Quentin Poling – June 13, 2018
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Wednesday, June 13, 2018
LB Quentin Poling
(How would you describe, since it’s almost over, your first camp?) – “Exciting. It’s fast-paced obviously going from college to the NFL. It’s not just the speed of the game, but just how practices are run and the expectations and everything. It’s different. It’s been a good adjustment though and I think it’s gone well for me and as a defense, especially.”
(What’s been the biggest eye-opener for you?) – “There hasn’t been anything too crazy, to be honest. You come into things and you come in with high expectations for everything, so you leave little surprises out there.”
(Any plays you are proud of that you’ve made? Anything in particular in 11-on-11 work?) – “Nothing too crazy. I had an interception today for me so that was a highlight through camp for me so far probably.”
(Can you remember who threw it?) – “No.”
(Was it a ball right in your area, or did you have to lunge to get it?) – “I don’t know. Maybe he just didn’t see me because it seemed like I baited him on that one.”
(What are your plans for the time between the offseason program and the start of training camp?) – “I’ll be down in Florida training, staying in the heat and getting used to that – body acclamation – and all that.”
(How do you like living in Florida?) – “It’s warm. It rains a lot. I’ve talked to some people and I’m like, ‘When is it going to stop raining?’ They’re like, ‘November.’ I was like we call that summer back in Ohio. You guys call it rain season here.”
(Among the group of players you’ve been going against primarily on offense and team drills, just a couple of guys who stood out to you on offense?) – “I’m more worried about the defense right now and getting things situated with those guys. (Mike) Gesicki is making some nice catches and things like that, as he should. Besides that, I’m just working with the defense and focusing more on us and more on myself as supposed to the offense.”
(How about that same question for your side of the ball? Anyone in the group you’ve been working with that kind of stood out to you?) – “I think everyone is doing a good job. I think watching practice, the defensive line is doing a great job playing aggressive and getting after it. They’ve looked really good here through this offseason training. In the back end, the linebackers, I think we’re progressing nicely as well.”
(There’s obviously a lot of people you can learn from, veterans and young players alike. How do you go about picking and choosing what they do and how to apply it to you? How do you handle that whole process?) – “Just watching them. Like you said, there’s a lot of different guys. You don’t necessarily have to watch your position. It’s not just, ‘Oh, this guy is at my position. Today watch that guy.’ You can just watch great leaders. You can watch guys on offense and watch how they lead and how they carry themselves and you can take things away from that. You don’t necessarily have to look at one specific guy. You can watch the vets as a whole. We have a lot of great leaders on defense, so just watching those guys.”
(Are there any vets that you’re kind of like, “I want to pay close attention to those guys?”) – “I think … Not necessarily a vet; but, Raekwon (McMillan) is doing a great job. (He has a) good work ethic. Kiko (Alonso) also, and Cam Wake and Robert Quinn. (They’ve been) outstanding so far, so just watching how they carry themselves, get to the ball, always running, speed-chasing and all of that stuff. (I’m) just trying to replicate that.”
(What’s an actual example of development for you during this past month? What’s something that wasn’t very good at the beginning that you feel better about now?) – “Just understanding coverages and leverages, things like that. As I’ve been moved across linebacker positions, just understanding that I’m not always just in the middle now, like I was in college. Just understanding leverages on wide receivers and how that can help in coverage with not necessarily being the fastest guy but if you play your leverage and technique well, you can cover a guy.”
(Have you worked at all three spots?) – “I’ve moved around, yes.”
(Has that been the same also with LB Cayson Collins and LB Mike McCray? Have all three of you guys?) – “Yes, not just the young guys. Everyone … All of the linebackers are moving around and learning more than one spot just kind of helps you understand the why behind the defense and things of the other positions. If you know what everyone is doing as a linebacker, it just opens your vision so much more to how the defense operates and helps you play. We’re moving around between sub packages, base packages. That’s for everyone.”
(Which rookie is the funniest?) – “I don’t know how to answer that.”
(Who has a great sense of humor?) – “I like ‘Bake’ (Jerome Baker). I like Jerome. We’re roommates. Some of the stuff he does … Obviously, I’m not going to invade on his personal stuff; but some of the things he does in the hotel room, I just … I mean, it’s crazy.”
(Interesting show selections, television programs?) – “Nope, nope. I’m not even going to go into it. (laughter) He does some funny stuff.”
(Strongest personality, like who is a clear leader in the group? Who has that strong leadership presence between the rookies?) – “I think Minkah (Fitzpatrick). He’s doing a great job embracing the role and everything. Just stepping into it and trying to work hard and show that he should be in the position that he is and all of that. He’s doing a good job so far.”
