Mike Gesicki – April 18, 2019
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Thursday, April 18, 2019
TE Mike Gesicki
(How does the number 88 look and feel?) – “It looks great as you guys can tell and it feels good, too. (laughter) I’m pretty happy about it.”
(Why the switch? That was your number in college, right?) – “Yeah, that was me in college. Last year, obviously (Leonte) Carroo had it. It opened up, so I figured why not?”
(What feels different this offseason?) – “The weather. It’s not as hot yet. (laughter) Everything’s going good. I feel like everyone is coming in with a really good mindset. Everybody is excited for the opportunity and everybody is out here to prove themselves.”
(A Super Bowl-winning head coach, I know he was on defense, but what does that do for you guys?) – “Bringing in (Head) Coach (Brian) Flores, obviously, the experience that he brings in here, but also all of the coaches coming in here, they all know how to win, they all know how to coach and get the best out of all of their players. It has been really exciting and fun and a lot of learning throughout these first three weeks.”
(How have you spent the last three months to make this your best season?) – “I’ve been training each and every day with the mindset that I have to come out here and be the best version of myself. I think I’ve put myself in a positon to not only be effective in the passing game, but also in the running game. I feel like I’m in much better shape than I was at this time last year. I think that’s when I’ll be at my best, when I play fast. I think last year, especially when I got here, the heat took me by surprise and I wasn’t in great conditioning shape. My thing is I need to go run fast and run by people and make plays in the passing game. So, it took a while to get into that shape to get there. I feel pretty good.”
(Have you put on weight?) – “Yeah. I played last year at probably 240. Now I’m like 253. I feel good.”
(What has TE Dwayne Allen’s presence done for the tight end room?) – “He’s awesome. He’s an unbelievable guy. (He’s a) really natural leader. He does a great job vocally. He’s kind of like a second coach, honestly. If (Tight Ends) Coach (George) Godsey is busy, I feel like I can go up to Dwayne and I can be like, ‘Did you see that route? What did you think? Did you see that front? Was that the right guy?’ All of that kind of stuff. He just grabbed me when we were walking off the field and still gave my coaching points. It’s cool to have that presence.”
(That improves you, right?) – “Yeah absolutely. I’m open to all coaching. If it’s him, if it’s Coach Godsey, Coach Flores … If somebody has something positive to say to me and something that’s going to help me, I’ll take it.”
(You mentioned Tight Ends Coach George Godsey. What is his personality and coaching style?) – “He is incredible. I’m thrilled to have him as our tight ends coach. I’ve learned a ton even these past three days out here on the field with him. To have him and have … He has some great coaching experience and to bring that in here and help not only myself but the rest of the tight end group has been very productive.”
(Did you go back and self-scout 2018? Did you watch all of the film and what did you see?) – “I saw a lot of good and a lot of bad, a lot of stuff to improve on and a lot of stuff that I can take in and bring into my game this year as well. But that was expected. I was 22-years-old, playing my first year in the NFL, learning on the fly and doing some things I’ve never been asked to do before and all of that kind of stuff. I’m somebody that can be my biggest critic. I was able to go back to the film and learn what I need to.”
(What’s a specific you’re working on or you’re proud of that you did last year?) – “You don’t have to cover the Dolphins to know who Mike Gesicki is. He’s still working on blocking, he’s going to focus on the technique, all of that stuff. You guys know the answer to that. And obviously continue to refine my route-running and all of that kind of stuff. Honestly, I’ll give you the same answer for the next 25 years if you ask me. That’s what it is.”
(We saw a lot of two tight ends in New England. Do you expect some of that here? It was basically like an 11 team last year and now you have all these tight ends. Do you feel like you might want to use them?) – “Whatever (Offensive Coordinator) Coach (Chad) O’Shea comes out here and decides. If he puts one tight end, two tight ends, no tight ends, if he puts 11 tight ends out there and Dwayne (Allen) is playing quarterback, whatever it is, we’re going to do whatever it is we’re asked to do. Whatever the personnel is, whatever the situation is, we have to go out there and play to the best of our ability.”
(The theory is if you can get TE Dwayne Allen to play with his hand in the dirt you might be able to move around a little bit more?) – “Obviously, it’s April right now, so we’re still trying to figure out everybody’s strengths, weaknesses, what they can do, what they can’t do and all of that kind of stuff. I think you’ll see a lot more of it come September.”
(But you’re excited about what you’ve heard so far?) – “Yeah. I love the coaching staff, love the attitude they’re bringing in. Everything that’s been going on these last three weeks I’m excited about.”
(How did you put on weight? Eat a lot? Workout?) – “Eat. Workout. The natural ways to do it.”
(You haven’t lost any speed you feel?) – “I feel good.”
(Do you feel like that first time you go pads and contact you’re going to feel that extra pop?) – “Yeah. That’s the goal.”
