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David Long Jr. – August 22, 2023 Download PDF version

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

LB David Long Jr.

(What do you think you’ve shown so far early in camp on a new team here?) – “Off the bat, just the instinctive player I am. I’m just trying to get a feel for the whole defense around me. Coming to the end of training camp, we’re growing into an actual team. Some ways to go as well, but we’re building that core.”

(Is that what you showed when you had the tackle for loss in the game? Instinctual?) – “Yeah, it was just knowing pre-snap. I’ve been playing the game for (a while). Read the tight end and tackle, just knowing what’s coming, high red. Houston has a strong back. I’m pretty familiar with him, and just being familiar with the scheme.”

(I asked Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio what he seen and he said some of the same things, but he said he wants to see you more consistent. What do you think are some things you need to show to be more consistent?) – “I could say a number of things. Just taking the coaching from the field and then applying it. In the film, just going back and looking at things that can help me be a better player.”

(What do you like about this defense? In two preseason games, you guys have let up one touchdown. What do you like most about what you guys are doing?) – “I would say the mentality. We all have our individual talents, but it’s about us growing into a defense and how we can play off each other. It’s just good seeing it. We have new pieces coming in every week like Parry (Nickerson) and guys just being able to learn on the run. Taking that individual mentality that we’re going to have that dawg and playing fast. I feel like it’s coming together.”

(Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio said he’s impressed but you also have to take it with a grain of salt maybe because first and second team and said you’re probably going to face Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence. How excited are you to get reps against a top-flight quarterback?) – “I played against him the last two years. I’m pretty familiar with their scheme. I’m just excited to see how this defense has been coming along to the end of camp. Right now, we have a lot of players here getting time. We are just trying to find out who’s going to be with us at the end. Now we’re just building that core, and excited to see who’s going to build off that.”

(Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio said he has a dry sense of humor.) –­ “Very, very dry. He’s got little jokes. Sometimes I really can’t tell if it’s a joke or not. He will say something with a little smile. Vic’s a funny guy. We’re in the room with him. Just getting to know Vic as a coach and as a person as well. For sure, he keeps you on your toes.”

(Thoughts on the young guys, LB Aubrey Miller II, LB Channing Tindall, and being a mentor and helping them out.) – “It’s been good, especially with Aubrey. He’s undrafted. I’m sixth round. He’s undersized. Just being able to relate to him on so many levels. Coming in with guys in front of you and just be able to learn from their mistakes. Don’t go out there and do the same thing. As far as undrafted, it’s a little different. You have a shorter leash. You don’t have that many times to make mistakes. Just keeping him on his toes and helping him and Channing learn from my mistakes as well.”

(There’s a band around your leg. Is that just for compression?) – “Yeah, I got used to it. I just feel comfortable with it. Anytime I stand there, I take it off and do a little instead of getting cold. I feel sometimes people feel like – if you have a band on you. But I’m just comfortable like that.”

(Preventative?) – “Yeah, just little work in between reps and stuff.”

(I don’t know if you were asked about the tackle for loss in the last preseason game. What does that feel like, that moment you realize they’re about to get the guy behind the line of scrimmage?) – “It feels good. At first, I was just excited to get back. I haven’t played since last year, so I was excited to get back out there. I was just trying to, that whole drive, make a play. My big thing is making a play behind the line of scrimmage. I was trying to get a read when it gets to practice all week, and just getting a read for the tackle’s stance and how heavy he is and his hands and getting back into my pre-snap reads and football mode. It felt good to actually trust myself and shoot and continue to build on that.”

(I paused that tape. When you were at the line of scrimmage, the running back was just getting the toss, so obviously your anticipation was pretty good on that play. How does that come together pre-snap? Is that something you notice before they snap the ball, like I’m going right now?) – “Yeah. That play I was like if the tight end blocks down, I’m shooting this gap and that’s exactly what I did. A couple plays later, it was the same play, but the hole was too big. I’m just getting a feel for the game again and getting back into my style.”

(Do you also process how you’re going to defeat a block? I saw you slip one. You obviously ran through others. Is that in the moment as well?) – “It’s in the moment, but it’s on the run as well. These are some big guys, so they can get a jump on me and not even have square up and run through or square up and shed. It’s just being able to get a feel for the game.”

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