Jesse Davis – September 1, 2020
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Tuesday, September 1, 2020
G/T Jesse Davis
(What’s the past couple of weeks been like at practice? I know moving to right guard is nothing new to you, but what’s that experience like trying to improve your communication with both of the rookies?) – “It’s been good. Moving around has kind of been my forte now recently, but moving around with those guys, it’s been good. They’ve been receptive to everything and just kind of bringing them along with what we see out there, what we’re calling and just helping them get where they need to be.”
(You’ve played in 47 of a possible 48 games over the last three years at a position that’s not exactly easy to show durability at. I’m just curious what is it about your regiment that makes you available for this team every Sunday?) – “Staying healthy is probably the biggest one and then playing through the little things which everybody does. I just want to be anything this team needs to me to be. That’s what I’m going to be and I think that’s why we kind of extended before the season last year, but I love being – the wanted feeling of ‘hey, we can put this guy anywhere and hopefully he can succeed there.’ And I take a lot of pride in doing that for this organization.”
(Obviously like you said, you’ve played just about every position on this line; but it seems like this year you’ll at least be delegated to either right guard or right tackle. What do you sort of view both of those positions? Where do you see your strengths at when it comes to those two spots?) – “I kind of bring a lot to the table in both of those positions; but playing next to either Ted Karras or rookie Solomon Kindley or Rob Hunt, it doesn’t really matter to me where they stick me. Right now I’ve had my most reps recently at right tackle so for me moving forward, that’s where I’d like to play. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter, like it always has been. If they want me to play left side in the future, then I can do that as well.”
(What is the biggest challenge building chemistry on a unit that actually hasn’t taken any live reps? This is a first for everybody, but you guys are basically putting together an entirely new offensive line. I’m not sure anybody in the NFL is doing that.) – “It’s very different. Like we can’t just go hang out with each other afterwards or go build chemistry that way or go to lunch. So it’s just been a lot of film, a lot of meetings, a lot of before practice stuff. And a lot of the vets on this team have come together and helped these rookies along and tried to build the chemistry, but we can kind of feel it in the locker room as well. The camaraderie has been very high, and just moving forward, we’ll see come game time exactly what we’ve got.”
(Differences you’ve noticed between T Robert Hunt and G Solomon Kindley? Obviously two very talented kids. How do they differ? How are they alike?) – “How are they alike? They’re big guys that can move people. They’re smart. They’re very coachable people. The difference is, I would probably just say the height of them, but they’re two good rookies and I’m glad we have them on our team.”
(Like QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, I find you to be a very selfless guy. Like you’re not going to hold back. You’re going to help your teammates no matter what. That’s my opinion, so on G Solomon Kindley, what are some things that you really wanted to make sure he knew how to do? What have you told him that maybe you wish someone had said to you early in your career?) – “I don’t try to really tell them how to be or anything other than when we’re in the huddle, don’t talk. That’s kind of a thing where as a rookie you want to kind of talk a lot and you want to try to figure stuff out. I just told them to hold on. We’ll get to it. Just focus on this next play kind of thing, but Solomon (Kindley) – he’s been great in how he’s been taking the reps and he’s made the most of it. And I think he’s coming along very nicely.”
(How do you I guess compare where you guys were on the o-line at this point last year to where you are right now?) – “I feel like we’re more solidified at positions than last year. We had a lot of guys coming in. We didn’t know exactly where they were going to be including myself. A lot of changing, a lot of moving parts as it was all season; but this season has been, I would say, a lot more solidified in the position-specific spots. And so I think guys have learned technique a lot better and how this offense has been running, so it’s been nice to see.”
(We saw a clip on social media of DE Shaq Lawson complimenting DE Emmanuel Ogbah’s big heavy hands. I’m just curious, going up against Ogbah as much as you have in practice, what are some of the challenges of that length and power that offers presents to you as a lineman?) – “Yeah, that’s the one thing I’ve noticed as well, is how long his arms are. It’s kind of hard to get a punch on him in pass pro. We’ve had our bouts there in practice, and he’s a good d-end. I’m glad he’s on our team. But yeah, he’s a very strong, long-armed, heavy-hand guy.”
(I wanted to ask you how has QB Tua Tagovailoa’s presence been when he’s commanding the pocket? Now obviously for rookie quarterbacks they have to find their voice a little bit there. How has he kind of responded and how have you guys kind of taken his leadership in those moments?) – “Yeah, he’s been good. Every week he is more vocal, more confidence in him, which is kind of the thing that goes about with rookie quarterbacks; but he’s been really good. It’s fun to see him out there playing and throwing that deep ball. He can actually get it out there and what he’s been doing and what ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) has been doing helping him along and everybody else – little things here and there – but he’s been really good.”
(How’s the leadership journey been going and what kind of things do you find yourself doing?) – “Just kind of mixing it up a little bit in the locker room – having a good time. Doing what we can when we can amongst ourselves, but it’s been good. I think – I’m not like, some stern leader or try to be. I just try to mix it up when I can with every rookie.”
