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Mike Gesicki – September 26, 2018 Download PDF version

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Tight End Mike Gesicki

(With TE A.J. Derby being out, do you expect to play a lot more? That’s probably an obvious question, but how much more are you involved in the game plan this week?) – “It’s just kind of the next-man-up mentality. We have a lot of talent in that tight end room. I don’t really know what the deal is with A.J. Obviously, we’d love to have him out there; but if not, then the rest of the guys need to step up and make plays.”

(How are things going for you day to day so far?) – “Good. It’s something to continue to progress. (I’m) getting more comfortable out there. Just continue to play faster, think less and all of that kind of stuff, and just continue to make plays when the ball comes my way.”

(What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned the last three weeks?) – “I just have to continue to do my job and not focus on … Everybody wants to go ‘Mike’s not getting the ball, Mike’s not this, Mike’s got to block better, he’s got to do that.’ I just block everything out and do my job, know my role, know my assignment, just go out and execute. At the end of the day, we do whatever we can to win and so far we’re 3-0.”

(What’s something that you think you’ve done well here through the first couple games and what’s something you think you need to improve on the most?) – “I think the one thing that I’ve done well throughout my entire career is just letting one bad play, just let it go, another bad play, let it go. I don’t really let things affect me. I could stand here and have every single one of you guys write something terrible about me, and in one ear, out the other. I could have you guys say that I’m the best tight end in the NFL (and it’s) in one ear, out the other. I don’t pay attention to anything. I just focus on my job, my role, my assignment, because at the end of the day, that’s really all that matters. So, I think that’s something that I do really well is just, whether it’s good or bad, just leave it in the past and move forward. Then just continue to develop and understand the concepts better, understand some of the run stuff better, understand some of the pass pro better. This is a very complex offense. My goal is to get where Ryan (Tannehill) is at. Obviously, it’s going to take years and years and a lot of time, a lot of effort into that; but if I can have that same mindset, that same mentality out on the field, then the only option you have is to play fast.”

(Is there anything from TE A.J. Derby’s game that you kind of want to incorporate into your own?) – “Yes. He’s very smart. He knows everything like the back of his hand. If you ask A.J. a question and it’s right back (at you). He does a great job teaching the young guys in myself and (TE) Durham (Smythe) a lot of stuff about the offense, a lot of stuff about the NFL in general, so I give a lot of props to him.”

(Even over the years, you haven’t been on the field at the same time, but watching Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski I’m sure from a distance, playing the same position. What are your thoughts on where he ranks?) – “It’s no surprise; he’s one of, if not the best tight end in the NFL. It’s not by mistake. Obviously, I don’t know him personally; but growing up watching him, I’ve seen all his highlights, I’ve seen all of his workouts, I’ve seen everything that there is about him. I have a ton of respect for his game and his work ethic and the way he plays, how aggressive he plays, all of that kind of stuff.”

(Does Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski go harder on the field or off the field?) – “You’re not going to get me with that one. (laughter)”

(On your 19-yard catch the other day, it seemed like you were looking for contact, you were looking for someone to kind of run over. Is that not what was happening or is that what was happening?) – “I just kind of react to however the play is going down. There was a deep safety probably about 6-8 yards away from me and I saw him go low, so I went low and tried to lower my shoulder and all of that kind of stuff. It was good. It’s good going out looking for contact, because if you give them some contact and start beating them up, those are the same guys you’re running routes on so if they’re getting tired, they’re getting beat up, it’s only going to help you.”

(Head Coach Adam Gase really is dependent on using tight ends in this system, but do you feel any more pressure, any less pressure that because he’s spreading the ball around, you won’t have to come along as fast?) – “No, I’m not worried about any of that kind of stuff. Even when I came in, it’s not like I was like ‘I want the ball, I want this, I want that.’ I’m just coming in and working my tail off each and every day. This way, whether it’s one time or it’s 10 times, whether it’s this week or whether it’s the last week of the season, if the ball comes my way or if my number gets called, I have to execute.”

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