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Xavien Howard – July 30, 2017 Download PDF version

Sunday, July 30, 2017

CB Xavien Howard

(How would you describe your battles with WR DeVante Parker? It seems like both of you guys are making plays.) – “It’s a good battle – me and DeVante. Every down, every time I line up against the one’s receiver, I try to go against DeVante Parker.”

(What do you think WR DeVante Parker’s potential is as a receiver?) – “The sky’s the limit. This is his third year going into it. A little bit of injuries had brought him down a little bit – me and him both. We’re both healthy. We’re competing and doing the best, trying to get each other better each day.”

(What specifically can you point to at WR DeVante Parker about why he is so different? We hear that he’s running routes quicker every time more consistently.) – “He’s more consistent in his routes. His releases … That’s my main goal, try to get my hands on receivers and his releases are quick. It’s hard to get my hands on him and (it) messes the timing up. His releases are something I’ve got to watch film for and look at that.”

(How much fun are those one-on-one battles with WR DeVante Parker?) – “I love competing against DeVante. I feel like he can be the best receiver in this league, and I want to go against the best every day.”

(You worked this offseason and strengthened your legs, is that right?) – “Yes, this summer I had done that. I’m still doing a little bit.”

(What did you do specifically and have you noticed a difference out here?) – “I’m doing more squats and stuff like that, stuff I was doing in college that helped me strengthen my legs. I try to keep that and keep taking care of my body, being a pro.”

(What’s it like to have a healthy training camp?) – “Last year just watching from the sidelines looking, and I’m out here competing every day, it’s just motivating (so) I can get better. Last year, I didn’t go through training camp. I went straight to preseason and stuff like that. Stuff I can grow from with training camp and just watching film and doing more stuff like that.”

(Does it help that you have an understanding of this defense now in Year 2?) – “Yes, it’s given me time to grow. This defense, this is my second year in the defense. I’m steady learning each day what to do and stuff that I got to learn.”

(Working with ‘Footwork King’ down in Texas, do you notice a difference now with your footwork getting out of brakes?) – “I was doing that since college, so I’ve been working with ‘Footwork King’ ever since my college career. We keep working and are trying to see some things he’s seen on film that I need to work on, and we’re just trying to get that.”

(What’s the next step for you in your development?) – “My next step is … I’m still learning the game. I’m trying to polish my game. I’m watching other guys and stuff like that to see what they’re doing, what has helped them, certain stuff probably doesn’t help me, but it’s helping them. So, I’m just trying to learn from each guy.”

(Who are you watching?) – “(Arizona Cardinals cornerback) Patrick Peterson, (Kansas City Chiefs cornerback) Marcus Peters, a lot of guys like that at the level right now.”

(What do you take from Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson when you watch his film?) – “He’s an athlete. I like his one-on-one skills. That’s the kind of guy I am – I’m in the dude’s face, I want to put my hands on him and stuff like that. He’s an athlete. Richard Sherman, he’s got some good stuff, but he’s more of like a zone corner. I like my man corners that get in a dude’s face and put his hands on him.”

(Is there anybody else you studying?) – “Marcus Peterson from (the) Kansas City Chiefs.”

(What do you see from Chiefs CB Marcus Peters?) – “He’s a ball hawk. Everywhere the ball goes, him and Eric Berry are over there. They’re ball hawks over there. I want to bring that to my game.”

(Do you see anything that you can take from that in terms of the ball hawking?) – “I feel like each year they’re growing and getting better. There’s just stuff I’ve got to learn from to see what they’re doing that probably can help me out.”

(Do you mean like read recognition?) – “Yes, read, knowing the splits and stuff like that, when I can jump the route, when I’ve got to sit on it, stuff like that.”

(You mentioned Chiefs CB Marcus Peters. He’s a guy that finds the ball, always turns his head and locates the ball. Head Coach Adam Gase talked about locating the ball and getting a hand on the football. Is that something that you guys have done a lot more of this camp?) – “We’re trying to do that every day, get our hands on the ball.”

(I noticed you were rotating in with CB Tony Lippett. What has that competition been like? How do you look at that competition?) – “Every day, me and Tony Lippett have been competing, especially when I first got in. Tony Lippett was here and I was the rookie that (was) coming in. I’ve been sharing reps with each one of those guys, even Byron Maxwell. Me and Tony, we’re going to compete. He wants the best from me and I want the best from him, and the best man is going to win the job. But at the end of the day, we’re just getting better, competing and learning from each other, too. That’s the best thing we do and we try to keep that going and try to be the best man out there.”

(Do you feel like you’re going to win that starting job?) – “It’s up to the coaches. I’m just doing what I can control right now.”

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