Byron Maxwell – May 31, 2016
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Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Cornerback Byron Maxwell
(On if he likes the responsibility that comes with being a veteran among a young cornerback group) – “It’s a responsibility that has to be accepted, regardless of (whether) I like it or not. It’s one of those things where you can get these young guys and you can mold them. And you can create something like we had in Seattle; something similar to that. I’m looking forward to it.”
(On coaches saying he has “starred” in practices thus far) – “I don’t know. I haven’t gotten too many … my hands on the ball. That’s kind of what I judge as a star, but sure.”
(On his battles with WR DeVante Parker) – “Yes. (Parker and I) have had good battles. He’s a great player. Not only him, (but WR) Kenny Stills and you have (WR) Jarvis Landry. Those three guys could be very special as a (wide receiving) corps. But yeah, Parker (and I) have had some good battles. He’s a strong kid and he can go up and get the ball too. (He has) good ball skills.”
(On how he has been able to use his press coverage skills in OTAs and if he is glad that’s part of the defensive scheme) – “Yeah, obviously. I pressed a little bit in Philly but I think that’s one of the strengths in my game and what I do. I’m looking forward to just going and pressing and playing that (way).”
(On if he has been using those skills right now with what the team is doing in OTAs) – “You can use them a little but you don’t have pads on so it’s a lot easier to get skinny. You can’t really punch him and get (as) physical as you would like. It’s a good way to train and work on your technique too, at the same time; because you can’t just rely on pads. You have to rely on moving your feet. That’s how you press. It is good work out there, right now.”
(On if he feels he has something to prove because he was traded) – “I always feel like I have something to prove but definitely, you’re the new guy in the locker room. Everybody is looking at you like ‘What can you do?’ They watch football just like everybody (else). The season I had just wasn’t … well, the beginning of the season. I always feel like I have something to prove. There are things on my list that I need to do; I feel like I need to do as an NFL player. It’s Year 6 so there is way more stuff to prove. I have a lot of years.”
(On his perception about whether others sold him short last season) – “Regardless of how it was sold or whatever, that’s what happened. As a player in the NFL, if your team is not doing well, you’re not doing well. That’s how I look at it and that’s the way it is.”
(On CB Xavien Howard and if he will fit in well with the scheme) – “I really do think he will. He’s athletic. He was born to be a corner(back). It’s a natural gift. You can see it in his hips and the way he moves.”
(On if he gives any tips to CB Xavien Howard and CB Tony Lippett on being a big cornerback) – “If they come to me and ask me a question, (then sure). I lead by example. That’s the best way to do it. If they ask me a question then I can give them feedback. That’s the best way of going about things. Obviously, if they ask me a question then they need the info. But if they don’t, just let them rock.”
(On how he uses his size to his advantage) – “Honestly, I get big at the top of the route – ball skills. I like to think of myself as a rebounder when the ball is coming – boxing out and just going up to get the ball. That’s how I think my game … when I think about it.”
(On trash talking with Head Coach Adam Gase) – “(There’s) a little trash talk in here. We do a lot of trash talking out there (on the practice field). It’s all good. It’s fun. We’re competing. When we’re trash talking, I’m like ‘Man, I can’t let (WR DeVante) Parker beat me because I’m going to hear Gase all in my ear.’ That’s one of the things we talk about – competing and everything. It’s fun out there. (Gase) gets me going.”
(On his bond with Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph and if he is the ideal skill set for him and his skill set) – “He works with DBs too so that’s always a good thing. You (don’t just) have (Defensive Backs) Coach Lou (Amaruno, but) you have Coach VJ (Vance Joseph) looking at you. You have (Assistant Defensive Backs Coach) Daronte (Jones). There’s a lot of eyes looking at your technique and what you need to do better and how to work at it. It’s always better, to me, when the defensive coordinator is also a DBs coach. Like I said, (Joseph is) always in the DBs room and he is always working with us too.”
(On CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu) – “He’s athletic. Early thoughts (are that he is) athletic. But it’s a long (offseason) and a long training camp. That will work itself out.”
(On getting your hands on the receiver in press coverage) – “Like I said, it’s all with your feet. Hands – that’s the extra on the punch that helps. Press (coverage) starts with your feet and your eyes (and) eye discipline. That’s where it starts with press, and you end at the top of the route (with) eye discipline. That’s the quickest way to get out and stay on top is eye discipline.”
(On what Head Coach Adam Gase says to him during practice) – “That’s between me and him. He’s definitely getting me going. That’s the key. When I’m out there, it’s in the back of my head. It really is, like, ‘I can’t let nobody beat me because I’m not going to hear the end of this.’ (laughter) That’s one of the things … That’s great though. That’s what you need. Iron sharpens iron. (WR) DeVante Parker is making me better. Hopefully, I’m making him better.”
(On whether it surprised him that Head Coach Adam Gase talks “trash” to the defense) – “Yes, because usually, you would hope the head coach doesn’t have a side (of the ball). But clearly he has a side, which is cool.” (laugher)
(On what else he hopes to achieve in his NFL career) – “Honestly, right now, I want (people) to say, ‘Whatever spot he went at, he helped the ball team. Wherever he went, he helped them win.’ To me, that’s the most important thing. When you leave the game, being known as a winner is far more important than any other self-accolades. That’s the most important thing right now. That’s what I want.”
(On whether he has surprised the wide receivers with his abilities so far) – “I don’t know. I don’t know what they thought of my game before this. We played (the Dolphins) last year (in Philadelphia), so I’m pretty sure they watched a good bit of tape. I don’t know what they think of me or what they thought of my game before I came here. I couldn’t answer that.”
(On T Branden Albert) – “I don’t know much about ‘B.A.’ (Branden Albert). I met him when I first coming out and I noticed he was a good guy. That’s about it. He was a cool dude off the field. But as far as on the field, I don’t know much about him.”
(On what excites him about this defense) – “Obviously, it starts up front. We have quality guys up front. We have a lot of depth, too. I’m excited about that – that front seven – and playing with the guys in the secondary, too. That’s one of the things (when) I think about the defense, and I think what we can be. Obviously, we have to put the work in – and it starts out there – but on paper and everything, I feel very good about it. I feel great about it.”
(On whether inexperience is a concern at cornerback) – “It’s one of those things … Sometimes you have to go through the firing (squad). That’ll make you, to be honest with you. Everybody was young at a point in time. That’s how I like to think about it.”
