JimY53
Pro Bowler
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2023
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- 1,451
- Name
- JY53
Defensive Tackle Aaron Donald
(On how it feels to have 10 Pro Bowl selections in 10 seasons)
“It's a blessing so I’m excited about it, but I've still got a lot more work to do.”
(On if there’s anything he added to his game this season or if he’s doing
anything differently)
“Just working, trying to find ways to make my plays when they present
themselves. Obviously, having a young group, just trying to bring guys along
and do my part to be a leader so that's about it.”
(On if he thinks the decision to not play him on Sunday is a good one and
will help him in the long run)
“Obviously, you want to play. You want to be out there but after talking to (Head
Coach) Sean (McVay) and looking at the big picture, it makes sense to make
sure guys are where they need to be, certain guys and being as healthy as you
can and get ready to make this run we're about to make.”
(On why he believes NT Kobie Turner should be the Defensive Rookie of
the Year)
“I think the production that he's been putting out. I don't look at other defensive
rookies as having success but I think he's the top guy, right? Do y'all know?
Honestly, I'm asking. Yeah, I think he's just a productive guy when you talk
about playing a run stout, making tackles for loss, he does that, putting
pressure on the quarterback and affecting the quarterback, he does that,
making sacks, he does that. So I think it's kind of a no-brainer type of thing,
right? He's just been playing some good football for us, making a lot of plays
and it's one of the things that when you put the body of work in and you
deserve certain things and that's something that I feel like he deserves so you
just got to keep working.”
(On if Turner is able to produce the way he does because of the attention
he draws)
“Well, that’s what he’s supposed to do. You get the one-on-one opportunity,
that's what it's for. If somebody wants to focus on one guy, the next guy is
supposed to step up and make plays and he’s been doing that so he's just
doing his job like he's supposed to do it at a high level. He's just got to keep
working, continue to get better, not be satisfied. But right now he's having a
pretty good season so I’m proud of him but like I said, still got a lot more work
to do.”
(On how he’s seen Defensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator Eric
Henderson reach the younger players as a more experienced player
himself)
“I think it's just being on top of guys, not letting these guys be satisfied or
comfortable, being on them but at the same time, when they do things right,
you praise them. I think it's just the work ethic you got, the things we do, the
repetition things we do that seem annoying and like why are we doing this? But
they help us at the end of the day to be the guys and be the players we want to
be and that's again, credit to the guys who are going out there playing the
game, being confident, having that confidence of seeing the production that
they’re having and doing it week in and week out. It’s just a good group man, a
bunch of guys that love playing football, that are having fun and are flying
around, playing with a lot of confidence and that's why we're in the position
we’re in today.”
(On if it’s important to him to show the younger guys that you still have to
show up and do the “annoying” things)
“Well, yeah you’re tired but it’s going to make you better, right? So at the end of
the day, I'm still a player. I still need to not allow myself to be satisfied or
comfortable either so even when I don't want to do it, I do it right? Because it
ain't going to do nothing but make me better. When you got a coach like Coach
‘Henny’ that you trust, you know what he's going to bring to the table, you know
what he can do to take your game to another level, you trust this process and
you just trust that what you're doing is going to help and obviously over the past
few years, seeing the success, seeing the things pay off, you just trust it.”
(On the conversations he’ll want to have with the guys while he’s on the
sideline on Sunday)
“Whatever I see out there, just trying to give them their feedback. If they ask me
questions, just trying to give them any little tips I can give them, obviously help
them with the rotation stuff at times and just trying to do my part to help these
guys to have success this week.”
(On if he noticed McVay being more hands on and immediately making
corrections during this season’s training camp compared to previous
years)
“Yeah, I could see that. I’ve seen that for sure. Definitely when things weren’t
going how they needed to be, he’d bring it up a lot more and make sure that
you don't want to take none of this stuff for granted. If it feels like it's just a
walkthrough or it's just a jog through because at the end of the day, all this
matters. This is what’s going to get you better, definitely having a young group
and guys being locked in and still having our focus to practice like it's still full
speed practice even though it's a walkthrough.”
(On what it means to him to still be contributing to a playoff team who a
lot of people didn’t think would make it this far)
“It means a lot. Obviously, having a young group that’s coming into the season,
you don't know what to expect. You’re kind of hesitant about not knowing
what's going to happen, but obviously practicing and seeing how these guys
are flying around making plays and then it's like, you get excited about it and
then you start seeing it translate into the football games and seeing the success
we start having as a team. That's just hard work paying off, right? My dad’s
been telling me all my life, ‘You put the body of work in and good things are
going to come from that.’ I think this group’s been doing that and when you live
off ‘hard work pays off’ and you got a bunch of guys who are putting that work
in, it feels good to reap the benefits of the success and being where we’re at
right now. But again, we’re in there. We’re in the door now and now we got a lot
more work to keep going and we’re chasing something.”
(On what’s stood out to him about LB Ernest Jones this season and how
he’s found his voice and become a vocal leader)
“He’s been playing lights out, man. I love playing with Ernest. I love the energy
he brings. I love the leadership he brings. I love how he flies around. I got the
opportunity to play with a lot of good football players, but I think if he can
continue to play, continue to do what he's doing, he can be a special player,
man. I've been saying that since his rookie year. We saw what he was doing
his rookie year, he helped us win the Super Bowl so I ain't got nothing but love
and respect for him and his ceiling is high as long as he keeps putting the body
of work in and not allow himself to be satisfied. He can be a great one.”
