Jevon Holland – July 30, 2021
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Friday, July 30, 2021
S Jevon Holland
(What’s it been like your first few training camp practices, getting out here? What can you tell us about what you’re building out here?) – “It’s been great. The heat out here is very hot as a lot of you know, so I’m really just working on my conditioning in practice, making sure that I’m running to the ball. Doing the ‘TNTs,’ things that take no talent, making sure that I am emphasizing that and doing what coach is asking me. It’s been great. It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of so I’m loving it out here.”
(Has there been anything that has surprised you that you’ve seen?) – “It is so hot out here. That is the biggest surprise, it is so hot. But I honestly do love it. It is getting me in great shape. That’s pretty much it.”
(Did you talk to anybody or did anybody talk to you before you came down here for training camp about what to expect with this heat with you coming from British Columbia and Oregon?) – “Yeah, actually. They told me it was very hot and they didn’t lie. But honestly, people just told me that it was hot and really humid and it’s going to get to you so make sure you hydrate and stay on top of that, stretch and things like that. I’ve been trying to do my best at that and the staff here is really great, reminding us to hydrate, stretch and take care of our bodies.”
(I know you’re capable of playing multiple positions. In those times where you are in the deep end of the field, how are you enjoying that? How do you feel like your skillset can translate to that responsibility when you’re given that?) – “I feel like my skillset translates great, but I’ve really just been trying to do whatever the coaches ask me. Whether that’s deep, short or anything in between, just trying to give my 100 percent and make sure I am running to the ball. Like I said, doing the ‘TNTs’ man, that’s really what it comes down to in football. It’s a game of inches. Doing the little things and they’ll eventually snowball into big things and it’ll help out the team.”
(It’s one thing to be drafted as high as you were, it’s another thing for a lot of people to be saying “he’s the steal of the draft.” Does that put any more pressure on you?) – “Not really. I feel whatever round you were drafted in, whether you were a free agent, first round pick of the draft, you always have to put in the work. You’ve got to come out there and put your best foot forward. Regardless, you can see in the rookie class that all of us have come out here and tried to put our best foot forward and work hard. It doesn’t necessarily put pressure on me. I have people to lean on, especially in the rookie class, we are pretty tight. Really just trying to come out here and support the team, that’s really it.”
(Are you pleased with how you’ve done the first four days? How would you asses how you’ve performed?) – “I think I’m getting into it. I’ve never been a professional athlete before so being out here in practice just shows me the caliber of athletes that are out here and the competition and how intense it is. I feel like I’m doing alright. I’ve got a lot to improve on and I plan on doing that. Things pop up every day that I need to work on. It’s encouraging that I have stuff that I need to work on and I look forward to taking that next step every day.”
(It seems like whether you are making a play or something doesn’t go your way, I see you reacting a little but like a little fire and passion. Do you put a lot of pressure on yourself every single rep to make sure you are getting things right? Is that what drives you? I’m just curious what that’s about.) – “Absolutely. I feel like as a competitor, I need to be my biggest critic, make sure that I am always on myself and that I’m always taking that next step. Like I said, it really does come down to the ‘TNTs.’ If y’all are watching this right now, the ‘TNTs,’ the takes no talent, those are some things like the communication, the effort to the ball, the technique. That stuff is taught to us and that we take on ourselves to execute every play. I feel like those are the things I stress the most on myself.”
(How would you say you’re handling all of those things coming together and putting it all together and applying it to the practice field? Do you feel you’re acclimating quickly here?) – “Yeah, I feel like I’m acclimating pretty quickly. You’ve got to adapt or die, basically. That’s what coach says to us a lot, adapt or die. I’d rather adapt than die.”
(You’ve got a couple of veterans like DB Jason McCourty and S Eric Rowe that have helped out,. Have one of those guys given you a big-picture tip that has stuck with you?) – “Yeah, absolutely. Those guys have been in the league, they’ve experienced, they’ve lived through it and I’m new here. They’re really giving me the little pieces and just make sure that I’m taking care of my body, make sure that I’m communicating with the coaches and asking them questions. Being new, that’s basically what it is and accepting that fact that I’m new, making sure that I go out there and just absorb all of the knowledge and shoot that back out in my performance.”
(What would constitute a successful rookie season for you personally?) – “Finding a role on the team that I can help the team and being somebody that the coaches can rely on.”
