Raekwon Davis – August 24, 2023
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Thursday, August 24, 2023
DT Raekwon Davis
(What’s this training camp been for you? This is Year 4. I know everything is not new to you anymore but how do you feel your progression is? Coach McDaniel talked about putting up the film from your OTAs last year to this year. What did that feel like?) – “You know, with compliments. I love him, but you know, I was taught rat poison from Nick Saban. But it’s been a great camp this year for me so far. Just got to keep it going, maintain my diet, maintenance, keep progressing, little things like that.”
(It seems like you spend more time in the backfield against the passing game this camp. How have you added to your pass rush this offseason?) – “Just sticking with the moves I know, just two or three moves and just get them down pat, practice on them and just work them when I’m out there in team.”
(Do you feel your offseason training kind of translating into that?) – “Yeah, I did a lot of pass-rushing training this offseason, just to get better because I know I’m going to need it for this year. Going into this new defensive scheme, I’m definitely going to have to be able to pass rush and keep a high motor.”
(How has it been working with DT Da’Shawn Hand?) – “Man, he’s so funny. We talk about old stories all the time, because we have so many memories at ‘Bama. Funny guy, bro. He’s being doing great. I love him here.”
(What do you think of the camp DT Brandon Pili is having?) – “Oh, great camp. He’s been one of the young guys that’s producing real well and going in the right direction.”
(What was your reaction when he told you you’d be wearing that orange jersey?) – “You know, (shrugs his shoulders and laughs) that’s cool. I just go and continue to do what I do each and every day, in and out. It’s just an orange jersey.”
(How long have you been working on that playlist? It seemed like you had a good mix of old school and new school.) – “Most of those songs are what I listened to on a day-to-day (basis), so I already had it queued up. I just sent it off to them like, ‘Hey, play this, play this, play this.’ I actually didn’t send the order on how to play it. they just played it. It was a great order.”
(If they would have put you out here for the one-on-one competitions, who would you most liked to have cooked on the offensive line, receiver versus corner?) – “If they put me out there? What am I playing, DB?”
(Whatever you want.) – “I don’t know. I’m not that type of fast. Listen … I’m not just that great yet. (laughter) No, I’m not going out there and pull a hammie. I’m not doing that.”
(You’ve been one of the players who’s known QB Tua Tagovailoa the longest, been with him the longest. What’s it like when you hear people criticize the work that he’s put in to get ready this offseason?) – “Honestly, they don’t know anything Tua does. He just works every day, in and out of here. He just does his job and he continues to practice his technique. They just talk. That’s what they do. They don’t know what he does. He’s having a great camp too, so they can say what they want to say.”
(Where do you feel you’re at right now in your career? How comfortable are you?) – “Right now, I feel this is probably going to be the best year for me. I’m feeling the best. That’s probably how I’m feeling.”
(That’s what Head Coach Mike McDaniel said, you look the best right now. How much confidence does he give you guys?) – “He gives us a lot of confidence, but at the same time, we have to just keep working and going out there on the field to prove it.”
(CB Kader Kohou said yesterday that Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio in the meeting room in defensive meetings works with every single position. He’s not just talking to everybody as a whole. Is that something you’ve noticed as well?) – “Yeah, when we’re doing individual drills, he’s at every drill. He’s just going around, looking at everybody’s technique. He’s also coaching us, too, at the same time as our (position) coach is doing. That’s awesome, man. That’s pretty great.”
(Is that something that’s commonplace? I don’t want you to put down anybody in the past.) – “Coach Saban did it, I’ll say that. How about that? He did it.”
(Are you happy that after today’s camp, you start regular practice? Training camp comes to an end, you’re probably happy about that?) – “I’m just one day at a time. I’m just taking it day-by-day, whatever the next day is, that’s what the next day is. Right now, we’re really still in camp, so that’s what is.”
(You don’t feel a difference?) – “No.”
(How do you fit into the defensive tackle mix? Is it just rotational?) – “Honestly, I couldn’t really tell you scheme. As far as scheme goes, it’s game by game. I can’t control that. My coaches can’t control that so it’s just by games. Whatever grouping that is, that’s the grouping that is.”
(What were your thoughts when you saw Teddy Bridgewater wearing No. 50?) – “Nah, that’s hard. I like that. (laughter) I was like, okay that’s different. Yeah that’s real different. It was nice though. He’s switching it up. I meant to ask him why he went to 50, though. But it’s cool to me. If he loves it, I love it.”
(Do you have any goals or any individual accolades that you want to achieve this year?) – “Yeah. I’m not going to say it right now but I’ve definitely got a lot of goals for myself. I hope to – I’m going to achieve them.”
(With the diet, what were some things that you changed?) – “I mean, just the regular. Just eating better, having my body in shape. That’s it.”
