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Xavien Howard – August 19, 2021 Download PDF version

Thursday, August 19, 2021

CB Xavien Howard

(Thoughts on how the D looks? Obviously you’re incorporating LB Jaelan Phillips. LB Andrew Van Ginkel is getting more time. S Jevon Holland is getting more time. What intrigues or excited you about what you’ve seen on this defense?) – “Just being out here with the guys and understanding we’re getting better. I feel like the sky is the limit for us on the defensive side. We’re just working on getting better each day.”

(Joint practices with the Falcons going up against WR Calvin Ridley these days.) – “It’s a nice matchup. I appreciate that we’re doing the joint practices. We’re just focused on getting better. Every week we go up against a top receiver no matter where we’re at, so just getting better and just working on guys, seeing different ways and how you can play different guys in this league.”

(Do you expect to play on Saturday?) – “Yeah.”

(Ten interceptions last year. Is that repeatable?) – “I’m just focused on getting better each year. I’m not focused on that right now. Like you said, that was last year. It’s time to get better. It’s time for new goals and stuff like that.”

(You guys led the NFL in takeaways. What’s kind of the emphasis in practice and how are you guys working to do that…) – “Our main focus on defense is get the ball. We’ve got guys and that’s all our focus is getting the ball out of the quarterback’s hands, the receiver’s hands. We’re just focused on getting the ball.”

(I saw you had an interception early in practice and you had a tipped ball that went up in the air and S Jevon Holland got one. How did you feel about the way today went for you in terms of being involved around the ball?) – “I feel great. Just getting back to it, I feel like this is probably my Day 3 of practice. I’m getting back to it and really just getting comfortable with the guys, knowing what guys’ strengths are and stuff like that. Like I said, our main focus is just getting around the ball and making plays on the ball.”

(Head Coach Brian Flores said earlier today that it really takes game action for a player to get into peak performance. How much does that play a role in your desire to play in some of these preseason games?) – “Yeah, that plays a big role. You’ve got to get back comfortable with it – the game, system, situational football and just knowing what you’ve got to do in a situation. Seeing situations like that and just adapting to it.”

(I know you had the ankle injury. Are you very close to 100 percent?) – “Yeah, I practiced – this is my third practice full go. I’m out there.”

(How excited are you to get this thing going?) – “Like I’m saying, the sky is the limit for us. I see a lot of great things going on out there. I can’t wait to start back with the season and just playing.”

(So their guy WR Calvin Ridley, you obviously covered him in a couple of joint practices and hopefully get a chance to cover him a little bit on Saturday night. What do you think are his strengths?) – “(He’s an) all-around receiver – releases, fast. That’s what you’re looking for in a receiver. He has nice releases. Catching the ball – anywhere the ball is at, he’s going to go get it. That’s what you want from a receiver with everything – all of the techniques and everything.”

(Seeing S Jevon Holland’s ball-hawking, does that excite you, that particular skill of the young kid?) – “Oh, yeah. He finds the ball and the ball finds him. That’s one thing that me and him, we find the ball. Just seeing that from a young guy, a safety, making plays on the ball, I’m just excited to have him.”

(It looks like you have a nickel now with CB Justin Coleman and CB Nik Needham. Is that good to have two guys at least and beyond that can play that role well?) – “Oh, yeah. We’re all just about getting better, no matter who is at the position.”

(By adding in guys like LB Jaelan Phillips and S Jevon Holland and DL Adam Butler, do you think that this group can be even better than last year?) – “That’s our goal is to be better than last year. I feel like that was just shown a little bit. There’s a lot of meat on the bone. I feel like with the guys we added, they can help out a lot in any situation.”

(In general, how are you doing? Are you feeling pretty happy?) – “Yeah, I’m feeling great. I’m just focused on just getting better out here, knocking some rust off and just getting back to the movement.”

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