Nate Allen – May 30, 2017
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Tuesday, May 30, 2017
S Nate Allen
(How has the first couple weeks being actually here and participating in practice, all that been?) – “It’s been good. We’re just getting that chemistry together as a defense and just kind of getting the legs back up under us and knocking the rust off. Yes, getting all the parts and pieces together and getting out on the field. Just gelling and getting that chemistry.”
(What’s one thing that surprised you so far?) – “It’s hard to say one thing. We’ve got a lot of guys playing good right now and making some plays. We’re just moving guys around. It’s hard to say really one thing that’s really surprised me. Nothing, nothing too out of the ordinary has happened.”
(Can you talk about S Reshad Jones? What are the things that stand out to you about him and in what ways can he help you become a better player?) – “You all know Reshad is … his play speaks for itself. He’s who he is for a reason and he’s the guy. He makes a lot of plays and he’s just a great playmaker. I can see it early and I’ve watched him through the years. As I’ve been other places, I’ve always watched him on tape. He stands out. He’s a prolific playmaker and he practices hard. He helps out the young guys in the classroom. We just kind of feed off each other. We’re still kind of picking each other’s brains and getting a feel for how each other moves and how each other thinks in certain situations. We’re just … like I said earlier, we’re going to make each other better.”
(Just a general question as somebody who’s been in the league for a while, what makes a good head coach on the field and off the field?) – “Right now you’re probably referring to (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase. Just being able to be a player’s coach and also be kind of a – I don’t want to say disciplinarian but kind of a tough guy when you need to be – and he, I think, does a great job of that. He can hang out with us and talk with us. It’s not like everybody tenses up when he walks in the room and gets all nervous. It’s just he’s got a great dynamic with the guys. He makes it a good environment.”
(How do you describe your game and what parts of your game are you most proud of?) – “I think I do a little bit of everything and that’s just, through the years, I’ve had to play in systems where I was a designated free safety and where I’ve had to play where I was a designated strong safety. So I feel like I, I can play both and wherever they need me to be, whether it’s down the box, in the post, in coverage, whatever they need me to do and … I don’t know. It’s hard to say. I feel like I do a little bit of everything. Just putting my finger on one thing that I’m proud of is …”
(What was your journey like for the last two years dealing with injuries and trying to get back to that level of play you had before but not being able to?) – “It was frustrating for a little while. Obviously with the MCL, I think it was my first year in Oakland, but that’s part of the game. Being able to bounce back mentally is the main thing when you come off something like that. Yes, I stayed positive and knew what I was working for and trying to get to. Everything worked out. I just left it in the Lord’s hands.”
(How do you feel now and are you confident that all of that’s behind you?) – “Yes, I feel good. I’m 100 percent. Last year I felt good and I haven’t had any issues. I feel confident in my health and how I’m feeling. I’m just ready to get it rolling.”
(How long does it take to get that chemistry going with S Reshad Jones do you think?) – “This is what OTAs are for. I think we’re making good progress and it’s not just me and Reshad (Jones), it’s the entire DB group. This is the first time I’ve played with these guys and the first time a lot of us have played together. So everybody’s just kind of feeling each other out because once you get that chemistry in the back end, you can make it a beautiful thing.”
(Going through the process during the offseason of figuring out what team to go to, what did it mean to you to have a chance to return home to Florida?) – “Oh, huge. That was like one of the big factors with it. And I saw also what this organization was doing as far as making it to the playoffs last year and building and bringing good guys in and with the coaching staff and everything. I just wanted to be a part of it. Not to mention, it was shoot, an hour and 45 minutes from my hometown. So you can’t beat that.”
(Is there a similarity between Oakland and what you’ve seen here in Miami as far as trajectory?) – “There are similarities but it’s different. You’ve got different guys, different terminology, different personalities. So there’s obviously similarities in certain things; but yes, it’s a new thing.”
(As far as that hunger and attitude?) – “Oh, yes. This organization is definitely hungry and, like I said, we’ve got a good group of guys and we know what we’re working for and we’ve just taking it day by day, just building to what we’re trying to get to.”
(How would you describe what you’ve kind of learned about the scheme and responsibility for the safeties in this particular defense? I don’t know if there are any unique differences or something you’ve picked up already?) – “I won’t go too into detail. There are similarities with stuff that I’ve been in before. I’ve done a lot of things that we do here before. Like I said, it’s just different terminology.”
(What is the dynamic with S T.J. McDonald like because obviously you guys at some point will compete for a job. He’s out of pocket for the first couple of months. What is that like?) – “It’s good and I’ve been asked this for years. Competing with other guys, that’s part of the game and that’s this business. You compete and you’ve got to be on top of your game every day, and me and T.J. know that. We’ve been around long enough and we know that competition is going to just make everybody better. It’s not just me and T.J. competing, you compete with everybody that’s playing safety. You’ve got to be on top of your game every day. Like I said, it’s just going to make everybody better.”
