Walt Aikens – June 14, 2017
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Wednesday, June 14, 2017
S Walt Aikens
(How do you enjoy working at corner again and have you done that nearly all of the offseason or have you still been getting some work at safety?) – “Coach just asked me to come back to corner, get some work and make sure I can stay touched up on my skills. It’s something I’ve been doing since last year since practice days and just going into this OTA, coach let me know ahead of time. It’s been good. I like it.”
(Has it been all corner this camp?) – “As far as right now, yes; but I still have to know everything having to do with safety, as well.”
(Is your feeling that going into next season or this season, you’re just going to be able to be in a role where you can do both or do you think they’ll have you ultimately focused on one or the other?) – “I’ve got to be in a role where I can do both. The more you can do, the more you bring to the team. So wherever coach wants me to play, I can go in and contribute right away.”
(What’s this like for you after you’re one of the top special teams players but you’re kind of guy that doesn’t really have a position right now?) – “As far as special teams goes, that’s a place where you can go out there and just balls to the wall ball out. I’m trying to incorporate that into the defense and just listening to what coach tells me to do and any way I can contribute, I’ll go out there and do what I need to do.”
(What’s the overall feeling of the defense as a whole coming into this season? A lot to improve on obviously on last year’s performance?) – “Right now we’re just picking up where we left off and trying to improve on the things we failed at last year. I mean (Defensive Coordinator) Coach (Matt) Burke gets us fired up. We go out there every day trying to get better and with the guys we got here now – the drafted rookies and free agents that we picked up this offseason. I mean it’s been great going into this season.”
(You had a couple of plays last year … the type of plays that put guys on the map when it comes to Pro Bowl voting and all that on special teams. How big of a goal would that be for you?) – “It’ll be great. That’s a great honor that anybody around the league would say they would love to have. So that’s definitely a goal that I’m looking forward to meeting.”
(How important is it for you at some point in your career in this year or beyond to be a defensive presence beyond just on special teams?) – “That’s what I always want to do. That’s my main position. Special teams is just something special I can add to the team. Going back to my college position, I’ve been more comfortable with each passing day. We’re having fun out there.”
(What did either former Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph last year or this year Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke or Defensive Backs Coach Lou Anarumo tell you has to change for you to be in the equation to play defensively?) – “Just be ready for the opportunity. Just be ready, prepare mentally and physically to go out there and do what I need to do.”
(You guys made some plays on special teams last year. Are you a play-making game-changing special teams unit or are you approaching that? How would you describe that special teams unit?) – “Based off the play and the guys we have, I feel like we have the ability to do that every game. We want to go in and make plays. A lot of people, a lot of teams take special teams off as a free play where it’s just a kick or something like … No, we take it serious and we take pride in it.”
(Where do you feel you rank among special teams players?) – “Personally, I would say in the top; but that’s up for the film to decide.”
(How do you guys decide that?) – “Us, personally?”
(Yes.) – “We don’t. We just ball. We just go out and play. You’ve got to have a short memory when it comes to special teams. Every play is a new game. It’s a one-play game. So you’ve got to go out with the mindset ‘Alright, we’ve got to make something happen.’ And if it’s not you, it’s your teammates. So you just go out and try to be in the right place. We say 1/11 and 1/11 means every guy is doing their part of that play – 1/11.”
(What skill do you think you have that’s the most important to you being able to make plays on special teams?) – “I would have to say that you have to have a certain mindset when you go out. A lot of people have the physical attributes and it’s more of a mindset when you go out there and want to make a play, and want to make a tackle. Especially on special teams where there’s a lot of space, you have to have that dog mentality. “
(Where do you feel more comfortable at this point? What position do you think you’re better at – safety or corner?) – “I like them both; but the fact that I get to play corner, you get to press up a little bit. I’ve been loosening up my hips, so that’s been great.”
(We saw you have at least one pick. How many have you had?) – “One pick and got my hands on a couple of balls. I’m just trying to be in the right place at the right time. Go out and … (Defensive Backs Coach) Lou (Anarumo) puts us in position to make plays – Coach Lou and (Defensive Coordinator) Coach (Matt) Burke. We’ve just got to go out there and execute.”
(What’s the feedback you’ve gotten from coaches about how you’ve done at corner?) – “It’s been pretty good. I’m just trying get better every day. Coach just tells me to keep my head in it.”
(You guys have a five-week break between when mini-camp ends and when training camp begins. What’s your program? What do you do to get ready for training camp?) – “This isn’t really a break for us. This is a time where we have to actually step it up a notch because we’re going to be home and away from the facility for so long. We have to go in and approach it like we’re still at camp – we’re already in camp. We have to stay working out and continue to eat well. If you’re heavy, you get light and if you’re light, you gain some good weight. It’s more of a workout type break.”
(In what ways has your experience in college playing corner now prepared you for what you’re doing now? As you mentioned, you get your hands on guys and be closer up on guys?) – “First, it brings back memories. Second, when you see certain plays, certain formations, you kind of get a feel for it after a while. Offense is always changing; but at the same time, if you’re in the right spots, you can easily make a play on the ball or break on the ball. It’s preparing me well.”
(Is it fun to just be able to read the quarterback’s eyes and being able to break on the ball?) – “Yes, it’s cool. It’s cool.”
(Did you notice the swarm of bees at practice today?) – “Yes, I saw the bees. This is my first time really seeing a swarm like that. I always see it on TV. I watch Animal Planet a lot; but actually seeing one, that was crazy.”
(A bunch of young receivers are trying to win jobs – undrafted rookies – WR Isaiah Ford the draft pick and obviously WR Leonte Carroo. Who’s shown you the most? If you could name a couple whose specific skills have impressed you?) – “I like Isaiah Ford, a real cool dude. He has a smooth game on the field and he’ll surprise you.”
