Cameron Wake – August 22, 2017
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Tuesday, August 22, 2017
DE Cameron Wake
(How do you guys feel like you measured up against the Eagles after two practices?) – “I liked today better than I did yesterday. I don’t know if it was getting into the flow or whatever it was but it felt good. We went out there, seeing a different color instead of beating up on our own offense the whole time, we got to beat up on other guys. I enjoyed it. It was good work and I think that will help us later on in the season obviously.”
(Are you excited about playing them in the stadium next door after having a couple of practices against them?) – “Well, I’m excited any time I get to get on the field and throw some guys around. So on Thursday night again, (it will be) a game atmosphere, more live action and being able to play the situations out, is that getting into the flow of things and kind of get a dress rehearsal obviously for later on. I think this is a good start and Thursday will be a good finish.”
(What do you hope to see out of the defense in the dress rehearsal?) — “Consistency. Get on the field, get off the field. That’s our job. Get the ball back to the offense and pick up where we left off from today. (We want to) get into a flow, get into a rhythm and the guys go out there and just run around and play and you do what got you here. So I’m looking for big plays from a lot of guys and obviously some of the young guys getting out there too, mixing it up as well.”
(Is there anything you saw from DT Davon Godchaux when you first got up close with him that told you like maybe he’s got the right mentality for this or anything like that, that tipped you off early on him?) – “Yes. It’s a mindset and this league, this position, it’s not always going to be about combine numbers, how far you can jump and how fast you run and all of that stuff that people see on TV. It’s a mentality that you’re going to get your job done at all costs, no matter what – no matter the situation, no matter the time, no matter if there’s two guys on you or not. In order to play this game and obviously play down there in the trenches where he plays, you’ve got to have that mindset every single play. It’s not a part-time thing. It’s an all-time thing. He definitely has that mindset and if you add some tools and some wisdom and some football knowledge into that, I think it would be a good mix.”
(Is there a little extra pep in the step when you’re going against another team?) – “Not really. My step’s always pepped.”
(You looked like you were bouncing around out there?) – “I bounce around all the time.”
(Are you a guy who needs training camp anymore? Do you think it’s something that advantageous to you or is it just something to get through?) – “I enjoy it. I like stress. I like fight. I like to grind. I feel like it separates people. Everybody is going to be great in shorts and shoulder pads, playing two plays, coming off of the field and going through the bags. That’s great; but what happens if you’ve got 10 plays in a row, it’s hot and you’re a little beat up. That’s going to separate the men from the boys. That’s going to show your true nature and again, I’ve spoken about it before, that’s what’s going to make guys want to line up next to you in the regular season or not. We all know. Everybody strapping up the pads knows if this guy’s going to be a wolf or he’s a sheep. Those are the kind of guys you want. There’s only one way to see it and it’s to add a little bit of fire. That obstacle is going to show you character. So to me, I enjoy it. Every day, I love stepping through the challenge, challenging myself and I guess re-establishing my nature with my brothers.”
(Did you learn something about yourselves this week?) – “I learn something about myself every week. I’ve never been a guy to shy away from an obstacle. I’ve never been a guy to step down from any challenge. I don’t look at myself like that. I’m not built that way. I always take things head on. So again, it’s just another one of those things that if I line them up, I’ll knock them down.”
(You seem to really enjoy training camp and have more energy. Do you think part of that is because of your long path to the NFL?) – “Well I think, that again, that was my nature from the beginning. I don’t know. Obviously hindsight’s 20/20; but if I hadn’t gone that way, would I be this guy? Other guys who kind of sashayed their way in, first round pick, all the bells and whistles, I didn’t have that. I had to grind and scratch and claw. I feel like this is a parallel to training camp. It’s not easy. I’m probably one of the oldest guys out here. I’m out here just doing what I feel inside, and if you put somebody in front me I’m going to get my job done. I don’t care how old – 15 years old, 25, eight Pro Bowls, two guys – it doesn’t matter. I’m going to get to my destination and that’s the same way I felt back before I got into the league. I’m going to do whatever I can, whatever I have to, to make it in this door. If you’re going to close it, I’m going to break through it. If you’re going to shut another one, I’ll open it. And that’s kind of like football. There are going to be guys in your way and you’ve got to get there. In camp, it’s hard and you quit. Or it’s hot and you quit. Or your ankle hurts and you quit. Those aren’t the guys that are going to make it through the things like today and make it onto a team. You’ve got to fight and you’ve got to continue.”
(There are some players in the NFL that have said I can play until I’m 45. You play against one of those every year. Have you ever thought I can do this for a long time still?) – “I don’t think too far ahead. I’m a next play kind of guy, so I look at the next game and how I feel today and address that. When I’m 36, I’ll think about 37. When I’m 37, I’ll think 38. I’m not thinking (about) 10 years from now. I’m just thinking about the next obstacle and defeating that and moving on.”
(Do you feel any different now than you did 10 years ago?) – “You know, it’s kind of like when you see your nephew or your grandma or whoever for the first time in a few years. You notice the changes in them much greater than you would notice in yourself. I see myself every day, so it’s hard to measure those things; but when I get on the field, I feel productive, I feel explosive, I still feel good. Like I said, if you’re looking at the obstacle down there, you’re going to miss the one that’s going to trip right here in front of you. So I just focus on the task at hand and take it day by day and year by year.”
