Patriots Players Postgame Transcripts 8/22

PATRIOTS PLAYERS

Lan Larison, RB

(On whether he considers himself a rookie after missing most of last season)

“Yes and no. In terms of experience, definitely not. I mean, I’m still learning and seeing new things every single day. So, again, just taking it day-by-day.”

 

(On the coach praising him when asked about the depth in the running back room)

“I just gotta keep going – it wasn’t all just me, it was the line as well, and the team. We competed really well tonight, and it was fun. It was a good time.”

 

(On Behren Morton’s punt)

“Yeah, I didn’t even know he was back there. I turned around and Julian [Ashby] was like, ‘Behren just kicked it through the end zone.’ I thought that was pretty cool. And I was like, ‘Have you punted before?’ He’s like, ‘Not since high school.’ So, that’s pretty cool.”

 

Hassan Haskins, RB

(On how special teams factors into his role, given his kick return history)

“I always did special teams, even in college. I did kick return in the league for a while, so I’m confident in doing whatever the coaches need me to do.”

 

(On what he was doing before getting the call from the Patriots)

“Man, I was working out with my trainer in Nashville. We were pretty much going every day, and I was waiting on the call. Thank God they called me up. Now I’m here.”

 

(On how he feels he can contribute to the team this season)

“Whatever the coaches need me to do, I’m going to do it. Special teams, win a ball, block, whatever. I’m going to give it my all and just do whatever it takes to win.”

 

Kyle Williams, WR

(On his touchdown reception)

“Yeah, we got the look that we wanted. Press coverage—something that I really enjoy to see. Tommy [DeVito] took a chance on me. What a great throw, honestly. We have been on point this whole camp, so it was good just to see it connect and strike the band.”

(On his focus for development in year two)

“Being physical for sure, and just the comfortability into the system. Being comfortable in different places in my role and being able to just take that with a whole lot of accountability towards that. Just being comfortable and just making good decisions for real.”

(On showcasing what he can do in a crowded wide receiver room)
“I have always been confident in my game—just being consistent, honestly. That’s all it is—being consistent. We have a great group of guys. It’s always competition. It’s competitive, but it’s friendly competition. Nobody gets mad at anybody. It’s iron sharpening iron at the end of the day. So, I’m really glad to have these great group of guys—great vets from top down. So, it’s just a fun room to be in.”

(On what goes into his touchdown play and if getting behind the defense is his biggest asset)
“It’s something that I’m good at, I would say. I wouldn’t say it’s my biggest asset—but, it’s something I’m good at. Honestly, all 11 players have got to be on the same page. From the QB making the right Mike point, to the line being able to hold up their blocks. Without them, that play wouldn’t even be made. I just did my 1/11th, and everybody else did theirs, and that is how those big plays come to fruition.”

(On if he feels like he is improving every day at practice)
“Oh yeah, for sure. Day by day, brick by brick. If I feel like I wasn’t getting better, that would be shooting myself in the foot. I have got to give it to the coaches, the players, obviously the vets, they push me. Even Drake [Maye], Tommy [DeVito]—everybody around me pushes me, and it’s the same thing vice versa. So, when you have a great group of guys that worry and care about your growth as a player, the sky’s the limit. So, for me, it’s just approaching every day like it’s my last and just trying to get better. Take it stride by stride.”

 

Efton Chism III, WR

(On if the competition in the wide receiver room has made him better)

“Yeah, it’s been awesome. I think anytime there’s competition, as a competitor, you rise up, you take that challenge on, and you just go out there and compete every day. The room we have, it’s so special. It’s so awesome to be a part of. Walking in the building every day, having the group we have and being able to lean on each other, compete against each other and call each other out—always just looking to try to get 1% better as a room. It’s been awesome. I’ve been so very thankful and blessed for all those guys to continue to help me. Now I feel like I get the opportunity to help those guys where I was less than a year ago, in the same spot.”

 

(On Kyle Williams)

“Yeah, he’s a baller. He’s got a great release package, and he’s going to take the top off and go score. But he’s been doing great things throughout the week, working on—not just the go balls—and getting better as a player. So, it’s been awesome to grow with him and to lean on each other—coming in the same year and being familiar with the same spots with Washington and Washington State. It’s been cool to see him grow as a player, for sure.”

(On his mindset as the preseason concludes)

“Yeah, I think just because it’s the last week, it shouldn’t change your mindset and the way you work—so, I’m just going to continue to attack it and continue to give everything I have, no matter what the circumstances are. Since it’s the last week, everyone knows it’s going to be a big week. But like I said, it shouldn’t change your mindset and the way you attack your work.”

 

Nick DeGennaro, WR

(On what his touchdown meant)

“Yeah, it was awesome. But first of all, just praying for Ja’Quinden, the player who got hurt on that first kickoff return. We were all praying for him on the sideline, thoughts and prayers. I hear he is okay, which is great. That is not how you want to start a game nor happen in a game at all. So I am really glad he is okay. Glory to God for that. But as far as that moment, I thank Behren for slinging the rock that well. He commanded the huddle in that two minutes. We had some adversity, and he did a great job, and I was just the guy on the receiving end. It was an awesome experience.”

 

(On his feelings about being an undrafted rookie standing at the podium after scoring a touchdown)

“It is pretty cool. I mean, being up here in New England is, it is funny that, ever since I was a kid, they were like, “At the very least, he is going to get a shot with the Patriots,” for obvious reasons. But it has been really cool. The culture here is just unbelievable. As somebody who does not know any other organization, coming from college, it is something that is totally different, and it makes you want to work hard, and it makes you want to be better every day in the little things. And I am not just saying that as a PR answer. I really mean it with Coach Vrabel, Elliott, all the way from the top down. It is a really good culture, and it is something that is super challenging, and it is super deep. But it is something that has made me better as a player and a man. And it has been great.”

 

(On making the most of his few reps at practice)

“You know, it feels really good when you have a good rep, and it feels really bad when you do not have a good rep, and that is what it is as a competitor. As somebody in a room like this, as a rookie who is an undrafted guy, I do not really mean anything to the room yet. So like I said, with limited opportunities, when it is good, it is good, and when it is bad, you lose sleep at night sometimes. But that is everybody, I would say. Even if you had 100 reps, the nature of a competitor is that that one rep you do not have, you want back, and you overlook all the good ones. And so for me, as somebody who is just trying to maximize my opportunities, I think I have done a decent job. But also there is plenty to correct, and there is an amazing support system with these coaches that are real. They are open and vulnerable, and they tell you the truth, and that helps you get better. So just trying to maximize what I can as long as I am here.”

 

(On how being apart of the Patriots organization has impacted his NFL dream and reality)

“It is just, overall, as far as that NFL dream, everybody has got to do a job and work hard at it, and this is just the job I want to do and work hard at as long as I can. And I know it is a really tough thing to do, and it is not my will. It is the Lord’s will, of course. I cannot control so many things, let alone control what I can control as a wide receiver, whether it is getting the ball or certain routes you run. So everything, a lot of this is up to powers that are not myself. And so for me, all I can do is keep a level head and stay humble and just work hard. And whatever opportunity I have, try to maximize and let the chips fall where they may.”

 

Caleb Lomu, T

(On what skill he has been working on in the offseason)

“Yeah. I’m not going to go out there and name a whole bunch, but really just physicality is the biggest thing. Going out there and being able to compete with the guys on the field. [They are] amazing guys I’m going against right now, but once the real season comes, it’s going to be another level of playing. Always bringing that physicality on every play that I do, is the biggest thing.”

 

(On where his most comfortable position is on the field)

“I don’t know. I just love playing football, anywhere on the field. Where I want to be is wherever they need me, is where I’ll go. I’ve said it multiple times. I just love playing. I love this team. Wherever they think it’ll be best for me to go, is where I’ll go.”

 

(On stopping Eagles player Tarron Jackson on the line)

“Yeah. We worked on it all week, on how their fronts do that a lot. Just like practice, we saw them do it in practice. So, it was just natural to be able to see that in the game and make the calls that we needed to have to be able to go out to him and pick him up.”

 

(On the importance of finishing blocks)

“Very important. For me, it’s one of the things I work on the most to try to show that I have physicality out there on the field. But, just as an offensive lineman, that’s the biggest thing. Being able to see if you can finish at the end of the play, give that last shove, bury them in the dirt. That is where you need to be at to be an offensive lineman. So, it is one of the biggest things for sure.”

 

Gabe Jacas, LB

(On the improvements has from his first to second game)

“Yeah, I would say special teams for sure. From game one to game two, I was on all four. So that was definitely an improvement for me, just honing in on special teams and doing what I was coached. So, I think the coaches could see that from game one to game two.”

 

(On what he has improved upon since the start of training camp)

“Yeah, just speed of the game, first and foremost. Just coming off the ball aggressive, recognizing the backfield sets, and getting on keys pre-snap and what I can anticipate before the ball is snapped. So, that alone right there just allows me to play faster and a lot more physical. So, those are things that I’ll say for myself that I’ve improved on.”

 

(On what he’s been working on to improve his game)

“Yeah, just the little things. First of all, just alignment, hand placement, looking at backfield sets—all the little things that not only my coach (Mike Smith), but also Vrabes (Mike Vrabel), also talks about. So, things like that I can work on, and I continue to work on.”