Connor Williams – August 1, 2022
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Monday, August 1, 2022
OL Connor Williams
(Through five practice and all of OTAs, how would you assess where you stand in the move to center? Are you pleased with what you put on tape? Are you pleased with how it’s going?) – “It’s training camp. It’s one day at a time. It’s a day at a time getting better, working on your craft, fine-tuning your craft. We’re in day five and we’re grinding right now. It’s all about the grind.”
(What did you do between minicamp and training camp to kind of acclimate to playing center?) – “Really, just stayed in the building, worked with the strength staff, worked with the people in the building to get close to everybody and just get used to this heat. That’s probably the biggest transition. Just getting comfortable with the spot, with the snaps and everything, and getting snaps in with Tua (Tagovailoa). Just getting comfortable with it.”
(When people think about playing center, obviously your mind goes to getting used to snapping the ball. But what else goes into that people may not think about?) – “I’d say it’s a completely different game. You’re having to help both sides of the line. You’re not just stuck on (one) side anymore. It’s a more full game, but at the same time, you have to conceptualize the defense and everything to be able to make the right calls. Just playing that new head game and everything. Then like you said with the snaps, once you get the snaps down, it’s just a second-hand motion.”
(With snapping, are you happy with how you’ve done? Are you where you want to be with the placement of the snaps?) – “It’s definitely progressed. It becomes second-hand where you’re not thinking about it and you’re throwing it back there and it hits the money.”
(How many snaps are you doing per day out of shotgun?) – “I don’t count them but a good handful. And then definitely some after practice, so just getting that repetition down.”
(The first time the Dolphins told you that they wanted to give you a good look at center was when?) – “They signed me and I was happy to be here, and they said we picked you to play o-line so I came here. Then they called me a couple of weeks later and said ‘we think we’re going to give you a good tryout at center.’ Wherever they need me, I’ve always said from day one that I’d go. I’m happy with where I’m at now.”
(On the snaps that haven’t been exactly where you want them, have they been more too high or too low?) – “It’s just in the heat of the moment having to adjust to the defensive calls and everything and they just get off a little bit. Just having to readjust it. Just fine-tuning.”
(The last couple of practices we finally got some one-on-one pass rush o-line drills. How much do you guys love getting after it in those drills?) – “That fine-tunes the craft. Definitely an environment like that where it’s just completely one-on-one and no sideboards or anything. It comes down to technique. That’s where you become a technician with the person you’re going against and it’s good looks for both sides.”
(Has anybody stood out on defense in those drills?) – “You know, Raekwon (Davis) is pretty big so he’s a good hand to handle. He’s done a great job and we’ve been battling it out.”
(This really starts tomorrow right? You guys put the pads on.) – “The d-line can grab and hold on the jerseys, but once the pads come on, it’s a different game. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow.”
(Obviously fine-tuning the snap and then center is also different with pads on, right?) – “It’s a little bit different, but at the same time, it’s the same game. It’s the same sport.”
(As a youngster or in high school, have you played center?) – “I’ve been in QC since I’ve gotten into the league just as backup and whatnot in case of an emergency. So just doing that. But at the end of the day, snapping is not too bad. It’s second-hand nature once you get used to it.”
(Can you talk about what is going to be new to you now is making the calls when you walk up. That is a new responsibility that you’ve inherited by playing center. Can you talk about the responsibility of that now? Now you’re in charge of making the calls.) – “That’s definitely been a transition and I’ve enjoyed it. Playing four years in the league and seeing all of these different defenses, you kind of accumulate the knowledge of it. That’s probably the big thing about it, but I’ve really enjoyed that process of seeing the defense and seeing the plays come together.”
(Do you feel like that will help you transition to making the calls yourself?) – “Most definitely.”
(Has there ever been a day going back to May, June or the first five days of camp where you walked off the field and said ‘I wish I was at left guard?’ Or has that never happened? Has it been fun and enjoyable every day?) – “You come out here and you give it your best every day, no matter where you are. We’re all competitors and we’re all athletes. Whatever our craft is we’re working on, that’s the goal. There is no time to sit there and look back or look at other spots or whatnot. It’s about being present in the moment.”
(This has still been fun for you, this adjustment?) – “Most definitely. I love it.”
(We were talking to DT Raekwon Davis about weight. I’m curious how you’ve gone about that process? We know you lose a lot of weight out here. How do you get to your ideal weight?) – “I’ve stayed about the same weight. It’s mostly about rehydrating, about getting those waters in afterwards, maybe an IV or whatnot. But you have to keep the hydration up and keep the salt in so when you come out here, you (may) lose eight pounds. Just keeping it up.”
(Some guys said they come in heavier or lighter knowing they have to get to a certain weight. Do you have any strategy coming in like you know you’ll lose a certain amount of weight?) – “The salt helps you retain a lot of water. You’ll be up three or four pounds in the morning just from retaining all of that water that you lose by the end of the day.”
(What do you think they saw in you to move you to center? What in your skillset said he’s a center?) – “I think inside it’s more about being able to help both sides. Mobility, flexibility, being able to get to the blocks, and at the same time, get to the second levels and be able to move quickly on the second level. I think it’s been a good transition.”
