Christian Wilkins – January 8, 2024
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Monday, January 8, 2024
DT Christian Wilkins
(What’s step one in trying to put last night aside knowing you have a playoff game Saturday? Short week, all the things that go through it emotionally aside from the physical part.) – “Yeah. I feel like for me and most of the guys, we’ve already put it aside. It’s a short week already, so you have to be quicker than the 24-hour rule. It’s like the 12-hour rule. We have to get prepared for this new season that we’ve got. The regular season is behind us and I’m excited for what’s ahead now. We’ve done what we needed to do to earn playoff football, bonus football. So now we’re just looking at what’s ahead. That’s the mindset we’re taking. That’s the mindset I’m taking. That’s how we’re looking at it, and that’s how we’re approaching it.”
(You had some defensive end reps throughout the course of you career. You had a couple last night. Do you think more is to come with the injury situation you guys have had?) – “I don’t know. But if I’m ever asked to do anything, I’m a team guy. So whatever is asked of me, I will happily do.”
(When you’re out there, what’s your approach? What’s different from your perspective when you take on a tackle instead of a guard?) – “Well, luckily for us, we work on a lot of different techniques and doing different things. You get a lot of reps throughout the course of a season. So you do have a lot of bank reps. In a lot of ways, three technique is like playing five technique. It’s just a little more space, a little different.”
(I don’t know if you’ve looked at the weather forecast in Kansas City this weekend, but they said it might be a low of zero degrees. As a guy who’s big on routine, has that changed anything for you in terms of making sure you’re ready for the weather and staying warm?) – “No. Pretty much my approach is the same no matter what. That’s why I structure my routine that way so I’m good to go regardless. But that’ll be fun. I don’t think I’ve ever played in anything that cold or that type of weather. It’ll be exciting. That’s football weather and it’s playoff time, so let’s go.”
(No sleeves though?) – “No sleeves.”
(You’re from the Northeast, so you’ve seen some cold temperatures. But not that cold?) – “I don’t think quite that cold. But I’ve been a part of some cold games and cold weather. That’ll be a little different, but it’ll be exciting.”
(A minute ago, you used the word ‘we’ve done what we needed to do to earn a playoff berth’. Obviously you could’ve earned a lot more than what you did, including a home game. How much is there a sense of what could have been? Or meat left on the bone? Or whatever phrase you want to use?) – “I mean, that’s one way to look at it. But regardless, wherever you end up or how it ends, you’re in the tournament. Everyone has a chance. Regardless of where you’re playing on the road, a lot of teams you end up having to face, you’d end up facing regardless if you’re trying to do something big. You’re going to play good teams down the road. You’re going to have to play all the teams. I’m not really looking at it like that. It is what it is. We got what we earned and now we’re looking ahead.”
(You have your hand wrapped. Did you come out of the game ok?) – “Yep.”
(What happened?) – “I’m fine.”
(You guys I think were able to hold the Chiefs scoreless in the second half the last time you faced them. What do you remember about what you guys were able to do in that second half that you can potentially take to this game?) – “Yeah, I just remember we were able to make adjustments after seeing how they were attacking us early. Make some adjustments, which is pretty standard throughout the course of a game. But they are a very good football team. They have a very good offense, so we’ll have to bring it. We’ll have to play some good defense to put ourselves in a good position to try and win this thing. But they’re a very good team and looking forward to the challenge.”
(What was the back and forth like with Bills QB Josh Allen? You got him for that strip sack. I know he had his moments. How does that prepare a team for what’s ahead in the playoffs?) – “Yeah, just that. They are a good team. We’ll see more good teams down the road starting with this weekend. Obviously, different things schematically, different players and stuff like that. But just really preparing for big time football against big time opponents.”
(Were you looking for the ball the whole time or was it a look what I found?) – “Nah, come on I’m smooth with it. (laughter) It just happened the way it did. It was all part of how it was scripted. (laughter)”
(You guys have been in this roll of facing these elite quarterbacks in QB Dak Prescott, QB Lamar Jackson, QB Josh Allen and now QB Patrick Mahomes. What is the preparation like for each differently and when you’re going to face a guy like Patrick Mahomes in a setting like this?) – “Yeah, each guy does a little something different, so there might be little things here or there. There might be little things schematically or game plan wise. I don’t really know exactly what those will be. I mean, you just prepare as best as you can and accomplish the gameplan as best as you can and play as hard as you can and look up at the end.”
(Two habits that I wanted to ask you about yourself. The national anthem, you run out at ‘Land of the free, home of the brave’ right? You run out – where does that come from and why do you do it?) – “Why are you watching me so much? (laughter) That’s the bigger question. Don’t watch me. (laughter) But again, I’m a routine guy. That’s just what I do. I actually love the national anthem. It’s a time to lock in. That’s my favorite part of getting ready for the game because that’s when all the emotions and energy is at it’s peak. It’s a good time and I’m just ready to go there. But yeah, that’s just always what I’ve done. It’s my thing. Now what’s your second question?”
(I told you about this one day in the locker room, so where does that come from?) – “Oh, yeah, so again stop watching me. (laughter) Let me do my thing. Let me just do my weird little corks and things that I got. I’m a routine guy. It just is what it is. I got my little things. I got my little reasons. I’m not going to share them per se, but once I do something or get in a little groove or routine, it just is what it is.”
(I always notice people’s little routines.) – “Watch somebody else next time.” (laughter)
(Nine sacks. You finished the regular season with a strip sack in a big game at the end of the year. Have you done everything you think was asked of you in a contract situation?) – “I mean, again, I haven’t thought about that at all. I just try to play as hard as I can for my guys, for my teammates and for those organization. I love this organization so much and people around, my teammates and all that. I just think about being who I’ve been since day one coming in here and that doesn’t change. I always approach the game the same way. It doesn’t really matter. I’m focused on what’s coming up this week and doing it again in this brand-new season that we have being in the postseason.”
(With that in mind, you guys are human. Obviously you’re not going to make excuses, but you look around, guys are dropping like flies. A lot of key players on this team have gone down. Do you at any moment in this stretch and say, ‘Man, what is going on? We just can’t catch a break.’) – “No, not really because every team has their things they’re dealing with. Luckily for us, we have a lot of guys for us that have been around for a long time with the team and been preparing the right way. We do have a lot of luxuries as tough as some of the injuries have been. We have guys who can step up and play good ball. Like I said, they’ve been in the meeting rooms and preparing and learning the same stuff. You don’t really think about that. You can bring attention to it if you want, but I’m not going to make an excuse for anything. Whoever is up, whoever’s number is being called, they have to perform to the best of their abilities.”
