Patriots Player Transcripts 8/8
Will Campbell, Offensive Tackle
(On first game action of the season…)
“Yeah, it was awesome, being able to get out there, compete with those other guys, and play in the stadium. Super cool to get out there and experience the environment.”
(On encouraging signs and getting into a rhythm…)
“Yeah, I think so. Stuff to learn from, stuff to clean up, good to get out there, for the first game, you know, feel it out. You know, just continue to stack.”
(On putting up nearly 50 points…)
“Yeah, we came out here and tried to put our best foot forward, and everybody was ready to play today.”
Efton Chism III, Wide Receiver
(On his thoughts on his NFL debut…)
“It was awesome. Super surreal. You kind of walk out of the tunnel with everyone; it’s been a blessing to be here. I don’t take it for granted. I got to go out there and play. So, definitely super awesome, super thankful for the opportunity.”
(On balancing the pressure of making the most of every opportunity without letting it get to him…)
“I think at the end of the day, it’s football. We’ve been playing our whole lives, and for me, I kind of just think about it like I’m back at my high school or back at my college, and go out there and just play, let loose, be free. Because once you start overthinking, overanalyzing stuff, it kind of can catch up to you. So, just kind of being loose, being free and just going out and playing.”
(On his mentality as a blocker and why it’s important to his game…)
“I mean, it kind of started in high school. My coaches were always on us about blocking. We’re never going to get the ball if we don’t block, so I kind of always just carried that over and just doing all the little details. I feel like just being a receiver that can block, that can open up opportunities to get on the field. So, whatever I can do to help the team, I feel like I’ve said it before, but if I’m blocking, if I’ve got to fold, cross-block, whatever it is, man, I love blocking. So, just trying to be around the game.”
(On Head Coach Mike Vrabel complimenting his play strength and the pride he takes in it…)
“Yeah, I think any time you get a compliment from a head coach, it’s definitely an honor. So, I appreciate that from him. But I feel like just playing hard, that’s kind of what I pride myself on. The little details, going out there and doing everything I can to my full ability. So, I feel like when I got the ball, I got to kind of show that. But even how we talk about my blocking, I try to show that in the blocking, in the route running, whatever it is, just kind of playing hard.”
(On how he would sum up camp and how he navigates it…)
“Absolutely. Definitely ups and downs, just being a rookie, trying to understand the NFL and the different defenses, the terminology, the business side, trying to just deal with that. But man, it’s been the biggest blessing and the biggest honor to be here and to play in the National Football League. I don’t think – I’m not taking it for granted. I hope the guys in the locker room aren’t either. But man, we’re the 1% of the 1%, just taking that each day and opportunity that presents itself, trying to take advantage of it.”
TreVeyon Henderson, Running Back
(On what it was like to have a dream moment like the kickoff return touchdown…)
“Yeah, like I said, man, I just thank God, because this is something since I was a little kid – something I’ve just been dreaming about, to be in this position, to be in this opportunity. And so, I’m thankful. I’m just trying to take advantage of every opportunity that I get. And so – but, man, it’s amazing, to be here, to be at an organization like this such as the Patriots. And so, yeah, I’m excited to go forward with the season.”
(On what was going through his mind when his kickoff return run was starting and what point he realized he had an opportunity to score…)
“Honestly, before it’s a lot of nerves, and so I try to take the time before the game to just pray and cast my words, give it to God and just ask that He just may have His way. Whatever He wants, however it goes, that I may just come out of it thankful, no matter what. And so – but when I got the ball – yeah, honestly, like I said, I wasn’t even expecting that, and when I saw the crease, it was on from there.”
(On how a young player like himself manages consistency at this level every day…)
“Being in the NFL, being a young guy, second-round draft pick, it’s a lot of pressure and sometimes it’s hard with all that pressure being on you, but the biggest thing is, I try to keep my eyes on the Lord. I know, no matter what happens, I can come out here and give it everything that I got, and whether I have a good practice, bad practice, good game, bad game, I know God loves me and He’s always here with me. And so, that just motivates me to keep going every day. I have my ups and downs as well, some practices are good, some practices are bad, but I just try to keep learning and getting better.”
(On how he sees himself, Antonio Gibson and Rhamondre Stevenson complementing one another…)
“Yeah, I think we do a good job of just feeding off one another’s energy. I know in practice, those guys motivate me. You don’t always come out of practice motivated, but seeing the other guys go and just competing with the other guys, it pushes me a lot, it helps me get going. And the same with the game, I know it’s just one game so far, but just seeing Rhamondre start off, seeing Antonio getting in there, just feeding off that energy, I think we all do a good job of doing so.
D.J. James, Cornerback
(On his interception and what he saw…)
“Just going through my ready, start, down. Just thinking stick concepts. Seeing the receiver raise his chest, so that gave me an indicator of just the type of route he was going to run, and I just trusted my instincts from there, and it took over.”
(On how important it is for him to make a statement for himself for why he belongs on the team with Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III not playing…)
“Each and every day, I try to come in and just show my teammates and coaches that I’m someone who wants to be on this team, someone that wants to just help improve this team, and just ready to come to work every day and be a great teammate.”
(On where he’s been mentally and his confidence and how much fun he has been having…)
“Just taking it each and every day, learning the scheme, talking to my coaches – they’ve really helped me a lot coming along away, just pushing me each and every day. And also my teammates, I’ve got to thank my guys on the other side of the ball as well. They push me every day during camp just for these moments here.”
(On how he would sum up his NFL journey…)
“Really just taking it day-by-day. Everybody’s story’s different and just waiting on that opportunity to just showcase myself and that time has come, and so I’m blessed to have that opportunity.”
Rhamondre Stevenson, Running Back
(On the running back room…)
“Yeah I feel like we all do things a little different. I think we all pick little things from each other’s games, so I think that is going to be great for everybody.”
(On being able to mentor TreVeyon Henderson…)
“Yeah, Trey’s a great kid. Just a good guy off the field. We have a lot of conversations that are not even football related. Great guy, and I am just excited for him.”
Kyle Williams, Wide Receiver
(On his room for improvement…)
“I feel like there’s a lot more room for me to grow. I’m not complacent. I definitely want a lot more, so I know I’m going to have to get back in here and continue to work hard.”
(On the impact of Tom Brady giving a jersey to him…)
“I mean, I think if you don’t know about Tom Brady, then you need to look at yourself in the mirror. I mean, he’s an icon to the sport, so, you know, when you have certain people like that that give me those types of messages, it lets you know you’re doing the right thing and that you have the traits and the qualities to take your game to the next level.”
Craig Woodson, Safety
(On his time at California instilling fundamentals for the NFL…)
“I mean, everybody there, I feel like they really set us up for success when we come here. The way that they run that program, the way that they teach certain things. We watch a lot of NFL tape in meetings. So, I think it’s translated.”
(On whether different defensive roles felt easier or more challenging…)
“I feel like everything has just been challenging a little bit. These quarterbacks make those throws, they’re right on the money and everything is timing, so I think that’s definitely different, in regards to just playing safety, being in the box or being at free safety. I’ve done both of them at [California], so I think I was just familiar with that there.”
(On the importance of a free safety’s role…)
“At the end of the day, instinct plays a big part in there. When it comes to safety, instincts and doing a lot of film studying, seeing different things, and you can kind of anticipate what might come.”