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Raekwon Davis – August 26, 2021 Download PDF version

Thursday, August 26, 2021

DT Raekwon Davis

(One of the things that I enjoy watching is when you are in those one-on-one drills and there’s not a chance for two men to try to stop you. How much do you enjoy them and what approach do you take any time you get a chance to go one-on-one even in practice?) – “Sometimes it’s very unlikely for me to get a one-on-one, so I have to take advantage of every one-on-one block I get. I try my best to win them.”

(Earlier today, I asked Head Coach Brian Flores about how you’ve done in the spring and the summer. He specifically referenced that you are taking care of your body. He said that you have learned how to eat right and sleep right. Let me ask about the eating part, how has your died changed? What’s in? What’s out?) – “Most definitely just try to eat better. Just try and go to sleep at a certain time. Just try to get eight hours of sleep, try to get good nutrition in your body, something healthy in your body to get you going fast.”

(There was a guy named Kiko Alonso who played linebacker for the Dolphins and he told me that he would go to sleep at 8 p.m.) – “I mean I have my days. Some days I really do go to bed that early. But 8? We don’t get out of meetings until like 7. I don’t get home until 7:30. (laughter)”

(Any food you’ve cut out of your diet the last couple years?) – “Fried food. I try to keep away from the fried food.”

(Has trash talk started at all between you and LB Jaelen Phillips about the Alabama-Miami game?) – “Oh yeah, most definitely. He’s got his team, I got my team.”

(What are your predictions?) – “I don’t know. I hope them boys go down there and handle business. Control what they can control.”

(From working on your game the last nine months working with Defensive Line Coach Austin Clark, is there an area where you think that you’re better specifically than you were late December last year?) – “I’m just trying to get better in each little category. My run and pass and both this year. Just trying to get better.”

(Head Coach Brian Flores used the word ‘comfort’ when talking about you. That you seem more comfortable. What are some areas in which, compared to a year ago, on or off the field you are more comfortable?) – “I would say knowing my plays. Just being in the playbook and learning the schemes about our defense. Learning that will make you play better, play more patient and you will be comfortable with the game.”

(When the team is in the 3-4 formation and you are in the middle, it seems to us that your responsibility is just clog up everything and make sure nobody runs through the middle. When do you get an opportunity to rush the passer? Do you think that over the course of your career you will actually get a bunch of sacks?) – “Yeah, most definitely. You just have to take advantage. Like I was saying about the one-on-ones, when you got the one-on-ones blocked, you got to just take advantage of it. Being a nose guard, you know pretty much the majority of the game you are going to have two guys on you. Just playing them one-on-one blocks and winning.”

(Everyone knows how high your celling is. Is there any really established Pro Bowl-type defensive tackle or nose tackle that you’ve watched on tape or watched over the years and said, ‘hopefully I can reach that level.’ Anybody at all?) – “Nah, I just play my game. Do my own thing.”

(Vince Wilfork, he played at UM and then was the Patriots nose tackle. He sometimes comes around. Do you ever talk to him about being a nose tackle in this defense?) – “Yeah, he was here like three weeks ago. He was teaching me his technique. Him looking at blocks, looking at formations. He was teaching me a lot of things when he was here at practice.”

(Did Vince Wilfork ever get to do a chunky soup commercial? Would you like to be in a chunky soup commercial?) – “Yeah, good marketing. Yeah, I would love it. Most definitely love it.”

(How long did you spend with him?) – “Just after practice. A little talk. Just giving me the things he saw today that same day. What I can do better.”

(Do you ever hear from Coach Saban or any of the defensive coaches at Alabama? I know they’re busy, you’re busy; but do you hear from them ever?) – “Yeah, when they got their breaks. But right now they are in camp, and we are kind of still in camp. Not right now though.”

(What’s the enduring message you took from Coach Saban in one of your final one-on-one conversations? He told us last May how good he thinks you can be. What’s the message that you took away from him?) – “Control what you can control. One step at a time. Just be where your feet at. Things like that.”

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