Austin Jackson – August 22, 2020
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Saturday, August 22, 2020
T Austin Jackson
(I’m just curious, how did the week begin for you and how did it end? Did you see great progress within yourself?) – “Yeah, I’m definitely just coming out here every day and trying to get a little bit better. That’s the goal every day and that’s what I saw this week.”
(I wanted to talk about kind of the last two offseasons put together here for you. They’ve been unique both for you and this time around you were able to train more regularly in the offseason. Do you feel a big difference in your strength and mobility and just your overall ability at this time compared to this time last year?) – “Definitely. I’m a year older than I was last year. I’ve had a year more of training. I’m working with a great organization right now. I think that it’s getting better.”
(I was looking at the Dolphins’ schedule and I noticed that there were guys like 49ers DE Nick Bosa, Chargers DE Joey Bosa and Broncos LB Von Miller early in the season. How do you feel about the prospects of facing guys like that?) – “I’m excited to go out and compete every day. That’s kind of the moral of this team. We look forward to those challenges. I definitely do myself and when they come, they’ll come; but I’m excited about it. I’m glad I get to work every day for it.”
(I saw you celebrated your 21st birthday recently. I wanted to ask what was the turn-up like at the team hotel or really honestly how did you get to enjoy your birthday as a 21-year-old?) – “The turn-up was in the ice tub after practice. (laughter) So I guess not much of one. My birthday has always fallen during camp, so I’ll celebrate the right way after the season is over.”
(I saw a sequence I guess in practice where you ripped DT Raekwon Davis’ jersey off and it kind of showed me the physicality that you guys were getting into in practice. What has that been like when you guys have started to ratchet it up the last few days?) – “It’s been fun. Just coming out every day and competing. We’ve got great guys on both sides of the line. I like to get after it. We all like to get after it and it’s a lot of fun.”
(Did you say anything to DT Raekwon Davis after you got his jersey?) – “I don’t think so.”
(I know when we talked to you before the draft, you talked about gaining strength. That was a goal of yours. Were you able to have maybe a goal for weight and strength and how did you sort of achieve that maybe in this different offseason?) – “My goal really was just to get as strong as I can in my core over time. I didn’t really have any weight goals because I didn’t really know what it looked like yet, so I’ve just been putting on weight the right way and working.”
(I was thinking about college versus the NFL. What’s something that you’ve learned that is just different?) – “There’s a lot of things different. For one, you’re not leaving to go to school in the middle of the day. You have time to fully develop yourself and devote yourself to football and a lot of free time to just make yourself a better player and enjoy ball.”
(I wanted to ask you about the competition you’re seeing on the other side of the ball. Have you been able to learn anything or take anything away from going up against guys like DE Shaq Lawson and DE Emmanuel Ogbah and LB Kyle Van Noy and all those pass rushers on the other side?) – “Yeah, definitely. They’re all great rushers. They force me to bring out the best in me and I’ve been getting better; but yeah, they’re all great rushers.”
(I wanted to ask you about the kinship that you may have developed with G Solomon Kindley and T Robert Hunt – three guys who were drafted together and now you potentially have a chance to grow together in the NFL. What is that like and what’s it like when you guys compare notes on your progress?) – “We’re just coming to work with our suitcase every day, just ready to work. Not really much complaining about it. We talk about certain things, just making sure we’re caught up in the playbook. We’re all learning new stuff and we’re just all coming and working day in and day out.”
(With the two fellow rookie draft picks – the offensive linemen – what’s that friendship been like? Have you all been able to build a bond, a connection between you guys?) – “Yeah, definitely. Offensive line is definitely a group that is very close-knit, so I think we’ve had the opportunity to bond – our whole offensive line class – and also just with the guys that have been here, too. I think it’s been great for all of us working together day in and day out.”
(I wanted to ask, G Ereck Flowers seems to be a player that’s helping a lot of younger guys after practice. Is he somebody that’s kind of helped you or are there any other veterans that have taken you under their wing so far?) – “Ereck definitely – he’s definitely been one to help us out; but pretty much all the guys across the board in our room have been willing to help us no matter what, even your second-year guys like Michael (Deiter) and Keaton (Sutherland). I think all across the board, we all work to make sure we’re all up to speed and play at the highest level.”
