Ja’Wuan James – August 3, 2018
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Friday, August 3, 2018
T Ja’Wuan James
(How good do you feel about this first group? You all are obviously getting a lot of work together unlike past years. You have one set group. How helpful has that been for all of you being together?) – “I feel like it’s been great. We had our struggles but that’s every camp. Just coming back in, I feel like we’re getting better everyday. That’s all we can ask for, just getting better at one thing a day.”
(When you look back at your season last year, anything you’ve identified or even coaches as big point to improve on?) – “No. They told us we’re not even talking about last year. We’re focusing on this year because that’s all we have in front of us. I’m just focusing on what I’ve got to do now.”
(What has been your priorities as far as areas of growth for you? Anything specific?) – “Just always technique because you can never get too good at it. You always have to keep working at it. That’s pretty much the biggest thing is just honing in on your technique.”
(What’s the biggest thing the offensive line can get out of something like tomorrow’s scrimmage?) – “Being out there in a live setting almost … The coaches are all gone (off the field). Just getting in the rhythm of a drive. We’re going to be in the stadium, so we’ll have that feel to it. Like I said, everybody is going to be off the field and it’s going to just be plays called in the helmet. Just a good opening drive really.”
(How much has the technique changed as far as what’s being coached now that Offensive Line Coach Jeremiah Washburn is back?) – “Honestly, not too much. Him and our last coach were similar. That’s going to help us a lot; but how he coaches it is different. That’s the biggest thing, just communication and we changed names of some things; but it’s pretty much close to the same.”
(What have you learned about the new linemen – C Daniel Kilgore and G Josh Sitton – as far as their personalities?) – “Man, great dudes; especially Sitton too. (He’s a) great leader. You can tell he’s been around the game a long time. He’s been around some elite players and his knowledge of the game is crazy. He’s come and helped me and ‘L.T.’ (Laremy Tunsil) a lot with a bunch of little things. ‘D.K.’ (Daniel Kilgore) as well. He’s another guy that’s been around a while and he knows what he’s talking about too. They bring another level of knowledge and leadership in that way to the offensive line.”
(I know one of the challenges you’ve talked about is having a lot of different offensive line coaches. You’ve had to learn new technique. How much of a relief was it to you when you learn that what Offensive Line Coach Jeremiah Washburn is doing is similar to what former Offensive Line Coach Chris Foerster and the coaches last year did?) – “That was huge for us this offseason, getting Coach Wash. That was a big part of everything going into this year. Like I said, he got to be here in 2016 when we were on a roll, so we’re trying to get back to that and focus on this year. With him I feel like we can do a lot.”
(We’ve seen a lot of tight ends packages and a lot of the new guys lined up next to you. I’ve seen you talking to TE Mike Gesicki. What’s it like working with so many new faces at tight end?) – ‘It’s great. I love the tight ends. They’re partly us and partly receivers. That guy Mike, he is doing a heck of a job. He’s coming in, he embraced his role, he’s ready to block. Not too many guys come in this early and want to block. He’s shown that and he’s making big plays in the red zone. I’m looking forward to seeing him out there on the field. The other tight ends too. We’ve got a lot of guys working in, like you said. I feel like the communication has been great and I feel like they’re on a roll.”
(TE Mike Gesicki has a lot of information coming at him. How’s he taking it from you? I’ve seen you talk with him and work up close with him?) – “He listens. Most of the time people ask questions, but when we’re up there on the line, we’ve got to go. He listens well and he goes out there and does his job.”
(How are you guys going to stop the pre-snap penalties? What’s the focus?) – “Repetition. That’s what we’re doing out here at the end of practice. We’re running gassers now for it. We’re doing these extra plays. Over time it’s going to come. It’s unacceptable but this year, we’ve got a clean slate until the season starts. Hopefully we cut those down.”
(What, if any, difference have you noticed in Offensive Line Coach Jeremiah Washburn now that he’s back? He was the assistant o-line coach in 2016 and now he’s the o-line coach.) – “He’s more vocal. This is his group. Before it was a different o-line coach. He was an assistant so he was in the back. He would help us here and there; but you can tell that he’s very vocal and he’s very passionate about the group. He’s got our back and that’s all we can ask for.”
(I think it was yesterday, was it yesterday you missed some time? Was it back soreness or something?) – “(Head) Coach (Adam) Gase, you’ve got to refer to Coach Gase. You’ve got to ask Coach Gase. He just gave me some time.”
(You’re not overly concerned?) – “No. I’m good.”
