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Mike Gesicki – August 7, 2018 Download PDF version

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Tight End Mike Gesicki

(Why do you do your post-practice drills barefoot?) – “My cleats feel like I just jumped in a damn puddle. I just take my cleats off right after practice because my cleats are soaked.”

(You couldn’t do that in college during the season. You aren’t taking off your cleats.) – “Yes, when I go to Penn State, you’re not taking your shoes off in November. (laughter)”

(What’s it like to be here this week leading up to your first professional game. I know it is preseason, but what’s it like?) – “It’s exciting. It’s something that I have been working for and waiting for for a long time. You’re just going into it and just know that you’re prepared and know that you’re ready for this moment you’ve been working for for a long time. I’m just going in there relaxed, go out on that first snap and take a breath and just go out and play.”

(Is there any way that that one-on-one blocking drill with those guys coming full speed – is there any way that could be fair?) – “I think that the more challenging it is, the better it’s going to make us in the games. It’s definitely something that I need to continue to focus on. Knowing our coaches, (Tight Ends) Coach (Shane) Day and (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase and everybody that is there for me, they’re not going to let up on me and they’re going to help me become the best complete tight end that I can be.”

(You did make up for it, though, with the one-on-ones on the outside.) – “That’s something that is my strength, and I’m trying to make my weaknesses my strengths as well.”

(I know it’s a preseason game, but is there some extra excitement to get into an NFL stadium and having that experience?) – “Absolutely. Getting off this practice field, going and playing a different team, lining up against a different color, just all of that stuff. It’s going to be exciting and it’s something that all of us on this team are excited about.”

(How would you describe what it feels like when the ball is going to be high in the air and knowing you have a chance to jump up and catch a touchdown in the end zone? How would you describe what goes through your mind and the emotion) ­– “When the ball is in the air, that is all I’m focusing on. I’m not thinking about anything else besides going up and getting the ball at it’s highest point, because I know that the highest point that I get it at is higher than anybody else on the field. So, if it’s up there high enough and I can go get it, nobody else is going to be able to get up there. That’s kind of my mindset. A lot of people call it 50-50 balls; but for me, when the ball is in the air, it’s all or nothing. It’s 100 percent. It’s me or nobody.”

(When you catch a touchdown in a game – thinking back to all those touchdowns you caught in your last stop – what is that like?) – “That’s why you put in all of this work. That’s why you stay after practice and you make these catches and you go out here and you work hard each and every day, for moments like that. This way, when your opportunity comes and your number gets called, you go out and make the play.”

(I know you guys have been rotating, but when you’re in there with the one’s, is there a different feeling just being out there?) – “There’s definitely a sense of urgency. You’re with guys that have been doing it for many, many years. They have a bunch of years under their belt, a lot of experience. There’s not a lot of room for error. There’s not a lot of room for thinking or for overthinking anything. It’s just listening to the call, get the call, line up and just go play and do what you do.”

(Did you get that sense of ‘don’t screw this up?’ Is that the first thought?) – “When I first got here, that was kind of my mindset. It was ‘don’t make a mistake.’ Now, it’s just to go do what I do and just go make plays. That’s what I’m here to do.”

(How much more confident are you heading into this game now than 11 days ago?) – “Absolutely. I think that the more reps you get each and every day, and the more installs that we have and the more plays that have come in, it’s definitely taking another step up in terms of challenging and all that kind of stuff. I think that not only myself, but everybody has handled that really well, studying the playbooks and gotten out here and for the most part, been right on their assignment.”

(Were those fresh gloves for the jug? have you figured that one out already or what?) – “I bring two pairs of gloved out here because it’s so hot. My shoes are soaked. I should start bringing out two pairs of cleats. I bring out two pairs of gloves and I switch them about halfway through.”

(What do you think is the best way for any rookie to gain the trust of the coaching staff before the regular season?) – “Know your assignment, know your role, be accountable and just go out and make plays when it’s your time. When the ball is in the air, go make a play. When it’s your block, go make the block. Whatever it is. If I’m running down on kickoff, if I’m on kickoff return, if I’m on the wing on field goal, or if I have to go catch a touchdown. Whatever it is, if you want to earn trust in people, you have to go out and do the right things.”

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