Julius Thomas – August 15, 2017
Download PDF version
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
TE Julius Thomas
(How would you rate your performance in training camp?) – “I think probably about a B+. I think that getting back in the offense, starting to gel and connect with the QBs, learning the run game and all of that stuff, I feel like I’ve been able to pick it up as good as I probably could in a short amount of time. Just being able to get after it and work hard with the guys.”
(How is the chemistry working out with QB Jay Cutler? I know it’s been a short time but how is it working?) – “That’s going to be something that we’re going to have to try and get a lot of reps at, so we can make up for that lack of time working with Jay. But Jay is a really good quarterback. We’ve got some really good skill position guys, so we’ll find a way to make it work.”
(What do you feel best about what you can offer the offense this season?) – “I think just a lot of flexibility. I think that with my skillset and the things that I’ve had to do different since playing in this league, I give our coordinator a lot of things he can do to make defenses stick their hand, put them in a lot of positions where they have to declare what they’re doing early. I think just the added versatility probably.”
(What is the biggest thing you guys take out of going into the second preseason game?) – “You really have to focus on the process. That’s what the preseason is most for me. It’s understanding your game preparation. What are you going to do that day? What are you going to do when you get to the stadium? How do you get your mind right for the game? And then when you get on the field, try to make sure you take advantage of those reps. You’re out there saying I’m playing four games before the season, but how do we get the most out of what we’re doing? We’re going to just get that whole procedure down.”
(Do you guys get excited a little bit playing against somebody else or practicing against somebody else in the preseason?) – “It’s really good to have some different opponents. Going up against the same guys every day, not to mention that but they start to understand the way you do things. So it’s good to get some different faces in, some different defenses and really start building what we do and what we’re going to have to do throughout the season.”
(How much does a day like this mean? A walkthrough.) – “At the end of training camp, a walkthrough day is always appreciated. When you look at how many days out of the last three weeks we’ve actually practiced, it’s kind of crazy that our bodies are able to put up with that kind of beating; but it’s our game. That’s what we do to become prepared. We’re very thankful to have a walkthrough today.”
(What does the end of training camp mean to you?) – “It means another successful training camp. This is seven for me. The longer you play in the league, the more appreciation you have for it. It’s seven different times you were able to prove to yourself that when a lot of stuff is stacked up against you, you had to show that you have the mindset and the wherewithal to go through it, as well as signaling it’s getting time for the season to come. Your friends and family are texting you ‘The season is right around the corner;” but for us, we still have a lot of practices and a lot to learn before that happens. The end of training camp is the first step to that process of opening week.”
(Do you feel you have anything left to prove after … We saw the great success in Denver, and then Jacksonville. Do you feel you have anything left to prove?) – “That’s part of the mindfulness I’ve been working on is not feeling that I have anything to prove to anybody on the outside. I have a standard that I set for myself. I have to match that standard for myself personally every day and that’s to go out there and do everything I can to help my team play the best and be the best. I have to make sure that all of my focus is on doing things that I expect out of myself. I’m just going to play to prove to myself and meet that standard.”
(Do you have any particular goals in mind, numbers-wise or anything?) – “My only goals are to make sure that at the end of every practice, I know that I gave my best and that I did what I needed to do to get better. As far as goals and numbers, all of that stuff is outside of your control. There are so many things that are going to happen. I’m just going to focus on every day and making sure that when I lay in that bed, I did all that I could to be the best teammate and tight end I could be.”
(How much are you looking forward to doing it for real with QB Jay Cutler?) – “I mean we practice, we practice, we practice and it’s all preparation. Just like any coach will tell you, when we have game days, that’s for the players. That’s for us to go ahead and showcase what we’ve been working on and really get to see the result. I’m looking forward to it, for sure.”
(You spent a lot of time with QB Ryan Tannehill in the offseason. Was it a tough switch all of a sudden when he went down and QB Jay Cutler comes in?) – “It’s not something that we’re not accustomed to. As NFL players, we’re always having guys that are going down. We’re always having guys that are getting injured. It’s tough on us as far as the support we have for Ryan. To see him having to go through this and battle through that, that’s definitely the toughest part. But as far as understanding how to play with a different quarterback, I’ve played with several quarterbacks in my life now and we’re going to adjust and do whatever we have to do to help Jay and Jay is going to do that to help us.”
(What do you think makes QB Jay Cutler different from the other quarterbacks or what has impressed you about him since he’s been here?) – “I think Cutler does a really good job of making sure everybody understands the way he wants things to go. I think that’s super important for the quarterback position. We have to have an understanding of how he wants us to run the route, what he’s looking for and when, situationally. He’s done a really good job of coming in and letting us know, ‘Hey, this is what I expect. This is what I’m looking for.’ And that’s definitely going to help us move faster through the getting to know him process.”
(How do you see the opportunities for tight ends on this team, given the three guys you have on the outside?) – “The goal is to be a really balanced offense. When you have a lot of skill position playmakers around you, that makes everybody’s job easier. With our running game, with our receivers, that’s really going to give us tight ends an opportunity to make plays and do different things to go out there and help our offense perform at a high level. I’m looking forward to my opportunity to make plays. I’m looking for my opportunity to help others make plays, and we’re just going to try and get after it as a group and live up to the standards that we set.”
