Raekwon Davis – July 30, 2021
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Friday, July 30, 2021
DT Raekwon Davis
(How different are things for you this year than this day last year? Third day of practice.) – “I’d say being a year in, last year it was like I had to learn everything. This year, like all of the other guys, I have a little more stuff down. It’s definitely better this year.”
(Even in the pre-draft process people talked about you having Pro Bowl ability. Do you feel that deep down? Does that drive you to become an elite NFL nose tackle or defensive tackle?) – “No, I really don’t pay no mind to it. I just day-by-day, step-by-step each day just get better and just help the team.”
(What has Defensive Line Coach Austin Clark’s tutelage done for you in your pass rush game so far this camp?) – “He’s just made me believe I really got it. Just be confident in what move I’m using. Little stuff like that; but I got a way, a lot better.”
(Is there anything in particular you’re really wanting to improve on this training camp?) – “A lot. Overall everything – run and pass. Everything.”
(When you evaluated your rookie season, what did you see out of yourself?) – “Still learning. Each day, each game, different opponents, learning the game, learning the process, learning different schemes of the game. That’s about it.”
(Did you feel you made a jump as the season went on because from the outside looking in a lot of people think you did?) – “No. No, sir. I could be better.”
(What’s the difference this year being versus last year when you were a rookie? What have you seen?) – “Just more mature. Way more mature than last year and putting the team first.”
(Do you remember doing anything last year where you look back now and say, “Man, I can’t believe I did that as a rookie?”) – “No, I didn’t do nothing that was like real crazy. (laughter) I didn’t do nothing crazy, but just maturing. Just taking the time, develop the team, the scheme and different things like that. Getting to know the coaches. Taking the time out of my day to learn different things.”
(Are there any teammates on the d-line where you feel like you’ve made huge strides on your team so far…?) – “Yeah, everybody’s just coming together. Everybody’s building a bond outside the field. I feel like that’s where it started the most. Just building that bond outside the field. Once you’ve got that bond outside the field; then that’s when you start learning everybody’s ability and everybody’s just coming together as one.”
(Just to go back to the pass rush thing – I know obviously you had huge numbers at Alabama your second year and that player is obviously still inside you. Have you gone back and looked at tape of that year to see maybe things you did technique-wise that can happen? How much thought has that been something that you’ve given to?) – “No, I don’t go back and watch that. (laughter) No. I go back and watch my last year’s film and I put my thought into that and look at different things I could’ve did better. Just taking it step-by-step; but no, I don’t go that far. I do go on Google to look my old pictures though. (laughter) I be finding some funny pictures though. I do do that. I know it’s weird.”
(Just getting back to the topic of pass rushing, that’s something that would be important to you and obviously would get you on the field maybe some more on third downs, too?) – “Yeah, most definitely. Like I’m telling y’all, just step-by-step, day-by-day, just taking the time to process that whole ability, just to get better.”
(What has DL Adam Butler meant to the room so far?) – “Oh man, he’s funny. He’s a good dude, a good character. He wants to make sure everybody’s on the same page. It goes back to that one like when I was talking about bonds, he’s definitely that guy that makes sure. He’s telling us ‘Let’s do this.’ Like we go into the cafeteria during camp, let’s eat together, let’s talk about the mess ups we did and stuff like that. He’s a great guy so far. It’s been good with him.”
(Is DT Zach Sieler going to get you guys all to the gator farm here soon or how’s that going to…?) – “Say again?”
(Are you guys going to go out to the gator farm with DT Zach Sieler?) – “Oh no, I don’t do that. I don’t think Adam (Butler) is going to do that either, but I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about that though. Zach (Sieler) – that’s his thing – a country boy. He’s a real country boy now.”
(Do the Miami Hurricanes have a chance?) – “Are you talking about Alabama this year?”
(Yeah.) – “Ha, ask yourself that. You think so? I can’t even speak on that. I (am not going to) get into that. (laughter) But anyway.”
(What’s the spread?) – “What? The spread? Man, I can’t talk about the spread. I don’t know. (laughter) He’s trouble, bro. He’s trouble for real.”
(I’m sure that you learned a lot from Marion Hobby and had a good relationship with him. Obviously now I’m sure you have a good relationship with Defensive Line Coach Austin Clark. What’s different in terms of is there an emphasis that Clark has with you that’s a little bit different from what Hobby had with you?) – “They’re both two great coaches. Austin (Clark) is a coach that like, you’ll be in the game and you’ll be scared to get even a step wrong because you will run back to the sideline and he’ll get on your butt about it. So like with Coach Clark, it’s just like he wants everything to be perfect. So you want to play with perfect technique, look at the scheme, you want to see where the running back is at. He’s the guy to teach you all that. Just make sure you know what’s going on.”
(You played against QB Tua Tagovailoa in practice at Alabama and now here again. Is there any personality or stories you could tell of things he’s said at a practice?) – “Tua’s more quiet. He’s got a little character in him. He’ll say a little something, but not too much, man. He’s a funny guy. Not too much. Like outside the field, yeah, I got a lot of stories; but I’m not going to share it on camera. But yeah. (laughter)”
(We’ll turn off the cameras.) – “Nah… (laughter)”
(Any change you’ve seen in QB Tua Tagovailoa? Obviously he’s gotten better in Year 2 just like you have, but what’s any change you’ve seen in him and his game or anything?) – “I just feel like he’s been the same. It’s Tua. He’s the best out. That’s all I know.”
