MarQueis Gary – June 8, 2017
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Thursday, June 8, 2017
TE MarQueis Gray
(Were you close to WR DeVante Parker touchdown today? How far were you when that happened?) – “I think I was blocking on the other side, but I got a good view of it. It was a great catch by him. There was a lot of competing going on today. He came down with it and got us the win.”
(What was said afterwards?) – “He just said … I really don’t know what he said. I know he got in his face a little bit. They were having fun. Anytime you go against the defense, it’s going to be competitive. I pretty sure that’s what they were talking about.”
(How quickly is the success you had on offense last year given you the confidence to have that edge and have that swagger, if you will?) – “Just going off on the winning streak, that’s what got us into having that swagger going throughout the whole season. And then with the addition of the new guys also. We’re just having a lot more fun and playing loose, and that swagger is playing a big part of our success so far.”
(We only get to see so many OTA days. Most of the days that we’re here, the offense pretty much gets beat down by the defense. How many days like today have you guys realistically had?) – “It’s pretty hard to say. The best way I can put it is, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish, and we finished pretty good today. It has been competitive all OTAs. It was really competitive today.”
(A lot of changes in the tight end room this offseason with TE Julius Thomas and TE Anthony Fasano coming in. You’re pretty much the one veteran who remained. How do you see the changes and how it affect your overall potential?) – “It’s a lot of help, mainly (for) myself. I’m still new to this tight end thing and having those two veteran guys – Fasano and ‘J.T.’ (Julius Thomas) – in that room is helping out a lot. Learning different tricks and trades of playing the tight end position as well as being able to run routes, they’re helping out our young guys a lot.”
(Are you still one of the emergency quarterbacks?) – “I have no idea. I’m just playing wherever they put me. We’ll see when that time comes, but as of now, I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do.”
(Theoretically last year you were. How many snaps do you think you actually took over the course of the year to practice?) – “Really none. Like I said, I didn’t do anything really. If they needed me, I would’ve tried to prepare myself the best that I could and get put in those situations to be successful. But other than that, I was just strictly doing tight end last year.”
(Do you ever throw for work? I know you occasionally pick up a ball and throw it, but would you ever throw on purpose like that at any time?) – “Other than just playing around with the guys trying to hit the goalpost at the end of practice. But other than that I’m just strictly … My thing right now is pass blocking, trying to get stronger in that. Then whatever else needs to be done, I’ll focus on that.”
(Has the room changed – the tight end room – with the addition of a couple of veterans such as TE Julius Thomas and TE Anthony Fasano?) – “Just to reiterate what I said, they are helping out a lot. Those veteran guys … This is my fifth year in the NFL, and they are helping out with a lot of tricks and trades (like) getting on defenders, getting off defenders and also just giving us signals (about) what to look for on defense pre-snap.”
(What are the biggest things you think this offense has accomplished now that OTAs are complete?) – “Just a lot of running around after the ball. Everyone is getting a lot of running around. Getting in shape is one thing you have to be a part of in this offense, because guys lineup in different positions a lot of times, you just have to be able to know your assignments. Everybody is having fun and being able to run is very positive for our offense.”
(I noticed at the very end of practice that Head Coach Adam Gase was doing pushups with you guys. How often does that happen, and what’s the background on that?) – “He’s with us through the end. We even had the special teams coaches with us too. Everybody picks their side, but Gase is our guy. He knows where his heart is at. We know where he’s going to be at the end of it, and he was with us. It’s always good to see your coach participating in things like that.”
(What are the circumstances to which you guys have to do pushups?) – “The defense wins, we have to do pushups. If we win, they have to do pushups.”
(On the final play right?) – “Yes.”
(How many pushups?) – “I think today it was five. Nothing too crazy.”
(You had mentioned blocking a minute ago. If you could breakdown what you think you can offer this offense and what you think you offer on special teams, what would some of those main things be?) – “Overall, just being able to play more than one position, being flexible. That’s why I take a lot of time in the playbook. Just in case somebody were to go down, I have to make sure I know that play, so I can be one of those guys they can have no problem (saying), ‘Q, go play this.’ That’s one of the things I believe has kept me around in the NFL so far.”
