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Christian Wilkins – November 15, 2019 Download PDF version

Friday, November 15, 2019

DT Christian Wilkins

(What did you think of the Browns DE Myles Garrett helmet swing thing that we all saw on television?) – “Obviously that’s the hot topic today because it just happened last night and you’ve never really seen anything like that happen in the league. That’s just it. You’ve never really seen anything like that happen in the league. A lot of guys feel differently about it, but there will be the consequences and go from there. Obviously I saw it, but it was just different. I’ve just never seen anything like it happen in a game, so it was a different situation for me to watch.”

(I was talking to you briefly about this yesterday: the Dolphins have a stat that you have the most tackles from the rookie class defensive linemen. That includes Raiders DE Clelin Ferrell and Giants DT Dexter Lawrence. Is that something you all have discussed on text or anything?) – “No, we haven’t talked about it; but hopefully I can keep things going in the right direction because we’re always competing against each other and we always like to just make fun of each other and talk a little trash. It’ll be good to have something to brag with, but I’m still trying to get them in every snap possible, too, so I can really just go clean-sweep and just have all the bragging rights for the year. (laughter) I’m just going to keep working and try to get better each week and just continue to improve, so that’s my main focus.”

(Defensive linemen always get real excited after a sack or tackle for loss, but I’m curious – are tackles, is that a number that does have some importance to you? Explain that.) – “Oh, definitely, because it’s a kept stat for a reason. They’re important, but in this league it’s real hard to get – I’m realizing it’s real hard to get tackles for loss and sacks. The big plays are harder to come by, so if you can make a tackle on the line of scrimmage for no gain, it doesn’t get shown up as a tackle for loss in the stat book, but it’s still a big play. If it’s a 1-yard gain, 2-yard gain, you force the offense in longer situations on second down. On second-and-8, second-and-9 instead of second-and-6, second-and-5 – it’s a lot harder from a game-planning standpoint for coaches to make those decisions, too, so they’re always important and always big, for sure.”

(Head Coach Brian Flores said this week you’re coming into your own. Is there something that’s clicked the last couple weeks because you’ve been on this ascent? What’s sort of changed the last couple weeks?) – “Really just getting more comfortable with what the coaches are asking me to do and just taking more reps. That’s the biggest thing. When you’re a young guy, reps are the most important thing. It’s just really – I’ve been just trying to learn as much from the older guys as I can (and) take as much in from everybody and just put it all together, and hopefully I’ll just keep building each week. I’m never satisfied. That’s kind of my mindset. No matter what I do, no matter what I’ve done in the past; I’m always chasing something better and chasing greatness. It’s just kind of my mindset and my approach I’ve taken every week and every day I step on the field.”

(DT Davon Godchaux said earlier that the mentality with defensive tackles is to stop the run. How much extra challenging is it when the quarterback is a part of that run game?) – “That definitely presents a different challenge for us. You take a lot of pride in it as a d-line, like he said. You’re only as good as you are at the point of attack and stopping the run as a d-lineman, but that presents another challenge for us for sure, because (Josh Allen) can make some great plays with his feet. We’re just going to have to be ready and just read our keys and situate our technique and plays will come to us.”

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