Cameron Wake – December 21, 2018
Download PDF version
Friday, December 21, 2018
DE Cameron Wake
(You guys have a chance to wrap up your home schedule at 7-1 which is pretty impressive. What have you guys done so well at home?) – “I’d like to think it’s a lot of things. Fan support, obviously being there, the fans getting nice and loud. Of course, on defense we love that (on) third down, supporting the team. I’m sure the weather has something to play in there. You’d probably have to ask other teams about that, but that familiarity. You definitely want to make sure when you’re in your own stadium, you knock out the games that you’re supposed to. Obviously we’ve got to clean things up on the road, but to say that we enjoy playing at home, I think, is an understatement.”
(Head Coach Adam Gase and Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke both specifically referenced that you’ve been strong in the area of run defense and setting the edge.) – “Who me? I’m just a pass rusher. What do you mean? (laughter)”
(Can you tell me about how that aspect of your game has evolved over the last few years?) – “I would like to think that hopefully it’s always been the case. That’s a question for them. I feel like it’s a pride thing. I’m not going to get into a long monologue about defense but at the end of the day, you have a gap to defend as a d-lineman. You have to make sure the ball doesn’t get there and if it does, you have to put it on the ground. So I’m kind of stubborn in that way. I’m hard-headed. I’m old school. I don’t care how big you are. I don’t care about all of the factors. I am going to try to do my best to do my job and I think that mentality is one that is going to make me successful.”
(Does it bother you at all when defensive ends are looked at … Sacks are overwhelmingly the number one thing that people look at as opposed to maybe the all-around game including setting the edge and stopping the run?) – “Well that’s not fabulous. That’s not highlight material. I truly feel that’s a big part of it. We always say if you don’t stop the run, you’re not going to rush the passer anyway. Unfortunately, we’ve seen many examples of that this year where if you don’t stop the run, they don’t have to throw the ball so there are no sacks to be had. So you’ve got to do your work first before you can play. You’ve got to stop the run first before you can pass rush so if they’re in third-and-2 all day, you’re not going to be much of a pass rusher. So you’ve got to get your work done. I think the traditional fan, they watch touchdowns and sacks and things like that that are highlight material, but real football people, they know run defense. They know how impressive a 1-yard run is, which will never make an ESPN highlight and you probably won’t write about it, but that turns into third-and-9. So whoever did that thing on second-and-10, that is the cause that we have the opportunity to pass rush. So they go hand in hand. Without one you can’t have the other.”
(Do you feel you’re as good of a run stopper as you are a pass rusher?) – “I hope so. My mentality is there shouldn’t be a difference. It should be first and second down. I’m going to do everything I can, if you run a ball toward me, to hold my gap and put the ball on the ground and when third down comes around, everybody wants to get after the quarterback and I should be just as effective either way. I think, as you said, most guys are one or the other. You’re a run stopper or a pass rusher. Why can’t you be both?”
(RB Frank Gore said he wants to come back for another year after this. You obviously will have a decision to make for you too. What goes into those sort of decisions?) – “I think it’s very simple. Probably three parts. The main one probably is organizational. Do they want you or not? In the NFL, do they want you to play? It’s the opportunity to go ahead and be on a roster. Number two, internally – for me at least – can you provide, can you help, can you support? Can you still do it? That’s going to be different for every guy to the level that you’re comfortable with. Are you enjoying it? That’s the last one. Whether that’s physically, mentally, spiritual or whatever. We’ve seen examples of each of those not be in a player’s favor and it doesn’t work. You have players who want to play, probably can, but can’t get on a roster. You have guys who want to do it but physically they’re not enjoying it. Then, guys who want to be on a roster and time has passed. There’s only so much tread on the tire. Whenever the offseason comes, after the Super Bowl, like I do every year, I’ll sit down and assess those different options and see where it takes me.”
(You often say it and a lot of guys say it that the decision is made in the offseason after the season; but during the year, are there moments, whether positive or negative, where you think about it even internally?) – “You think about it all the time. That’s just an unfortunate part of the game. Whether it be physical or mental, it’s a tough gig. At the end of the day, today I still feel good. I still feel like I can help. Will that be the case in April? I’d like to think so.”
(I guess this is the only team you’ve ever played for NFL-wise. Is there significance in that and could you see yourself in another one?) – “In another jersey? Ideally, no. If option number one is not in my favor, meaning they don’t want me but I can still play, I can still provide and I still enjoy it, then whatever needs to happen. If it makes sense, then I’d do it. If not, then I won’t.”
(Any thoughts on the throwback uniforms?) – “I love them. They’re great. That was a pleasant surprise that they’re keeping it going for another week. I think most people agree – fans and I think you guys included. If I could throw my hat in the vote box for more … I don’t know who makes that decision but I like them.”
(I know you try to help younger players. I’m curious, in what ways have you tried to help DE Charles Harris?) – “I’m trying to think back over the history of young guys coming in. He might be one of the guys who I’ve actually got the opportunity to spend the most time with – obviously being the same position, same side. I was the older guy when he got here. Some of the other guys that weren’t around for very long, they’re off in other places. There’s no limit, really. We were exchanging fashion tips a couple of days ago to obviously on the field stuff, finances, anything. It’s not just football. To be a professional athlete, there’s a lot involved. I think if you take away just the physical abilities, we know a lot of guys who could physically play in the NFL but they’re not here for 60 other reasons. You have to have every facet of your life in order to be able to come here and do what we do. Football, obviously, as much as I can pass it on to him, I have, as I’ve gotten it passed on to me when I was a young Charles Harris in the day. It’s really a long list. I think that’s part of the game. There are certain things you can never get unless you’ve actually put on these cleats and put on a jersey and been out on the field. I don’t care how many books you read, how many papers you write. There is stuff you will never know. So to go to another player who’s been in there and knows what it is, how it feels or what it’s like and getting tips and wisdom, things of value. I got it and he’ll pass it on to another guy one day. I think it’s a part of the game.”
