Tag: quote

Notes from Garrett Groshek and Nakia Watson’s press conference

Earlier today Wisconsin running backs Garrett Groshek and Nakia Watson met with the media and discussed the upcoming season. The two are…

Earlier today Wisconsin running backs Garrett Groshek and Nakia Watson met with the media and discussed the upcoming season.

The two are currently set to lead the Badgers’ running back rotation with Isaac Guerendo also in the mix and true freshman Jalen Berger still learning the college game.

Related: Nakia Watson with the quote of the day on hosting Illinois Week 1

Both had a lot to say about the team’s running back rotation, Jonathan Taylor’s impact, Jack Coan, what this unique preseason is like and much more.

Here are quotes that stuck out from the press conference (for more visit the thread below):

 

Groshek on Coan and his leadership:

  • “Jack’s come a long way. Football IQ off the charts…He’s stepped up as a leader, a lot of it came from the respect from the way he was playing…He’s always so consistent and brings the same juice every day.”

Paul Chryst applauded Coan’s leadership in his press conference yesterday. This team and those close to it have a lot of good things to say about the senior quarterback.

 

Groshek on the unique preseason:

  • “Biggest difference is having to do school…Other than that it’s just a condensed version…We don’t really have any days to waste.”

Chryst also spoke about school playing a factor yesterday. Given the team’s experience they are well-equipped to deal with the challenging structure and time frame.

 

Groshek on how the running back rotation can succeed and on playing with Watson:

  • On what it takes to succeed: “First and foremost taking care of the ball…We’re all going to be ready and feed off each other. I think we compliment each other well.”
  • On Watson: “Different people see things different ways and our styles are a little different. Being able to master different things helps us out. I think we compliment each other.”

 

Groshek on Guerendo and his talent:

  • “First thing you see is the speed…He’s come a long way in terms of learning how to play running back…I think he’s starting to be comfortable.”

 

Groshek on the offensive line:

  • “We’ve got more experience than people give us credit for…Then we have some younger centers that got to sit behind Tyler [Biadasz] for the last 3 years and learn from him…We feel really about good about our offensive line and the unit they can be.”

 

Watson on Taylor’s impact:

  • “I watched both JT and Groshek, witnessed greatness from both of them and learned a lot…JT’s always told me to make your decision and go. If you make a mistake make sure it’s at 100 percent.”

Watson also had a lot to say overall about Groshek and his impressive football IQ.

 

Watson on Wisconsin as “RB-U” and the new cast this season:

  • “We know what we have to do. We know we have big shoes to fill…We need to be Nakia, be Groshek, be Isaac. We need to play the football that got us here.”

 

Watson on four-star freshman Jalen Berger:

  • He’s a very quiet guy. He’s very athletic, fast…He can definitely be a great back once he learns the plays and gets in sync with everyone. I think he can be a great asset to the team.”

 

Watson on playing Illinois Week 1 (the quote of the day):

  • “Illinois deserves a butt whooping after last year.”

Nakia Watson with the quote of the day on hosting Illinois Week 1

After padded practices began yesterday Wisconsin running backs Garrett Groshek and Nakia Watson meet with the media today and discussed…

After padded practices began yesterday Wisconsin running backs Garrett Groshek and Nakia Watson meet with the media today and discussed the upcoming season.

I’ll publish notes from the press conference later today, but one quote stuck out that was impossible to pass over.

That quote came when Watson was asked about what it meant to go right into Big Ten play and face Illinois Week 1, a team that beat the Badgers last season.

Watson’s response: “We do like that. Illinois definitely deserves a butt whooping from last year.”

You wanted preseason hype and trash talk? You got it.

That quote now gets to marinate for 23 days until the Fighting Illini come to Madison to open their 2020 season.

 

Check back into BadgersWire later today for full notes from the press conference.

Jon Gruden talks up Demario Davis, ‘the guy that really stirs the drink’

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis was praised by Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden, who described the captain as a playmaker.

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Demario Davis emerged as one of the NFL’s best three-down linebackers in 2019, and he picked up right where he left off in 2020. The New Orleans Saints captain has made plays in coverage, in run defense, and as a blitzing pass rusher, and it’s built up a healthy level of respect from his upcoming opponent.

Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden gushed over Davis when previewing the matchup, telling NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill: “The guy that really stirs the drink is 56. Demario Davis, he’s as good of a blitzing linebacker as I’ve seen. He is pelting running backs. This guy is an outstanding collision player, man.”

Describing Davis as “an outstanding collision player” is perfection. The first-team All-Pro really cleaned up his tackling in 2019, notching 111 combined tackles against just five misses (a rate of 4.3%, per Pro Football Reference). Last year, he led the Saints defense with 53 tackles within 3 yards of the line of scrimmage. In Week 1, he ranked second-best with four such tackles (behind breakout safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who had six).

And Gruden is right to point out Davis being productive on blitzes. PFR credited him with as many quarterback pressures last year (15) as defensive tackle David Onyemata, trailing defensive ends Cameron Jordan (49), Marcus Davenport (26), and Trey Hendrickson (17). That’s rare production out of an off-the-ball linebacker.

But the Saints will need Davis at his best in Week 2. They’re matched up with Raiders star running back Josh Jacobs, who led the league in missed tackles forced in Week 1 while carrying the ball 25 times for 93 yards and scoring three touchdown runs. Expect Davis to line up against Jacobs throughout the game; the running back was also targeted six times as a receiver, catching four passes to gain 46 yards through the air.

That’s a tough challenge, but that’s life in the NFL. Davis has played a lot of games against many other talented players. This should be no different for him.

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Saints coach Curtis Johnson with the quote of the week about Michael Thomas

New Orleans Saints WR coach Curtis Johnson doesn’t have much left to teach Michael Thomas about the playbook, but they’re still working hard

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The connection between an NFL player and their position coach might be one of the most underrated bonds you’ll see in the league. Sure, the quarterback-head coach mind meld is valued highly; but for most players, their interactions with individual position coaches defines most of their training.

That’s been the case for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas and his coach, Curtis Johnson. Johnson was a fixture of Sean Payton’s early Saints coaching staff, and returned after a few years at Tulane and a brief stop with the Chicago Bears.

While there isn’t much about the Saints playbook Johnson has left to teach Thomas, the pair still talk often about technique and areas of the superstar’s game that could improve. Johnson spoke about their bond during his Thursday media availability session.

“You don’t have to do much you just draw the plays up. He’ll get it figured out. But in our meetings he’s, we’re very, I would say ‘closer than close’ right now. He comes over to my house. Matter of fact, he’s closer to my wife than he is with me, so I hope nothing’s going on there,” Johnson laughed.

While there isn’t much more Thomas can add to his encyclopedic knowledge of the Saints offense, it’s great to see that he’s still putting in the work to find ways to get better. And it’s something Johnson values in him, noting that he rarely has to nudge Thomas into staying focused in practice or keeping his energy level up. He’s a pro’s pro.

That relentless drive has helped Thomas to break NFL records and win the league’s Offensive Player of the Year award. It’s put him on top of the AP All-Pro list. With Johnson on hand to fine-tune his game, it’s possible Thomas still hasn’t hit his ceiling.

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Nigel Bradham eager to join the Saints, “a place where it’s known for winning”

Former Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills linebacker Nigel Bradham wanted to join the New Orleans Saints because of their winning culture

Nigel Bradham has played a lot of football. He’s entering his ninth season as a pro, having spent four full years with the Buffalo Bills and another four seasons on the Philadelphia Eagles. But he says the New Orleans Saints offer him something neither of those teams were able to.

“It’s definitely a different type of environment, a different culture. Because the last two organizations I went to weren’t really winning organizations,” Bradham said in his introductory media conference call. “So when you come to a place where it’s known for winning and known for being in the postseason, you see a different type of culture they have and the expectations that they have naturally and what they expect out of you as a player.”

That’s a bold claim to make, sure, but the Saints have backed it up. They’ve won their division three years in a row, whereas the Eagles and Bills combined for two division titles in the eight years he played with them (the Eagles won the NFC East twice, in 2017 and 2019). But Bradham did help the Eagles win Super Bowl LII just a few years ago, lending some skepticism to his thinking here. Maybe he meant that the Saints are further along now than his previous teams were when he joined them.

Bradham has also been on the receiving end of the Saints’ winning culture before. His Bills lost to the Saints 35-17 back in 2013, and his Eagles were trounced twice in 2018 (losing 48-7 in the regular season, and falling 20-14 in the playoffs). He’s probably happier to be dishing out that kind of punishment rather than getting thumped with it.

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Alejandro Villanueva Blames Media For Backlash Against Drew Brees

When Villanueva went on 97.3 The Fan on Friday, he was asked about the comments of New Orleans Saints quarterback about the national anthem and the heat Brees took, finally forcing him into an apology.

When Villanueva went on 97.3 The Fan on Friday, he was asked about the comments of New Orleans Saints quarterback about the national anthem and the heat Brees took, finally forcing him into an apology.

Alejandro Villanueva Blames Media For Backlash Against Drew Brees

When Villanueva went on 97.3 The Fan on Friday, he was asked about the comments of New Orleans Saints quarterback about the national anthem and the heat Brees took, finally forcing him into an apology.

When Villanueva went on 97.3 The Fan on Friday, he was asked about the comments of New Orleans Saints quarterback about the national anthem and the heat Brees took, finally forcing him into an apology.