Jakeem Grant – September 28, 2020
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Monday, September 28, 2020
WR Jakeem Grant
(I wanted to take it back to the end-around call. When Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey and QB ‘Fitz’ Ryan Fitzpatrick – when you hear that number is being called, do you get excited? And obviously that is something I don’t think we’ve seen in the first three weeks. Just knowing that if they call that, you’re able to use your speed and agility to pick up almost 30 yards on that play?) – “Yeah, there was a sense of rush going through my body because I knew that the ball was coming to me, and the only thing I had to do was use my ability to make a play for the team, and that’s exactly what I did.”
(I was going to ask you something very similar to that. If you can describe the opportunity you get when you have an end-around like that, it seems you can really use your speed in the open field, maybe that much more than a typical reception? How do you feel?) – “To be honest, I really wasn’t running at full speed. I was just doing enough to get around the edge and as soon I saw the players overplay it, I was instantly looking for a cutback. I know coach always talks about this is a one-yard game. Every inch, every yard counts. I was just like ‘I’m not going out of bounds. I’m going to try my best to get into the end zone.’ That’s what I want to do. I didn’t end up getting in there, but I got us down to the goal line, so that was great.”
(Last year you were a part of the team and it took eight games and nine weeks for you guys to get your first win, and you were able to get one last week in Jacksonville. What can a win so early in the season really do for you guys going forward?) – “I would say it was a big motivation to the team. I always think of it as blood in the water as a shark. As soon as you smell that blood in the water from miles and miles away, all you want to do is go find, go hunt and go eat. I think that’s what it is for the team. We got that first win, that blood in the water and we smell it from a mile away. Now we’re just chasing down and trying to figure out what’s dying in the water and what prey we’re going to eat.”
(We asked you about the end-around. I wanted to get your thoughts on the reception you had. I’m curious to hear what that route is called. It looked like some kind of wheel or stop comeback route. What did you see on that play because it looked like you motioned over to where they really didn’t have anybody over there besides the one corner. Does your speed in that situation make you kind of w of a threat on that comeback? Also, the ability to get up after the catch on a player who is a rookie who didn’t touch you down. Just talk us through that play.) – “It’s an out and up, stop or whatever you want to call it. I knew that a lot of DBs – any time that I’m going on any type of vertical route, they’re basically going to haul ass and try to stay over the top of me. I just made it look like I was running as fast as I could and I just put on the breaks. The dude kept running for about probably three yards and I made the diving catch. I definitely couldn’t see the ball coming out of the break because of the lights. Then I was like ‘okay, there it is,’ so I dove for it. When he didn’t touch me and I fell on the ground, I was like – I didn’t feel him touch me so I got up. He probably thought – on film, when I watched it, he thought I dropped the ball. He started clapping like ‘yeah, he didn’t catch it.’ So I just got up and ran because I didn’t feel him touch me. I was like this can’t be right, he didn’t want to touch me. So I got up and ran for a couple more yards.”
(I want to get your thoughts on the season WR DeVante Parker is having. He’s obviously played through some pain with that hamstring injury and he’s shown up in a big way for this team. Have you seen a jump from him from even last year to this year?) – “Yeah. I just think that he’s going to continue to progress from last year. Yes, he’s been battling some things; but I feel like he’s one of the leaders in our receiver room and he’s going to continue to show guys that he’s unmatched and that he can go out there and have a big game at any moment.”
(I feel like WR DeVante Parker might owe you a check for that cartoon. Are you the inspiration for the other character in that?) – “He told me he was making a cartoon and it was based off of me and his relationship. No check. I don’t need it; but I appreciate him for just doing something based off of our friendship and our brotherhood.”
(I wanted to change the conversation to special teams and you as a returner. How do you feel like you’ve progressed this season? We were talking to Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman and he was saying that it’s tough for kick returners because a lot of them end up as touchbacks. How would you assess the few that you’ve been able to have this season?) – “I only got one kickoff return this season, which I took it out on my own. Yeah, a lot of teams have been kicking it over my head and not really giving me a chance. I understand. I get it. Definitely I’d say on the punt return note, I’m doing good at tracking the ball and setting up the team with good field position; but I still have a lot of room to go and I could do a lot of corrections and a lot of good things getting vertical a lot faster and setting the team up with good field position.”
(You said you understand why kickers are doing what they are doing. Do you want to send a message to them? Do you want to challenge them to give you a shot?) – “I’m always taunting them. Every kickoff return you probably see me back there. I’m always waving my hand and telling them to kick it to me. A lot of guys always run down and say ‘come on man, bring it out of the end zone.’ I’m like you’re kicking it nine (yards) deep. There’s only 10 yards in the end zone and you’re kicking it nine deep, there is no way I’m bringing it out. If you give me a chance, I’ll bring it out. Like I always tell them, if you kick it to me then you’ll see what happens.”
(You and TE Mike Gesicki are operating with a completely different set of tools. How do you rate him as a receiver? What’s your impression in the way he’s developed?) – “Oh man, Gesicki is an absolute beast. I never think of him as a tight end. I always tell him he’s an attached receiver. He’s been balling out of control. His route running and the way he can beat man coverage has been extraordinary. I just think his game is going to continue to elevate. He had a career high, not this week, but the week before. I just think that he’s hungry. He smells blood in the water and he’s ready to eat.”
