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Akeem Spence – October 17, 2018 Download PDF version

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

DT Akeem Spence

(How much are you looking forward to facing your former team?) – “I always like it, man, seeing some old friends, seeing some of the guys on defense that I played with, and obviously getting a chance to go against this offense that I went against all training camp last year and everything. It’s going to be fun going against guys like T.J. (Lang), of course Matt (Stafford), ‘G.T.’ (Golden Tate) and the guys. It’ll be fun.”

(Is there any added motivation for you given that they unloaded you this year? You planned on being there longer than that.) – “Yeah, but I mean they had some changes. Business is business. I don’t really look at it like that. They were going in a different direction. Obviously I got an opportunity to come here, play in the same style defense that I was in there. I just look at it as another opportunity to go out, compete against some former friends and actually get the chance to put Matt (Stafford) down. That’s my big goal for this week.”

(Anybody on that team you were particularly close to?) – “My d-tackle I played next to, A’Shawn Robinson. We still talk. I mean I talked to him yesterday. We’re probably going to talk after today. That was like my closest buddy. We did everything together while I was up there and it showed. We played well together side by side.”

(Was there a part of you that wanted to make it work in a new defensive system, or did you both and the team agree it was best for you to go to a place with a system where you’re more comfortable?) – “It was kind of like … I was kind of uncomfortable in it because I had never been in a 3-4 in my career and really didn’t know how I was going to adjust. They were bringing in their guys. I’ve been in the league long enough, so I kind of saw everything for what it was and I’m kind of happy everything worked out the way it did. Getting back in a 4-3, doing what I love to do, as opposed to being in a 3-4 …”

(As far as situations go when they don’t work out, you ended up in a place where you’re in a defense you’re comfortable with, a position coach (Kris Kocurek) that you already knew and liked, I assumed, and a starting job. Is that as good as you can hope for when something doesn’t work out with a team?) – “I mean, that’s the best thing. Obviously that happened, so I’m happy and just ready to go out and compete, really, against these guys. It’s just another football game, just another team. Obviously I know the guys on the other side of the ball, but that still doesn’t change from this team trying to get a W.”

(Do you remember the order of the first few people who reached out to you? I presume your agent told you about the trade? Did Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek and you connect shortly?) – “Yeah. After kind of the trade went through, I kind of spoke to everybody. I got a chance to get back on the phone with Kris. Me and him talked and were super excited just about the opportunity to come here, continue my career and help these guys grow inside and just win ballgames, and get me out of the 3-4. So he was kind of excited to get me out of that. I was happy as well.”

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