Anthony Steen – June 14, 2017
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Wednesday, June 14, 2017
C/G Anthony Steen
(On the bee situation at practice) – “I’ve only seen bees like that once and it’s always been around a hive. For them to just come out and over like that, it’s kind of weird.”
(Take us through driving down offensively towards that end zone where the bees were.) – “To the bees? I didn’t care.”
(Because you’re not a receiver.) – “Yes, that’s right. DeVante (Parker) might have (cared), especially when he was in the end zone with them. They were probably trying to celebrate with him.”
(What’s been the breakdown for you as far as the work at center as compared to guard over the last several weeks?) – “I’m just trying to switch everything in my head, especially when you go from right guard and then three plays later he wants you to go to left guard. Some people might not think much of it, but when you’re pass blocking, your hands have to go totally opposite when you’re switching positions. It’s been a little bit of a challenge, but I’m getting the hang of it.”
(Have you spent more time at guard than center over the last month?) – “Right now it’s probably 50-50. The past two days, I guess today and yesterday, I’ve done more center than guard. I’ve done center for three or four team periods then I do right guard for one or two.”
(Is it your hope to be considered for a starting guard spot? With G/T Jermon Bushrod and G Isaac Asiata as a rookie, do you feel like you are in that mix?) – “Yes, I think right now everybody is, honestly. It’s hard for anybody to say yes to that question until camp gets here. That’s when everything is going to come in effect; but whatever coach wants me to do – if he wants me to play guard or if he wants me to play center, whatever is going to be best for the team.”
(What’s the biggest takeaway you took from last season?) – “Experience. I hadn’t played in a game since college so three years. At the beginning of the season, I was definitely nervous, I’m not going to lie. It was nerve-wracking, plus playing center last year for the first time. I was scared to death, honestly; but it is part of football. It’s excitement. When you get in a game, score a touchdown or even a simple field goal, it gets your adrenaline going. You might hurt during the game, but as long as you get that win, you feel fine after. I think the experience part I’m comfortable with now.”
(What did you take from the demotion?) – “I think it was more of me playing hurt last year. I know when we played Cleveland, ‘Bush’ Jermon Bushrod fell up on me and rolled my ankle, it kind of went downhill from there. I wasn’t supposed to come back for three or four weeks and I came back after Cincinnati just because ‘LT’ (Laremy Tunsil) fell and he got hurt. I really had no choice. I had to do it or don’t, but we didn’t have anyone else to do it because everybody else was hurt. I kind of rushed back to getting in there for the team and it kind of went downhill because then I hurt my shoulder the next game – just a sprain and rotator cuff; but the physical part, it kind of slowed me down there. I lost my strength for two or three games there. Like I said, whatever it takes to win, I’m going to do it. I’m not going to be one of those guys to make an excuse and say ‘I’m 50 percent, I don’t need to go.’ If I can go, I can go. It’s as simple as that.”
(You told us at the golf tournament when we talked to you that you had surgery, correct?) – “No. I said I had a cyst in my wrist. I could’ve had surgery but I didn’t want to miss a whole month and a half of training, so I just put up with it.”
(Was there any part of your body that felt good last year?) – “Not really. Not really, but that’s part of football. After a while, you get used to it.”
(With the offseason, well this isn’t the offseason for you guys because you’ve been here for a couple of months. What do you do in that five-week period from when mini-camp ends to when training camp begins? Can you paint the picture for us?) – “For me? As soon as practice ends tomorrow I’m going to meet my parents on a vacation. We haven’t had a family vacation in probably six years. I know my mom is probably looking forward to me getting there.”
(Where are you going?) – “Orange Beach. I think they’re going tomorrow morning. I’ll probably get there Friday mid-day. It is 10 hours (on the road) I think. I’ll probably take a couple of days off and spend time with them. I think my sister and two nieces are going to be there. After that, I’ll probably head back and start training.”
(The training entails what?) – “More of just running and trying to stay in shape, slim up and get lean. I’ll probably workout three times for weights and then cardio four times a week. It’s hard to stay in football shape running 60 plays getting ready for a game. You can’t just go run four or five times a week and then expect to play a full game. It’s totally different.”
(What’s been C Mike Pouncey’s involvement in terms of meetings with your group? Obviously we haven’t seen him on the field yet. Is he as talkative as he would be if he were playing?) – “Oh yes. Yes, he’s still a comedian still. He still comes to meetings and jokes around with everybody. He’s always here, trying to pay attention and watch film. Even though he’s not playing or practicing, he’s still in there watching film with us trying to stay on top of things.”
(Has C Mike Pouncey made any comments that he’s going to be able to play?) – “No, I don’t know if he has. I think right now his mindset is yes, he’s going to play. I think for a player, you’ve got to think that way. If you think you’re not going to make it, then it’s not going to happen. You’ve got to be able to say to yourself ‘I’m going to be the starting center or guard’ or whatever. You have to tell yourself you’re going to be ready. You can’t just want to be in the training room just to be in there. You’ve got to want to be out of the training room to be able to play.”
(Does the way C Mike Pouncey walks seem normal to you in terms of the Pouncey you saw pre-injury?? Obviously last year he was injured a lot during your first year here.) – “Yes, I think he’s walking fine. When he was on crutches, you could definitely tell he was struggling a little bit. I think he was 75-80 percent for a while on the crutches. The past two weeks, he’s seemed fine to me – three weeks.”
