Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 >> Justin, what's been the difference last year and this year,
00:03 both in your appearance and then how you're playing?
00:06 >> So last year, I came in OTAs at 316.
00:10 And that was just me coming in college, you had to be the biggest guy on the field,
00:14 one of the fastest guys on the field.
00:16 And the league, it's just about being fast and how fast can you get to the ball?
00:20 You know what I'm saying?
00:21 And how fast can you get the technique done and make the plays you wanna make?
00:23 So for me, the biggest change for me, I stopped eating beef, I stopped eating pork.
00:27 I started eating a lot better, eating a lot of vegetables.
00:29 I started working out differently, stuff like that, and I dropped 20 pounds.
00:33 So now I'm out here playing 290, 295, and it's a big difference.
00:35 You know what I'm saying?
00:36 I feel great, I feel really good.
00:38 And it's showing up in my play.
00:40 I'm really comfortable out here now.
00:41 I've learned the playbook, and I know what my job is on the defense and
00:44 my part on the D-line.
00:45 And just taking on that role, and I feel like I'm coming along pretty well.
00:49 >> More expectations too, I would think, right now you're a starter.
00:53 I don't think you're a starter, but later in the season,
00:56 you're looking at yourself as a starter, right?
01:00 >> I mean, so I started the playoffs, I started in the playoffs.
01:06 And with them allowing me to do that, just so that they had faith in me.
01:10 You know what I'm saying?
01:11 And for that, so me taking that role then, leading into my offseason,
01:17 just like, okay, now I know I take the next step and
01:19 become that player that they know I can be.
01:21 You know what I'm saying?
01:21 So that was my goal this offseason, to become that player that they know I can be
01:24 and the player I know I can be.
01:25 So that was my motivation this offseason.
01:27 >> One of the things you did in the offseason was, I don't know if it's
01:30 just boxing, you were talking about that.
01:31 >> For sure.
01:32 Yeah, so I boxed for maybe a month and a half, two months.
01:36 And it was really hard, trust me, it was really hard.
01:38 But it was fun though, you know what I'm saying?
01:39 [LAUGH] It was fun though, you know what I'm saying?
01:43 It's definitely a change up, working on stamina, working on your faster hands,
01:47 stuff like that, and just learning a new sport in general.
01:49 So that was the best part about it.
01:51 I never knew that I'd like boxing.
01:53 Boxing is actually pretty interesting, especially when you know how to do it.
01:56 >> You don't box when your dad plays?
01:57 >> Nah.
01:58 Nah, nah, nah.
02:01 I'm good on all that.
02:02 >> What's a regular meal for you now that you've kind of changed the way you eat?
02:05 What do you eat in the morning?
02:06 >> Well, so depending on what type of practice we have.
02:08 So we have like a shell practice.
02:10 Like today I'll eat like pineapples and watermelon in the morning.
02:12 Cuz I'm not really a morning guy, but I still gotta eat something.
02:15 But if we have pads in the morning, then I'll get some eggs and hash browns or
02:17 whatever and I'll call it a day.
02:19 But after practice, I'll rotate days between chicken and fish.
02:23 They got turkey, I'll get some turkey, stuff like that.
02:25 I had a Beyond Burger the other day.
02:27 Amazing, crazy, crazy.
02:28 Like it's a whole burger, it tastes like a burger, but
02:31 you're not full and sluggish like you ate a burger.
02:32 You know what I'm saying?
02:33 So that was pretty cool.
02:35 A salmon burger, that's pretty good too.
02:37 You know what I'm saying?
02:38 So it's a lot of alternatives out there if you look for it.
02:40 And they're really good.
02:41 Like there's a lot of good food out there that you can eat that's actually good for
02:44 you, so.
02:45 >> Is that the first Beyond Burger you've had?
02:47 >> Yes, and it was at an airport.
02:49 >> [LAUGH]
02:50 >> Right, crazy, crazy.
02:53 >> Justin, can you kind of relate to what Jerry's been through a year ago?
02:55 It's kind of like a slow pace for him, but you're now at a faster pace,
02:58 and you kind of know how to playbook and things.
03:00 Can you kind of give him advice a little bit?
03:01 >> What, say that again?
03:02 >> For Jerry, he's kind of going at a slower pace.
03:04 >> Yeah, Jerry's a smart player.
03:07 Jerry's a smart player, and he's picking up things really, really quick.
03:09 And for him, the biggest thing I told him, I was like,
03:11 the faster you learn to playbook and the faster it becomes secondhand nature,
03:14 the better player you'll be.
03:15 And the better player you'll be early on in your career, you know what I'm saying?
03:18 Because once you can align yourself up without even thinking about it,
03:23 you're spending your time thinking about what they're gonna do and
03:25 how they're gonna attack you rather than what you have to do.
03:27 It'll open up the game so much for you.
03:29 And that's what it's starting to do for me, you know what I'm saying,
03:31 as a second year player.
03:32 So me being able to just give him that knowledge right there,
03:34 I feel like it's priceless.
03:35 >> Brandon said yesterday,
03:37 me being that you going into your second year, the biggest thing is just
03:41 the running pass keys on first and second down.
03:44 Once you get those down, the sky's the limit for you.
03:47 >> Yeah, man, Bane has taught me a lot, man.
03:50 Tough love, all that.
03:51 Just he's a great guy.
03:52 And just having him in the room another year,
03:55 who knows what kind of player I'll be in year three, you know what I'm saying?
03:58 So just with him, I take it day by day, whatever he says, I listen to.
04:02 Cuz obviously, I'm trying to be where he's at.
04:05 I'm trying to do what he's done, you know what I'm saying?
04:06 I'm just trying to be the guy, you know what I'm saying, that he was and better.
04:09 You know what I'm saying?
04:11 And for him, it's just like, and it attests to his work ethic and stuff like that.
04:14 I see that, you know what I'm saying?
04:15 So when I come to practice, I know I need to work just as hard or
04:17 harder than Brandon Meeban.
04:18 Because at the same time, he got to where he at because of his hard work, and
04:22 I wanna be there, so.
04:23 >> He called you yesterday a future pro bowler.
04:24 How do you feel about that phrase?
04:26 >> Man, I mean, I haven't done anything yet, you know what I'm saying?
04:30 So I guess the biggest thing for me is to keep my head down, like I said, and
04:33 just keep working.
04:34 Like I said, I'm coming to work knowing that he gonna work hard.
04:36 He comes to work knowing I'm gonna work hard.
04:38 And we'll just see what we can make, shape this season, so.
04:41 >> Just how important is the preseason game for you?
04:44 We know how you play last year, but
04:45 you kind of want to just keep doing that, same feeling?
04:48 >> Preseason's important, just you're going against different players.
04:52 Like training camp, fall camp, and college,
04:54 you're going against the same players throughout the months.
04:56 And sometimes, not saying it gets boring, but it's just like,
04:59 I want something different, you feel me?
05:02 And I feel like that's what preseason comes into play,
05:04 the joint practices come into play.
05:05 Because you're seeing different things, you're reacting to different things,
05:08 people move differently, the tempo is different.
05:10 Sometimes it's slow, sometimes it's fast,
05:12 sometimes you're going against a really big guy.
05:13 Sometimes you're going against a really quick guy.
05:15 But the fact that you can switch between those teams throughout the preseason and
05:17 get adjusted and know how you're gonna play those blocks on the fly,
05:20 that'll make you a better player in the long run.
05:22 That's what I believe.
05:23 >> With the Rams and Saints joint practices,
05:26 does it almost feel like six preseason games instead of four?
05:29 >> If you look at it that way, it can seem that way.
05:31 But if you just take it as we're going to practice, and
05:34 what do you practice for, you know what I'm saying?
05:36 You practice to become a better player, you practice to work on something.
05:39 If you go out there, if you go out to the joint practice and
05:41 say I'm gonna work on something, it doesn't seem like a game.
05:43 You know what I'm saying?
05:45 Yeah, at the end of it, it's like, yeah, I played 50 reps.
05:47 But at the end of the day, with them 50 reps,
05:49 did you accomplish what you wanted to accomplish that day?
05:52 So that's kind of how I see it.
05:53 I don't really see it as a game.
05:54 >> Anything else?
05:56 >> All right, thanks, Justin.
05:57 >> Yeah. >> Appreciate it.