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Christian Wilkins – August 6, 2019 Download PDF version

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

DT Christian Wilkins

(On drowning out the negative expectations for the season from outsiders.) – “I’m not going to let anybody create a mindset for this team or for anybody on this team. I feel like if we work hard, we do what we have to do, we grind and we bring it every day, if we put our best foot forward, we’ll reap what we sow. That’s the one thing about the outside world – they don’t know what’s going on in here. I’m not putting any predictions or any wild expectations on us. The most important thing to me is that I bring it every day and that the guys on this team bring it every day. That doesn’t bother me at all. It’s all just rhetoric. It’s a long season. We’re just in camp right now. We’ll reap what we sow, like I said, and get the results that we deserve.”

(It’s only preseason. How much are you looking forward to Thursday, getting out there in the home stadium doing your thing?) – “I’m really looking forward to it. Every time you put on those pads and go into that stadium, it’s another opponent from another team. It isn’t just preseason. It’s full go, a live game. For me, it’s my first NFL experience. You can’t tell me otherwise that it’s just another preseason game. It’s important too for me to just kind to get into my routine and understand the things that I want to do know, because it’s a whole different schedule for me. Just getting into those routines. I’ve got to treat this as close to a game as possible, and just figure out what I like, what I can do and what I can’t do. I’ve just got to bring that mindset that this is an actual real live game.”

(As far as meeting United States Women’s National Soccer Coach Jill Ellis today, you got a picture with her right?) – “Yes. That was awesome.”

(Where does that rank in all of your Instagram photos?) – “That’s pretty cool, because obviously what they were able to do – Team USA – was special. They were so much fun to watch and that’s not an easy thing to accomplish, being the best in the world at something. I’m sure that starts with great leadership. It starts at the top with coaching. It was awesome, awesome to meet her. I had to give her a big hug and get my picture with her.”

(Where does that rank as far as cool people you’ve met?) – “That’s definitely up there. Because like I said, I love watching all sports. Again, how they represented not just for themselves, but for the whole country. They were just so much fun to watch so that was definitely awesome.”

(Are you the type of player that gets nervous before a game? Will you have butterflies?) – “I don’t typically get nervous, just because of preparation. That’s where it all starts. I feel like I would only be nervous if I feel like I didn’t prepare the right way and didn’t bring it every day or if I cheated the process. I feel like if I do everything I need to do throughout the week, then there shouldn’t be any pressure come game day just because there is great talented guys out here that I’m going against every day. I’m hoping the game won’t be too much different.”

(A lot of times fans don’t notice linemen as much, but you being a first-round draft pick, do you feel that maybe eyes are going to be on you?) – “Yes. I’m sure that will be, but I feel like as long as I do what I need to do for this team, I don’t get out of myself or get out of the scheme, as long as it matters what I do for this team, the coaches trust me, my teammates trust me and I know I did my best, then it doesn’t matter what other people may think. But I know all eyes are going to be on me as well, and there will be some attention from it.”

(Has everything been going according to plan for you in training camp from your perspective?) – “In terms of me just getting better every day, me just getting better every day, me bringing it, me trying to earn my teammates and my coaches trust and respect, I feel like so far I’ve done alright. But, I’m never satisfied, so I’m always trying to get better at everything.”       

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