience, are neck and neck when it comes to that; but I’m impressed with Smith because of just his mentality. He fits well into the running back room, guys that will do whatever it takes and get it done.”

(With RB Kenyan Drake, I know Head Coach Adam Gase joked last year that at times he wanted to strangle him for mistakes. What were those mistakes and has he corrected them?) – “Well, a lot of it is just paying attention to details. You make the rookie mistakes, you take things for granted, you don’t finish a play here or there. Or just not being where you’re supposed to be. I think he’s overcome those things this offseason. He has done a great job of taking care of the little things, the detailed things we talked about. Our room is all about discipline and detail and he’s done a good job of that this year.”

(Is RB Kenyan Drake ready to be a three-down back?) – “I think like I said before, all of our guys are ready for that; but again, when you have a group of guys that we have, you allow each guy to do what they do best. I think the key for us is to make sure everybody is fresh and when we’ve shown that we can be fresh at that position, we’ve done a really good job as far as taking care of the football and being productive, as well.”

(What have you seen out of RB Kenyan Drake this year – his second year?) – “Consistency more than anything else. It’s just overall consistency has been better. (He has been) more reliable, more dependable, being where he’s supposed to be – especially in our passing game – so the quarterbacks have a lot of confidence knowing that he’s going to be where he’s supposed to be.”

(Where have you seen RB Damien Williams make strides and how else can you see him improving?) – “The biggest thing for Damien this year, from what I’ve seen from when he’s been back, even in the spring, is the leadership role for himself. Now in Year 4 for him, his second year in the offense, he has a lot of confidence in the things that we’re doing and just being a leader. One of the older guys in the room, you talk about being in his fourth year, he has really accepted that role and done a good job. Now, in the situation that we are in now, he’s the guy that is stepping up and taking control of the group and making sure guys do what they’re supposed to do.”

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