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Jonnu Smith – November 14, 2024

Thursday, November 14, 2024

TE Jonnu Smith

(I wanted to ask you about your big play in the fourth quarter, 33-yard catch and run that gets you guys down to the one-yard line. What did you think of the reaction you got from the sideline, from your coaches and teammates?) – “It’s always good to have that camaraderie behind you, that support behind you. Any of us make big plays, we always want to rally behind them especially when you’re on the road. So to get that momentum going and for a touchdown to follow up after that, that was big for us and we came out with the win on top.”

(How much pride do you take in playing tough – breaking tackles, doing whatever you need to do to get the job done?) – “It’s a physical sport. If you want to make big plays, it’s a certain level of physicality that you’ve got to possess. I understand that part.”

(WR Tyreek Hill said thank you but that you need to get in next time.) –  “Yeah, (laughter) I’ve got to find a way to get in there. He definitely should be thanking me. But I’ve got to find a way to get in there. I’m just glad we came out with a touchdown on that drive. That’s all that mattered to me, whoever got it.”

(How do you guys keep the momentum up for the Raiders on Sunday?) – “Just continue to keep doing what we’re doing. I’ll say this. I understand the beginning of the season for us has not been what we expected, what obviously a lot of people expected, but we never wavered. The way we come in and our intent towards work, it never changed. Nothing changed last week from the week (before). It just unfortunately hasn’t been going our way. We’re just staying to course, keep chopping wood and just trying to get this thing going in the right direction.”

(There has been no tight end better than you at YAC [yards after catch] these last three years. How much of that part of your game do you take pride in?) – “You said the last four years?”

(Five years, six years…) – “Six? I’m going to keep going. (laughter) No, I don’t even know what stat that is, but I would like to see it though. There is just a certain level of physicality that you have when you’re running that ball. You got to become a running back with the ball in your hands. As a ball carrier whether you’re a receiver, tight end, quarterback, running back; to make big plays in this league it’s a mindset. So that’s just the element that I try to bring to this team and to help us be in a better situation.”

(Is YAC acknowledged in meetings here like with Head Coach Mike McDaniel, or Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith, or Assistant Head Coach/Tight Ends Jon Embree or someone say something about good YAC plays in particular?) – “Quite a bit, quite a bit, quite a bit. That’s definitely a point of emphasis. We know who we have in this offense. We know the ability that we’ve got, so there is a certain standard and level of expectation that is demanded form us that probably wouldn’t be demanded form other players.”

(Assistant Head Coach/Tight Ends Jon Embree said a few things, but you probably can’t repeat them on the sidelines.) – “’Embo’ – that’s my guy. That’s my guy. Definitely. I didn’t see it, but I heard all about his reaction from the sideline. They said that he had like a mini heart attack after the play. So like I said, just to get that moral going, just to get that energy up; that is definitely big for the team. No matter who, it could be anybody’s play. We just need more plays like that down the stretch and we will be in good position.”

(With respect to vets like you and TE Durham Smythe what responsibility do you feel when a veteran or new player is brought into your room? Like with TE Jack Stroll do you and Durham say, “text me if you have any questions” to him?) – “Absolutely. That comes with the territory. You’ve got to make yourself available to guys that you may have more experience than. It’s an honor to be in the position that I’m in. I wear it proudly. I’ve always since my years have been getting up there in the league – listen, I don’t consider myself old – you’ve got guys who have been playing 15, 16, 17 years, but I understand that an eight-year NFL veteran I understand is definitely, you’ve got your stripes. But everybody likes to put the ‘older guy mark’ on it. But I still feel young. I still look young so doing something right. But you’ve just got to make yourself available and do what you’re supposed to do always. If you do what you’re supposed to do, everything else will come with it. That’s part of being a leader. Doing your job first, worrying about what you’ve got to do, being accountable, respecting others, respecting your teammates, respecting the building, respecting the standard, and you got to make plays. You don’t get this far in the league without doing that. Just try to continue passing on that message to every guy that’s younger than me.”    

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