Gurley (on Weddle & other stuff)… 8/26 … transcript

RB Todd Gurley II — August 26, 2019

(On the Utah Jazz Donovan Mitchell jersey he was wearing)
“Oh yeah, I like it. I just opened it. Had to support my boy (Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell).”

(On if Mitchell sent him the jersey)
“No, I got it off the Nike site.”

(On if he bought the jersey to support Mitchell)
“Yeah. I wouldn’t ask him to send me one when I can get one myself.”

(On if he will have Mitchell sign the jersey for him)
“I’ll get that. I’m thinking this is the one I’m going to wear and then I’ll get another one for him to sign.”

(On how long he has been friends with Mitchell)
“Recent friends. Good dude, man. Good dude. I like his game, just thought I’d support him and wear the jersey.”

(On if many of his friends wear Gurley jerseys)
“Oh yeah. You don’t see it all the time? (Laughs) I know the baseball guys do. I think usually each team will do a jersey day or something like that. I’ll get some former (University of) Georgia guys and then (San Diego Padres third baseman) Manny Machado wore it last year. You get it every now and then.”

(On if Mitchell has ever tweeted support of Gurley)
“He keeps me updated a lot. You see him always being active on Twitter and stuff like that. Whether it’s social stuff, things in the community. I’ll see stuff he might have re-tweeted or replied to and then kind of get aware on that situation. He does a pretty good job of just staying active.”

(On if he’s looking forward to the final week of the preseason)
“Yeah. There’s only like 13 days left, so it’s coming up pretty shortly and just getting ready for the season, really.”

(On if he likes not playing in the preseason)
“It’s good. There’s pros and cons. I honestly like it especially that we changed the rule from the 53(-man roster) and just keeping everybody and making that roster cuts after the final preseason game. It kind of felt like guys had to play back in the day because of numbers. I feel like it gives the younger guys a lot more opportunities to make plays, go out there. Kind of excited to see (RB) Matt (Colburn), Matt didn’t get a chance to get in last game, but a game like this, he will be able to get in and get a lot of work. J.D. (RB Justin Davis) as well and then J.K. (RB John Kelly).”

(On if he hears from friends on other teams that they wish they had a preseason like him)
“Yeah, I call them all the time and tell them I had an off-day and they’re like, ‘Man, we just practiced for three hours.’ I got a lot of friends that play in the preseason, so I’ll check up on them and see how they’re doing, how their preseason goes. They definitely wish they weren’t playing, for sure.”

(On what it feels like to play a Week 1 game)
“For football, I feel like NFL-wise, it’s a lot different. It’s when you really start prepping, start preparing. I feel like just growing up, it was just like another game. Now, it’s more just like the preparation, looking at tips, or what (Panthers LB Luke) Kuechley does. Just little stuff like that, see what their defense does. What they do against 11 or 12 personnel. It’s just really like flip the switch to kind of just lock in and just pay attention on every little detail.”

(On if he’s got a chance to know QB Blake Bortles since he’s been here)
“Yeah, I was just talking to (QB) Blake (Bortles) – cool guy, laid back, chill. He’s a cool guy, super cool.”

(On if he’s conscious of what S Eric Weddle does on the defensive side)
“I got a chance to know him a lot, just from this past offseason. He’s the last guy that leaves here every day. Just seeing his work ethic and seeing what he’s done. Now I see why he’s the player he is, why he’s in his 13th year in the league. He’s a good guy, a family man and a guy that just loves football. I kind of asked him, ‘What are you still playing for?’ He gave me the answer, he still loves the game, still playing at a high level. A guy like that deserves the best.”

(On if notices S Eric Weddle disguises on the defense)
“Yeah, he does a good job, he does a great job, just little stuff, like I said, he’s down in the box a lot. Even if there is protection, even though I know he’s not coming, it doesn’t matter, I still have to be good with my eyes and that might just take me off my route or my release just a half of second, by just checking him. He does a good job of getting everybody lined up. He’s a work horse back there. He’s getting guys – DB’s, linemen, linebackers – he really, really, controls and demands a lot out of the defense.’