Tony Lippett – November 14, 2016
Download PDF version
Monday, November 14, 2016
Cornerback Tony Lippett
(How satisfying was it not only getting your first career interception, but following it up with another one to seal the win?)– “It was pretty good, (my) first career interception. It is also good, us coming together and helping each other out, coming out that game with a victory. (They) have a great quarterback. They have a great offense. They score a lot of points. So, for us to finish the drill at the end of the day, that was always the goal.”
(What was it like to go through that game where it was so many penalties, and it looks like things are going against you guys and then four fourth quarter interceptions?) – “Sometimes it can get frustrating with the penalties and stuff like that, but you just have to just brush it off and move on to the next play. And that’s what we just try to do, we try to preach every time after a penalty in the huddle, ‘Move on to the next play, because you don’t want that to linger on to the next one.’”
(Do you think the penalties are a technique issue? What are the coaches saying as far as diagnosing those?) – “We have to play better technique and compete. At the end of the day, I’m just out there trying to compete. The refs are going to call what they call and anything like that. I’m just out there trying to compete and play hard and try to make plays when they come my way.”
(What has this year been like for you guys in the secondary? There are so many young players out there getting their first crack of NFL action. How tough has it been to stay positive and keeping things steady?) – “It’s pretty tough, but we all talk a lot. We watch film together a lot, and we always try to make sure we’re on the same page and make sure we’re seeing the same things. So, that helps us a lot – watching film together and talking more every play, communicating more and basically trying to make sure we’re on the same page at all times.”
(With this secondary, you guys got off to a slow start from an interception standpoint. What’s it like to see it come in bunches now?)– “It’s pretty good. It’s pretty good for us to get our hands on a couple football, especially from a Hall of Fame quarterback, which is Philip Rivers. It’s pretty good. We just basically are going to keep continuing it rolling and try to make plays when they come our way.”
(Where do you feel you’ve made the most progress from last year to this year?) – “I’d probably say being more patient and really understanding what the offense is trying to do, really understanding how our defense works and how every phase of our defense is basically helping each other. I’m understanding that a little bit more, and I still have a lot of understanding to do, so that’s what I try to do in practice, and hopefully it transfers over to the game.”
(When you talk about trying to learn and understand the concepts, what started that learning process? What helped you guys finally get it?)– “We always watch film, but knowing where our other defenders are going to be on defense can help you. You knowing where your help is at helps you. That’s what we just try to preach – knowing where your help is at, knowing where everybody is going to be at and knowing what you can give up and what you can’t give up in certain coverages.”
(I’ve seen you run receiver routes in pregame. I think I’ve seen you do it earlier too, not exactly sure, but I’ve never asked you about it. Just curious to why you do that in pregame?) – “I’m just warming up. One week I just started doing it. Me and ‘Max’ (Byron Maxwell) just started doing it and whatever. I was basically warming up. That was my way of warming up.”
(Do you remember which game it was?) – “I actually think it was the Cincinnati game. I saw them out there throwing the ball, and I jumped in for a couple of routes. and I said, ‘Alright, I’m just going to just keep doing it.’”
(Does that make you long for your wide receiver days at Michigan State?)– “A little bit. It’s basically just me loosening up. I don’t really think about when I’m running routes and how I’m running them. (I am) trying to get my legs right, get my hands right.”
(Do you feel like it has helped with your ball skills at all? You got your hands on the ball yesterday, obviously, and finished plays.) – “It definitely helps with my ball skills. Catching the ball as much as you can is always going to help you no matter if it’s from the quarterback, or it’s from the jugs or it’s you playing catch with a coach or somebody like that. Catching the ball and actually seeing it, it always helps you.”
(Can you describe how far you think you’ve come as far as your progression to being a starting cornerback in the NFL?) – “I have a lot of room to go, and that’s what I’m focused on. I’m not focused on where I’ve been or how far I’ve come. It’s not about that. It’s about grinding every day and persevering through everything, and that’s what I try to do. I don’t try to focus on that.”
(Do you see a light at the end of the road there?)– “No, it’s not a light, because if it’s a light, it means it’s ending. I don’t really want to see a light. I just want to go, so that’s what I’m trying to do.”
