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Austin Jackson – August 19, 2021 Download PDF version

Thursday, August 19, 2021

T Austin Jackson

(Obviously a better day today. What do you feel like you’re getting out of these joint practices? Obviously a different opponent, but do you feel like it’s helping you take your game to the next level?) – “Yeah.  We’re in our third week of the season. We’ve got about five more months of football to go. It’s definitely good to really get a good look at another team and start competing early like this for the time being. You said we got better today. I feel like we get better every day … we work on. There is always stuff that comes but that’s mental toughness.”

(It seems like the Falcons ran a lot of stunts and twists at you guys. What’s the key to communication to make sure you don’t let a free rusher inside?) – “There is a lot of different aspects to that. I can’t hand you our playbook and tell you everything that goes on right now. But there are certain blockers in certain situations – sometimes more, sometimes less. Amongst usually about seven people, there are different responsibilities that vary all the time. Like I said, I can’t tell you every play, but communicating and being on the same page. Sometimes a guy is a free rusher and he’s a free rusher – that’s all we have to block.”

(With this offensive line, obviously you guys are working to try to develop chemistry. You’ve got new left guards every couple of days. How difficult has that been?) – “I wouldn’t say it’s difficult. For me, it helps me become a better leader. Whoever is in there, just making sure we’re on the same page, playing fast. It’s a little bit of a challenge, but to say it’s difficult, it’s not too difficult. I think it actually betters me.”

(Regarding leadership, at this point in time, how would you describe the quarterback’s leadership style, and approach of QB Tua Tagovailoa?) – “He’s doing a great job. He’s doing a great job leadership-wise. He’s going into his second year. Him also like myself, having a whole year under your belt and then getting an offseason to prepare, you can anticipate more things. That’s really what football comes down to. We all can line up and play but you have to anticipate stuff. I think he’s definitely gotten a lot better with that.”

(G/T Jesse Davis is one of the leaders on the line because of his experience, and communication skills. Is QB Tua Tagovailoa – I don’t want to put words in your mouth – but I want to ask you is Tua the leader of the entire offense?) – “Yes, I would say so. He’s our quarterback. (laughter) I get what you’re saying I think, but being a quarterback is a lot of responsibility at the end of the day. He can’t run our routes, he can’t call all of our protections, so I think that’s kind of where the 11 people working as one thing comes together. He’s definitely a leader of the offense.”

(We’ve gone through years where the quarterback is not a leader, which is weird.) – “Yeah. He’s definitely our leader.”  

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