Michael Deiter – September 9, 2021
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Thursday, September 9, 2021
C/G Michael Deiter
(Obviously from a communication standpoint, you’ve got a pretty important job. Where do you feel like you are in terms of ID’ing things and also, to piggyback on that question, how much does it help you that the defense you’re facing on Sunday is similar to the defense that you play and practice against every day?) – “It definitely helps. There are a lot of similar looks. Definitely a lot of carry-over. (There are) a few differences but not a whole lot. It definitely helps. I would say I’m pretty comfortable making ID’s, getting calls out and all of that. It’s just making sure that we’re still watching tape together and in the room talking about it with all the guys because it can’t just be me that knows the calls because it’s going to be loud and it’s going to be stressful. Everyone on the O-line has to be just as smart as the center and it will make everything go a lot more smoothly. I feel pretty good about all of that.”
(You’re going to see C Ted Karras this weekend. I’m curious as to what kind of relationship you guys had last year and what maybe he taught you along the way about playing center since you were making the switch?) – “We’ve become really good friends. I’m excited to talk to him and say hi to him and see how he’s doing. We’re good buddies, I would say. We’ve done a little fishing together and a whole bunch of hanging out, so I’m excited to say hi to him and see how he’s doing. He taught me a lot about center – just detail and intensity and all of the stuff that goes into being a pro center. He was definitely a good role model for that.”
(What have you seen out of T Liam Eichenberg this week in practice? Obviously training camp and preseason he had a few injuries that he had to come back from and then switching different positions. How has he handled that?) – “He’s been smooth. No matter where he has to play, whether he’s at 100 percent or wherever he’s at playing, he’s gone out there and he’s worked hard. He’s smart. He’s not a guy that needs a lot of help telling him what to do and all of that. That’s a huge thing for a rookie – for a guy to go out there and know what he’s doing and not be looking down the line and wondering what do I got, especially when he’s playing multiple positions. He’s cutting it loose and every day he’s trying to get better. He’s working the right way. There’s plenty of stuff to clean up, no doubt; but that’s kind of the journey of an O-lineman, especially as a rookie. I think he’s doing pretty solid, especially with the mental part of it.”
(On similar lines, how far has T Greg Little come along since the trade?) – “He’s come along a lot. Mentally, obviously it’s tough when you’re brand new in the room and he’s got to learn everything on the fly. We’ve already installed everything and he’s just got to come in and learn as we go. He’s done a really good job of that. He’s not holding anyone back or anything like that because he’s still confused about anything on the offense. He’s a smart guy and he’s playing good. He’s played well.”
(How much of a sense of – it’s been a while since you guys last played a regular season game. How much of a sense of it’s finally back to playing a game that means something?) – “It’s huge. Preseason games, I guess to me, don’t really feel much different. It’s an opportunity to go play football with your guys and have fun and cut it loose; but it still means a little bit more come regular season. It’s definitely exciting. It feels like it’s been forever. It’s exciting and I can’t wait to get back out there.”
(What’s it going to be like looking across the line and seeing DT Davon Godchaux?) – “(laughter) It will be funny. I’m excited to talk to him and kind of chop it up with him. I guess it’s a little bit nerve-wracking because he’s a good player. It’s exciting. It will be cool to block a guy that I’m pretty familiar with, especially last year every day in practice (it was) me and him. It will be fun to see him again. He’s a good test. He’s a really good player.”
(Have you had any contact with DT Davon Godchaux this week?) – “I haven’t talked to him at all, no.”
(Are you expecting a lot of yapping from DT Davon Godchaux?) – “Probably not. I mean in practice it wasn’t ever too bad. We’ll see. We’ll see how he is on game day. If it is, that would be funny. That would be fun.”
(DT Davon Godchaux never really had a reason to talk smack to you.) – “No.”
(Do you remember how loud it was the last road game you started at center?) – “It was loud. I think it might have been maybe a Big Ten Championship. I think it was Penn State in 2016. It was definitely pretty loud in Lucas Oil (Stadium), but it will probably be a little louder up there. It will be fun. We’ve just got to work some silent counts when we need to and just get ready to handle that.”
(You played a little tackle at Wisconsin, right?) – “Mhm.”
(From your experience, is it harder to switch from tackle to guard or from the right side to the left side?) – “I would say probably from the right side to the left side, just because the stance is way different. The left tackle stance and the left guard stance can be pretty similar, especially if you feel comfortable in the same spot. But going from a right tackle stance to a left guard stance, it changes everything with your feet and with your mindset. I would say going from right side to left side is a little tougher.”
(You sound like the expert on that topic.) – “(laughter) I’m actually – I’ve never really had to do much right to left. A lot of position changes, but at least it’s been on one side. I’m lucky.”
