Kiko Alonso – May 31, 2017
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Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Linebacker Kiko Alonso
(A few people have remarked on how easy it is this camp relative to a year ago because you’re more familiar with Head Coach Adam Gase, you know what you’re doing, you can move around a little bit more quickly. Do you find that to be the case?) – “Yes, definitely. Just coming in last year, you had to learn a whole new defense and all of the terms. Being one year under, you’re ahead and further along than last year.”
(With the new contract done, knowing you’ll be here for a while, do you feel some different responsibility that comes with that as far as in the locker room?) – “I don’t really think about that. I feel being in my position, I’m in a position where I can help other guys, guys that just got here. Being in my second year in this defense, I can just help other guys come along.”
(What do you think made it work for you so well here after being in Buffalo and Philadelphia? Why did this click so well?) – “I think just all of the people around me – the d-line, the coaches. I think the coaches really helped me out. They allowed me to just play fast.”
(You guys had a good message for the rest of the guys. ‘Do well, we’ll take care of our own,’ between you and DE Andre Branch and WR Kenny Stills. ‘We’ll take care of our own guys. We’ll re-sign you.’) – “Yes, usually that’s the case. If you play well, you’re going to get rewarded.”
(Have you gotten any clarity on where you’ll be playing as far as inside or outside?) – “I think right now we’re just all doing everything. I don’t think we’re making any decisions yet. It’s just wherever they put us.”
(How much different is playing weak side from being on the inside in a 4-3, in your opinion, based on what you’ve seen so far?) – “It’s a little different in the sense that you’re more on the edge instead of running inside-out all the time. But at the end of the day, you’re running around and hitting people.”
(What have you seen so far to make you think the run defense will be better, whether it’s players coming back in better shape or Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke or tweaks to the scheme or whatever, personnel?) – “We just have to correct what happened last year. A lot of it was just one guy here or one guy there. Just little details and just let the defense work. I think that’s the biggest thing.”
(What are your early impressions of LB Raekwon McMillan?) – “He’s a big, fast kid. He’s great, a good dude. He works hard. I look forward to playing with him.”
(You’ve been in the meeting rooms with Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke for a full year now. What can the rest of this team – your unit – expect from him as a defensive coordinator?) – “He’s just a competitor. He’s a guy that you love to play for because he’s going to give it his all. You can just tell day-in and day-out he’s giving it his all and he puts his heart and soul into it. Being behind a guy like that, it’s just something that guys notice and it just makes us play harder.”
(So much has been talked about his intelligence level. When did you first see it?) – “Probably when I got here and he was – obviously he was the linebackers coach – so I thought he did a great job. I think that’s part of the reason why I had success last year because he was just able to … The way he explained it, he got us playing fast. That’s the biggest thing, just having everyone doing their assignments and playing fast.”
(What have you seen from LB Lawrence Timmons so far and in what ways can he make your job easier this year?) – “The guy has been a great player for quite some time. The guy can do it all. It’s always good to have a vet like that. He just needs to come in here and make some plays.”
(To have an organization say you are going to be here awhile and you’re our guy, after all you have been through throughout your career and to land somewhere to have some success and a team that believes in you, how does that make you feel right now, to feel that this team believes in you?) – “It feels good because it’s where I want to be. It just feels good that I know that I’m going to be here for a while. I’m just glad that I can stay here and get to work.”
(Did they insist that you have to go a little more business-like now with the hair cut or what?) – “No, they let me do what I want.”
(Have you settled in now? What’s with the hair?) – “I don’t know what I’m doing with it right now. (laughter) I like cutting it once a year, just buzz it off. Right now, I’m just kind of in the awkward phase right now. (laughter) I’m just trying to figure out my way.”
(Are you thinking about growing your hair out?) – “Yes. I don’t think I’m going to go as long as I did a couple of years ago. That was out of control, but I think I’m going to grow it a little and see. But it’s hot here. I’m sure a couple of days in camp and I’ll be like ‘Ah, I’ve got to cut this thing off.’”
(Why are the corners and the receivers always yapping?) – “Because it’s football. That’s what it’s about. It’s about having fun and talking smack.”
(The inside guys don’t do it?) – “No, everybody (does it). Some guys more than others. Some guys don’t say much. Some guys talk more. That’s football.”
(Who wins a Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor boxing match and why?) – “A boxing match? C’mon, man. There’s no way (McGregor will win). Mayweather is going to win. A boxing match? No. That’s like saying … McGregor is not going to beat any boxer. He’s not beating (Manny) Pacquiao obviously. He’s not beating any of those guys. You could put him against … It’s all for show. I want to see it. I’d pay to see the press conference, to be honest with you. (laughter) I think the press conference will be more entertaining than the actual fight.”
(Decision or knockout on the Mayweather vs. McGregor fight?) – “I don’t know. Obviously Mayweather … I think the way Mayweather fights now, he’s not really, he doesn’t really smell blood like he used to. He’ll just hit you a few times and … not like he used to. I think it’ll probably just be a decision. It’ll be a shutout – 12 rounds to zero. He’ll probably start doing some Sugar Ray stuff, like swinging his arms around. (laughter)”
