Ted Karras – September 9, 2020
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Wednesday, September 9, 2020
C Ted Karras
(What is it going to be like to go back to Gillette Stadium?) – “There’s a lot of similar guys – a lot of connections – on these two programs and I think every Week 1 matchup is going to be pretty unique this year in the NFL. I’m excited to see what tomorrow is like. I’m sure you guys all are, too, with some football on TV; but yeah, we know a lot of these guys. We know each other and it’s going to be a tough, physical 60-minute game.”
(Gillette Stadium is obviously one of the toughest places in football to win. I would say their fans have been a big part of that – certainly the talent and the execution, too – what’s Gillette going to be like empty?) – “I’m not sure, really; but it’s definitely going to be very unique and something that we have to take into account. We can’t let it bother us too much. Once we’re on the 100 x 53 1/3 (yard) field here, we need to focus in and worry about our assignments and alignments and techniques. So we’ll see. It’s going to fun though, I’m excited.”
(We’ve talked about groupings and the rookies before, but now that G Solomon Kindley is going to start next to you, according to the depth chart on the right side, could you speak to I guess his – I guess the coaching staff threw a lot at him and it seemed like he handled it well throughout camp and just what it’s been like working alongside him?) – “It’s been great. It’s been a pleasure to see him grow over this past six weeks and then now as we get into live action here, how much more he’s even going to grow as a player. He has all the capabilities to be a great player and we have a lot of great rookies – Rob Hunt, Austin Jackson. We have good veterans – Jesse Davis, ‘E-Flow’ (Ereck Flowers) – so we’re feeling good. We’re working hard. We had a good practice today and now we’ve got to take it to the field here come Sunday afternoon.”
(I’m going to audible on the question I wanted to ask to ask you this – what makes you say G Solomon Kindley has the capabilities to be a great player? What do you see? What are you picking up?) – “He tries to do everything right. He’s very explosive. Obviously he’s a huge man. I don’t think I looked like that as a rookie. (laughter) I certainly, if I looked back at the film to come in and be very competitive, and someone that as we’re working over this past camp and now that we’re getting into games, building our trust in each other. I just think he’s done very well and I’m very excited for him and I’m going to do everything I can to help him and he’s going to be a big part of helping us win ball games this year.”
(Four years up in New England, you obviously saw how the sausage gets made up there; but I’m curious now that you’re in Miami, what it’s like for you to prepare for a Bill Belichick defense for the first time?) – “We know they’re going to be tough and smart and know what they’re doing, and they’re going to have something unique for us that’s going to make us think. They’re going to challenge us every step of the way and it’s very exciting to go back. I know many of these players very personally, and to go back and compete now as a rival faction is very exciting. It’s going to be fun, but we’re going to have to bring our very best when it counts the most here Sunday afternoon.”
(Just piggybacking off that, obviously you spent four years there. I’m sure you saw what Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick can do on the other side of things; but is there anything that you know that you can share with your fellow offensive linemen like “look out for this, prepare, Bill might send this your way” as far as blitzes, as far as different things up front?) – “Well, the tape says a lot of that as well. I think as I know a lot of these guys – I played with them for four years – there’s definitely a little bit of a factor of familiarity, but this is a new year and you’ve got to bring it every day in this league. It’s a whole fresh slate for everyone. I’ve been giving some tips, but we’ve been watching film together and what I’ve seen over the years. It’s going to come down to execution and doing our job as far each individual o-lineman and everyone on offense, to put up a good game.”
(I noticed on the Patriots defense, they lost about six starters from last season. You’re familiar with that unit. Do you think that this defense that you will be going up against – will it still be a challenge against those guys? Do you think you’re going up against a better defense in practice already that might help you out on Sunday?) – “It’s absolutely going to be a huge challenge. They’re going to be well-prepared and raring to go. There’s still a ton of great players on that whole front. That whole defense is dangerous and we’ve been preparing hard and we’ve still got a bunch more preparation to go. It’s going to be the biggest challenge yet of our careers as a team together. So we’re going to have to go up and play our very best for 60 minutes to leave Gillette Stadium with a victory.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores was saying that you’ve done a nice job learning a new system. I’m curious how different it is from what you were doing? What’s something that I might not know, not being a football player, that is different?) – “The language certainly is different and I think that’s a fascinating part of the game. I love to learn it. I dove into this offense pretty deeply. Obviously we had Zoom meetings for about six weeks in the spring. That was a cool, kind of low-pressure way to learn a new offense and just have the playbook there; but the biggest part is the language. There’s a lot of – football is football. I’m not going to give you any nuggets as far as differences between our ‘O’ (offense) and theirs, but the language would be the best example and one I find most fascinating.”
(I wanted to ask you what it meant to you to be elected as a team captain, particularly considering you’re a new player on this team?) – “It was a distinct honor and I’m very honored that my peers thought of me that way and it puts even more pressure on I want to do everything right. Obviously I was trying to do that anyway, but I want to do my very best for this team so that we can put our best season out there. As an elected leader I’m very excited about this upcoming campaign.”
(You sound like you’re running for political office there. I wanted to ask you, there’s so much “secret sauce” that New England has that made you guys – I know you were only there for a couple years – but the Patriots good for two decades. Are there things that you can bring over here that can help instill the culture here?) – “I think the main thing that I found a home in there for a while and now my home is here, was that just working really hard and working your absolute hardest to get your job done. That includes a whole bunch of different aspects of getting ready to play a football game, whether that’s obviously physically, mentally; but also emotionally and making sure that you’re prepared. I’m very grateful for my time there, but now it’s time to go play a football game against a lot of old friends. It’s going to exciting and it’s going to be 60 minutes of a really, really tough football game. We’re going to have to bring our best and we’ll be ready to go.”
