Seahawks TE Colby Parkinson Credits Changed Mindset For Success

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After entering the NFL viewed as a glorified receiver, Colby Parkinson has transformed into a viable all-around tight end for the Seattle Seahawks, owing a change in mentality to his success as a blocker in a breakthrough 2022 season.
Transcript
00:00 Normally I would just say how did your off season go, but I know that you just recently
00:03 got married.
00:04 I did, yeah.
00:05 So take me through that.
00:06 I see that you guys had kind of a publicized wedding.
00:10 Yeah, a little bit.
00:11 It was awesome.
00:12 We got married in March.
00:13 We met a year before the day that we got married.
00:17 So we got married pretty quickly.
00:19 She's awesome.
00:20 I mean, we both love the Lord, so we were able to move pretty quickly through the dating
00:23 process and blessed to be married now.
00:25 How surprised were you that that came together that way?
00:28 That's not something that happens a lot.
00:29 I kind of had a feeling.
00:31 Once I met her, I knew it was game over and we were locked in.
00:36 That's obviously probably the highlight of the off season for you, but what went on from
00:40 a football standpoint, how did you attack this off season?
00:43 Was it similar to previous ones?
00:44 Did you make some adaptations going into year four?
00:47 Sure, yeah.
00:48 Just trying to get bigger, faster, stronger, as always.
00:50 Gained a little weight.
00:51 Feeling really confident coming into the year.
00:53 Trained out in Nashville for the summer.
00:55 Was out with George Kittle and some of those guys.
00:57 So learning from the best and trying to add different things to my game.
01:01 How significant is it that this tight-knit group, everybody's back for another season?
01:06 The continuity at the tight end position.
01:08 It's awesome.
01:09 We all see ourselves as starting tight ends and that leads to a lot of great competition.
01:12 I think that's going to help us going into the year.
01:16 How would you critique your play from a year ago?
01:18 Last year was the most you've gotten to play in the NFL.
01:20 Didn't have the injury issues at the beginning of the season.
01:22 Going back, looking at the film, what did you like?
01:24 What were some areas where you felt like, "Hey, that's where I need to attack and get
01:27 better?"
01:28 Yeah, absolutely.
01:29 I think I played really well last year with the opportunities that I got.
01:32 I just need to emphasize just getting on the field more.
01:36 Not being taken out on any specific run play or pass play.
01:40 Just being able to be an all-purpose tight end.
01:42 That leads into the blocking question.
01:44 I know that coming into the league, that was probably the biggest area of improvement for
01:47 you.
01:48 Sure.
01:49 What has been the key for you there and as a tight end, if you had to pick one of these
01:52 three things, what is most important do you think for blocking standpoint?
01:55 The technique, the strength, or the mindset?
02:01 I think it's mindset.
02:02 To answer both questions, it's mindset.
02:04 Just being able to be the aggressor, getting off the ball as fast as you can, and taking
02:08 the fight to them has been the biggest thing.
02:11 How's your chemistry with Geno at this point?
02:13 It seemed like last year you guys were able to hit the ground running.
02:15 You had the touchdown of the season opener.
02:17 Where do things stand there as far as your chemistry with number seven?
02:21 Continuing to improve.
02:22 Geno's been awesome.
02:23 Obviously he had a crazy great year last year and we're expecting even more from him this
02:28 year and we're looking to help him out as much as we can.
02:30 You add Jackson Smith and Jigba, you get another running back in Zach Charbonnet, you have
02:34 all the other weapons coming back.
02:37 What do you foresee from an evolution standpoint for this offense, especially with adding somebody
02:41 like Jackson Smith and Jigba and how it can help the tight ends?
02:44 The more great players you add, the more the defense is going to have to guard them.
02:48 They can't guard every single one of us and it's going to open a lot of opportunities
02:52 for everyone across the board.
02:55 Final year of your rookie deal, you're going to have free agency coming up.
02:57 From an individual standpoint, what are your specific goals going into this season?
03:01 My goal is to become the starting tight end, not come off the field, and earn that spot.
03:06 I'm coming out every day competing and that's my goal and help the team win any way I can.