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Durham Smythe – August 3, 2022 Download PDF version

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

TE Durham Smythe

(Year Five? Year Six?) – “Year Five.”

(Sorry I gave you an extra one.) – “I appreciate it.”

(What does Year Five mean to you?) – “I guess in general, you’re off your rookie contract. You’re a vet in this league when you’re in Year Five. I’m excited about the team we have and everything, so I think Year Five will be a fun one.”

(After seeing QB Tua Tagovailoa for the past two years, what are some strides he’s made in his game in this training camp so far?) – “I think physically, since he got here two years ago, three years ago, whenever it was, obviously he’s made a lot of strides. Everyone can see that. But I think it’s just – I mean, I say this every time this question is asked, and I’ve been kind of saying it over the last two years, because it keeps growing on a pretty linear path. It’s just his grasp of the offense, his grasp of professional football in general. There’s always a transition period, specifically for that position, so I think he just stays on this linear path of growth, and I think really the sky is the limit.”

(What’s it like to play in an offense where tight ends are so important? I know you guys are always important but…?) – “Yes, it’s exciting. This scheme is something that I haven’t really been a part of since college, and I love it. I love being at the point of attack in the run game, and there’s a lot of things that you can do with a tight end off of that. So it’s exciting, I think our room in general is pretty excited about being a focal point of the offense. It’s a responsibility that, as a group, we’re pretty excited about it.”

(The way you developed in this league as far as a pass catcher. People didn’t think of you that way. Now you go back to more of a blocking role. How do you develop…?) – “I mean in this league, it’s adapt or die. That’s what it is. It’s a year-to-year basis type thing. I think overall, everyone tries to be wholesome in regards to being able to produce in the run game and the pass game. But like I said, it’s a year-to-year basis. You have to prove what you can do every year this time of year and then continue to prove it during the season. So we’ll just roll with the punches there.”

(How much of a discussion yesterday and today was the NFL’s investigation into tampering?) – “We haven’t really touched on it. Obviously, that’s out of all of our control in the building. So when it has no effect on us, I think we’ll just keep rolling and attack the football part of it.”

(In 2019, did you ever get a sense that there was any intention not to win games?) – “I sure didn’t. Myself, obviously everyone in that locker room – if you’re a professional football player, your resume is on the line every week. So obviously none of the players are trying to throw anything and that’s what we all focused on. From my perspective, no.”

(Did you know that QB Tua Tagovailoa got married and were you able to congratulate him?) – “I did, yes. I was aware of that. I did congratulate him when we first got back to the building. That’s an exciting thing. I have no experience with it, but a lot of my friends do. So it’s exciting. (laughter)”

(I wanted to ask you, I know TE Mike Gesicki is kind of in a tough situation with his contract stuff this year, and obviously, you guys are really close. What are some things that you can probably tell him I guess or kind of keep him encouraged along the way?) – “I say all the time – like I said previously, it’s adapt or die, year-to-year basis, you have to prove it every year. But with him, if he can show that he can produce in one offense last year, another offense this year and be productive overall as a tight end, the price is just going up. So that’s what I tell him every day. If he can continue on a positive trend path, it’s just going to pay dividends in the long run for him. I’m excited for him.”

(How did you like QB Tua Tagovailoa’s playlist today?) – “I love it. I love that type of music. I’m not a huge ‘rah-rah energy’ guy when it comes to the beginning of practice, so I kind of like the mellow vibes there. I like that.”

(So you had some energy today even though it was really relaxing?) – “Yes, I mean, it’s all business when you’re out there, but it’s kind of nice to have that relaxing element to it as well.”

(On the music at practice today) – “Well, you know, long practice. We wanted to continue the mellow vibes, I guess, so we just put it on repeat.”

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