Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner spoke with media at training camp report day and discussed his optimism over the team's defensive line as well as his approach to leadership and what he thinks of rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson. (Video by Jake Arthur)
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00:00 >> [LAUGH] >> So I was asking him,
00:05 I don't know what year is this, 7, 8?
00:09 Does it ever get old or
00:10 is it that you find ways to kind of challenge yourself?
00:13 >> Yeah, I mean, I still love the game.
00:17 I told my wife, I was like, the day I come home, when camps for the start and
00:22 I don't look excited or anything, let me know, that's when I need to leave.
00:26 But I love it, this is my favorite time of the year.
00:30 I mean, playing the games obviously is fun, but I love the grind.
00:37 I like just working towards the season, getting started and everything.
00:42 I mean, that's what I enjoy, putting all the work in, so I'm excited.
00:46 >> What is it about this specific year, this specific team that excites you right
00:50 now?
00:51 >> Yeah, honestly, the fact that it's a new slate, it's a new season.
00:55 I mean, that's what gets me every year, you know what I mean?
00:57 Kind of everything that's been on last year is irrelevant, you know what I mean?
01:01 You learn from the bad things that happen and then you grow from it and
01:07 you also build opportunities and you get work.
01:10 >> But with, again, with all the changes, what are the expectations?
01:14 I mean, realistic expectations for this team?
01:17 >> Yeah, I mean, stack up the wins, that's the realistic expectation I can give you,
01:22 is taking it one week at a time and stacking up these wins.
01:25 I mean, you can't really set the bar crazy high because of what we were last year,
01:30 obviously, but the expectation is high.
01:32 I mean, since I've been here, I mean, since we've been to the playoffs,
01:36 my first year here, and guys wanna get back there, you know what I mean?
01:40 Especially having the young team that we've had, and
01:44 obviously a lot of those young players got the experience now
01:50 over the past couple of years, and so we need to put it together as a group.
01:53 And really challenge each other each and every day, push each other, and
01:58 it's gonna be up the training camp, it always gets chippy, but which is good.
02:02 You know what I mean?
02:03 You need that competition to get to where you wanna be.
02:05 >> With, again, with a rookie, you take care of your business.
02:08 Are you curious about how those rookie quarterback cups gonna play out?
02:12 >> Yeah, definitely.
02:14 You know what I mean?
02:15 He's, obviously, the whole thing is when he had 13 games in college and
02:20 not a whole lot of experience, but being able to,
02:22 we all wanna see, obviously, how he comes to the training camp and
02:26 what he's gonna do, obviously.
02:27 But he's gonna have a good group of guys around him to push him in the right
02:31 direction to really get the full potential out of him.
02:35 >> Do you think that you were a top ten pick, you had all the expectations,
02:40 do you think that that's something that you can help him with?
02:43 >> Definitely, just feeling that pressure,
02:47 having that pressure on your shoulders.
02:49 I've definitely felt that before, you know what I mean?
02:51 Coming in, being a top ten pick.
02:52 And the biggest thing is really just coming in and being yourself.
02:58 You know what I mean?
02:59 Everything that's got you to this point, you build off of.
03:02 And you lean on others to give you support, and that's what I did.
03:07 I was lucky to have my former teammate that went in the first round before me,
03:12 Eric Armstead, to kinda lean off of, you know what I mean?
03:15 And ask him for a little guidance my first year.
03:18 So, I mean, the biggest thing is just being able to be open to ask for help.
03:25 >> It's definitely a little bit different if you're picked that high, right?
03:28 In terms of the attention and- >> Yeah, most definitely,
03:30 you know what I mean?
03:31 Obviously, especially the quarterback position.
03:32 >> Yeah. >> I mean,
03:33 being a quarterback, the spotlight's on you.
03:35 And so sometimes you might feel a little, I'd say isolated, you know what I mean?
03:40 Having that spotlight on you.
03:41 But I mean, just knowing that you got guys around you that you can trust.
03:45 And we're gonna build that trust throughout training camp to go to and
03:48 ask for advice on little things like that.
03:50 >> Over the years, go ahead.
03:52 >> He feels like the kinda guy who has the makeup to handle that though.
03:55 >> Yeah. >> You've observed that too?
03:57 >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure.
03:58 Just seeing the way his boys and the way he handles everything.
04:04 I mean, I feel like he's definitely got the makeup to handle all that pressure.
04:09 >> Over the years, what have you learned about what makes for
04:11 a successful training camp from now until mid-August?
04:14 >> Yeah, really just the high level of competition throughout camp.
04:20 In all aspects, from everybody pushing each other,
04:24 testing each other's limits, and really just building off each and every day.
04:31 You know what I mean?
04:31 That's the biggest thing.
04:33 And gaining that trust amongst each other, you know what I mean?
04:36 Just knowing that, especially on the defensive side, communication,
04:40 knowing that everybody's gonna do their job and
04:42 be where they need to be to have a successful defense.
04:46 And on the other side, offense, pure execution by every single player.
04:52 Trusting the guy next to you, especially on the O line,
04:55 knowing that they're gonna pick up a blitz or a block, or whatever it is.
04:58 Just building that trust throughout camp, that's the biggest thing.
05:01 And then going into the season, you know you can lean on your guys
05:05 throughout those times where you have adversity throughout the season.
05:07 >> What is that? >> Last one here.
05:09 >> The D line, just in general.
05:10 I've seen you and Grover, sort of like the veterans, but outside of Dayo and
05:14 others, and even Samson being added, what do you think of their potential?
05:17 >> I mean, I think it's the ceiling's sky high for the D line.
05:21 I mean, just seeing the growth that some guys had throughout even the spring.
05:26 I mean, for one guy, an example, Dayo.
05:29 He's really coming into his own and
05:32 being able to see what he's been able to do in OTAs.
05:34 I'm excited to see what he's gonna be able to do in camp,
05:37 just to capitalize on that.
05:38 And as you know, towards the end of the season,
05:39 obviously he was coming along really well.
05:42 And seeing Quitty also, when you got a healthy Quitty,
05:46 I mean, he's a big difference maker.
05:48 So it's gonna be exciting.
05:49 And then obviously adding guys like Samson and having a healthy Ty Lue back too.
05:55 That's gonna be a big, big crucial part for us too.