Christian Wilkins – May 23, 2023
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
DT Christian Wilkins
(You had a chance to meet Queen Latifah a few weeks ago. Tell us about that.) – “Yes, I did. That was beautiful, shoutout to my girl Queen Latifah, she was everything I thought she would be. She was awesome, she was glowing. That was awesome for me to meet her. I’ve always wanted to meet her. She is one of my favorites. That was humbling for me. It was an honor to meet the Queen, I was not worthy, but she was awesome to, so it was dope. Shout out to you, girl.”
(From the early install, what stands out to you about a Vic Fangio defense?) – “We’ve got some good stuff, we’ve got some good players on the defense. We’ve got to continue to grind every day, and learn it as fast as we can, so that way come minicamp, come training camp; we’re just flying around playing fast, not really thinking. We’re all still learning it, so there are going to be mistakes in that, but guys are working hard to get it right and playing our butts off so we love to see that.”
(I heard that it puts more pressure on the defensive linemen to disengage. Obviously no pads now, but what are those challenges like?) – “We’re built for it, we just got to put the work in.”
(You had mentioned last year getting so comfortable in the scheme to kind of cheat the scheme and be able to make plays outside of it. I’m curious now that you go back to a new system in Year 1, how do jump start that process?) – “It’s the same process. It’s going to take a little more work on my end to completely understand the confines of the defense and how things are working, what it looks like, and were I can do certain things, and where I can’t do certain things. It’s going to take a lot of work on my part and also building that rapport with new guys on the defense, different backers and everything like that. We all got to get a feel for each other.”
(Where do you stand regarding contract talks? Are you optimistic something can get done this summer?) – “I let my agent handle all of that. There is a reason he’s hired. The biggest complication with the contract is the Omar Kelly clause. I’m trying to make sure I don’t have to answer any of his questions, good to see you back. (laughter)”
(Is the gap such that you’re optimistic, I know General Manager Chris Grier had said there were conversations, the priority. Is the gap close enough that you’re optimistic a deal will be closed? I guess your agent probably gives you updates periodically.) – “Like I said, I let my agent handle all of that. He has a job to do. He’s one of the best in the business so I’m putting it in his hands, controlling what I can control. Coming out here every day and leading and playing ball.”
(If you do go into this year as a contact year, is that a motivational tool?) – “I’m always motivated and motivation comes from within, not a dollar amount, but it’s just my drive to be the best and be my best. No dollar changes that, changes my mindset. Whether something gets done or not my approach is always the same.”
(What do you think when you see some of the deals like DT Daron Payne, and DT Dexter Lawrence?) – “I was excited about (Dexter) Lawrence. That’s my fat little brother, so I was excited about him. But it’s good to see. It’s just good to see the growth of the game and clearly how much d-line play, especially interior means to teams and it’s good to see that. It’s just great to see that, it’s good for the game and it’s good for the guys that come after us. I’m a big believer in doing right by the game, doing things right and paying it forward for those guys coming after you regardless of whether it’s a dollar, whether it’s just doing things the right way, someone they can look up to. I’m just big on respecting the game. It’s cool to see.”
(What is Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio like?) – “Vic is cool. He’s definitely more of an old-school coach. He’s like a grandfather out there, but he’s good with the players and he’s good to be around so far.”
(You’ve got like, the buddy and the grandfather. How does that work between him and Head Coach Mike McDaniel?) – “Definitely different. Each of them are different but both are obviously effective coaches and good at what they do.”
(It’s pretty cool to have a balance. You’ve got this guy who has seen everything and then you’ve got Head Coach Mike McDaniel. You can still learn a lot from a guy like that.) – “Yes, absolutely. That’s one of the things I respect most abut Vic. He’s been doing it for so long and so highly regarded and just got a lot of respect.”
(Is there a different aspect to your game whether it’s pass rush or anything else that you are looking to improve on this offseason?) – “Just everything. I’m never a finished product. I didn’t make every play I was supposed to make last year. Regardless of how productive I was, there was so much more out there for me. So whether it’s getting in shape, developing my pass rush, being strong in the run, it’s all the same process.”
(Would you at least say that last year was your best year? It seemed that way to I think most of us.) – “I guess you could say that, but it won’t be my best. That’s the goal and that’s my mindset every time I work out, every time I study film, every time I eat and do that whole process. My mindset is to always be the best.”
(What are your thoughts on the run by the Heat and the Panthers? I know you’re a Massachusetts guy.) – “Absolutely. It’s bittersweet. I’m a die-hard Boston Celtics fans so it’s hard to see what’s going on right now. I’m still going down with the ship, going down with the guys. I don’t care what no one has to say. Let’s go Celtics. (laughter) But I’ve got a lot of respect for the Heat of course. Miami is my home now and I really enjoy watching the Panthers play. They are a lot of fun to watch and I’ve enjoyed being able to go to a lot of Panthers games, but they did beat the Bruins, too. So it is what it is.”
(Do you feel like this is infectious – the way that the winning is happening down here?) – “Yeah, hopefully all the teams can continue that on and just continue to have success for the fans. The fans that just deserve a winner.”
(I saw you at the Heat game with CB Jalen Ramsey. What is it like to have so many big personalities, WR Tyreek Hill last year, LB Bradley Chubb coming over, Jalen now. So many big personalities.) – “I’m already getting tired of Jalen (Ramsey) for real. (laughter) Nah, it’s cool, it’s definitely just good. It’s just good just to have those guys who have had a lot of success in the league and kind of just talk to them. They pour into us and just guys you can look to and just talk to, who’ve had a lot of success and take things from them – the process, how they approach the game, their mindset. It’s always good.”
(Although you had the green on the shoes, you had the white hot up top or was that by accident?) – “That was kind of by accident. That’s just a Miami vibe outfit, but I had to represent and make it clear that I was rocking with my Celtics and I still am tonight. Celtics in seven. (laughter)”
(One more question about CB Jalen Ramsey. As a defensive lineman, when they go out and sign a guy like that, what goes through your mind right away?) – “Obviously that’s great for the team and just great for the guys up front, and really great for the defense. A guy who has a championship pedigree, has played a lot of ball in this league, a Pro Bowler, an All Pro. Just someone you can learn from someone you’re thinking ‘all right, he does his job at a high level; that’ll only help us up front.’”
