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Akeem Spence – August 5, 2019 Download PDF version

Monday, August 5, 2019

DT Akeem Spence

(You mentioned motivation. Do the players talk about that? Do you guys feed into what people say about you to prove them wrong?) – “No. We’re more so taking care of our business. We take care of ourselves and then when it’s time to go out there and let the pads talk, that’s what Sundays are for. As long as we’re taking care of everything and being on the small details, the minute things, running to the ball, getting our conditioning up, executing our blitzes and whatever we need to do, then we’ll let things handle themselves on Sundays.”

(How has this training camp gone for you?) – “It’s been one of the tougher training camps in my career but it has been fun as well. Just being the older guy in the room, being able to come out and show the young guys how to work each and every day. Some days I don’t have it, so Christian (Wilkins), (Davon) Godchaux, Vince (Taylor) or somebody has to pick me up. So we’re pushing one another, which is good. That’s what you want in our room and on our defense. We’re just coming out every day and just getting better and just trying to execute what the coaches want. It’s getting closer to the games, so guys are getting tired of (hitting) one another. It’s about that time. I just can’t wait to get to the season to start playing.”

(What’s been the tough part about it?) – “Well, wearing knee braces for me. I’m going to speak for myself. Wearing knee braces out to practice, it’s all new to some of us. So just that and then…”

(Are the coaches encouraging you to wear it?) – “It’s been excruciatingly hot but it’s something that we have to do and it helps with our stances and our plays. It makes sense in the long run.”

(So it’s safe to say you are chomping at the bit to hit somebody else?) – “Absolutely.”

(Can you tell me about the d-tackle rotation because between DT Christian Wilkins, DT Davon Godchaux, DT Vincent Taylor and you, that’s a pretty veteran – I know Wilkins is a rookie but there’s a lot of potential right there.) – “Absolutely. The thing is, we have to police ourselves in that group. That group, we have to push one another. If Godchaux doesn’t do something all the way right, I have to be able to police him. And me too. (If someone says,) ‘Hey Spence, your hands weren’t right. Get your hands right.’ Okay. Just creating that competition in the room, like ‘Dang, that guy went out and made a play. I’ve got to go out and make a play,’ but at the same time, making plays within our technique and just believing in one another and pushing one another. That’s how you keep raising the bar in the room.”

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