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DE DERRICK MORGAN**
(on what the last 24 hours have been like)
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It's been real hectic. A lot going on, a real busy time, and just a great opportunity to go up to New York and kind of get with all the guys. So it was a great opportunity, great experience.
(on if he slept much last night)
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No, I think I'm working on about three hours of sleep right now. I had to catch an early flight.
(on what kept him from sleeping)
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There were things going on. Me and the guys went out a little bit to celebrate. It was a good experience.
(on what the Titans have told him about his expected impact)
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The first thing probably is just getting into the playbook, learning the plays, getting acclimated with the terminology, kind of getting used to the system. Not going out there expecting to start, going out there and competing. I just kind of want to make an impact as early as I can.
(on the player he models himself after)
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Kind of a guy like Jared Allen, just the kind of motor he has and the way he gets after the quarterback. I love watching him play, and I love his style of play.
HEAD COACH JEFF FISHER
(on the similarities between Morgan and Kyle Vanden Bosch)
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I said that I have not come across anybody like Kyle. The only person close to that might have been—I mentioned this before, might have been years ago—in Kevin Greene. He just had the same approach on the practice field that he did into the games, play after play after play. This is what we saw on tape out of Derrick. We saw that. Now, I didn't personally see him practice. Our scout says he's a great practice player, and he compares. He understands that you have to do that on the practice field to carry it over. So I would expect you could be able to see a lot of the same things.
(on the situation compared to 1999, when the Titans selected Jevon Kearse with the 16th pick)
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Well, I mean, Jevon was very, very unique. He played a different position. He was a stand-up, drop-rush guy at Florida. He came in and put his hand down and set the rookie sack record. Everybody's different. I think it would be unfair to compare Derrick. We're going to let Derrick make his own mark and imprint here, and I think he's going to do it very soon.
(on if he has been focused on the draft since yesterday or thinking about the ways to use Morgan on the field)
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We've had the discussion. He's been able to visit a little bit with coach (Jim) Washburn. You haven't been on the field yet with Wash yet, have you? No? So we're excited. We're excited. We know how he's going to fit in, and we have a lot of work ahead of us. Unfortunately for Derrick, he's been traveling, and he'll be in next weekend for the rookie orientation and will be back the 16th (of May). We'll get him started, get him caught up with the vets.
(on if it is too early to know what jersey number Morgan will wear)
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Too early, yes.
DE DERRICK MORGAN
(on priding himself on helping the defense get to the quarterback with four linemen)
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Yeah, I think so. I think it helps out the defense a great deal when you only need four guys to generate pressure and get to the quarterback. I definitely take pride in that. That'll be good for the defense overall.
(on being more comfortable on one side of the line or the other)
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Not really, doesn't matter. I played left the majority of last year, but my sophomore year I played to the open end side of the field. So I got a lot of work at both sides.
HEAD COACH JEFF FISHER
(on the excitement level being any different today than yesterday)
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No, I mean, the excitement level is still there. We've got Derrick now. He's in the building. Now we've got to go on with the rest of the draft. This is the first piece to what we think is going to be a tremendous draft class.
(on how much Morgan is expected to play)
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Well, we've typically had a rotation. We've had a wave. We can't keep everybody up, but we've kept at least seven, sometimes eight, and they all play. The most talented are going to get the most snaps, and so his snaps are going to be directly related to how quickly he picks things up and how well he adjusts to the offensive tackles in this league.
GENERAL MANAGER MIKE REINFELDT
(on how he feels about the different defensive ends in the rotation)
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I think we have a really good group in the defensive line all the way around, both at DT and defensive end. I think we have some guys that can do some of this and some guys that can rush. I think the whole defensive line is in a pretty good spot, and Derrick will help us greatly.
HEAD COACH JEFF FISHER
(on if the rotation might be better now since Vanden Bosch rarely left the field)
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This is what's important to us: the defensive philosophy is just to play as hard as you possibly can when you're on the field, and if you're tired then come stand on the sideline next to me or Wash and catch your breath and then go back out on the field. That's the philosophy, and we've been able to stick with that. I think we've certainly upgraded the potential at his position now, to where if you envision being an offensive tackle, you may be facing two or three different guys and two or three different potential rushers. That creates more of a problem. It just creates more problems for offense. The other thing that I think is important to point out is teams also run the football, and Derrick understands the defense against the run, the importance, and is a tremendous pursuit player.
DE DERRICK MORGAN
(on if he has yet to figure out how he fell to 16th)
It was a crazy first round. I felt like I was the best at my position, but I feel like I ended up in the perfect spot for me.
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(on what he thought when Brandon Graham and Jason Pierre-Paul went off the board first)
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I guess they didn't like me that much. My agent gave me a range going in to the draft as to where he thought I was going to go and he told me I probably wouldn't go past Tennessee. When I saw Jason-Pierre go off I was pretty excited hoping I would end up here.
(on if he feels the most NFL ready among the defensive ends in the draft)
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I think so. They are great players and I had the chance to watch some of their games. I feel like I'm going to try to come in and make an impact as early as I can. Just get out there and contribute.
GM MIKE REINFELDT
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(on what it is going to take to be happy after Day 2 of the draft)
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We are in a position where we don't have a second but we have two thirds, but I think there are some things that we can still do to help, some issues we need to address, and I think what happened in the first day, there is still some really good talent in some areas that we need help. We are optimistic we will find a couple good players.
DE DERRICK MORGAN
(on if there are any quarterbacks he has dreamed of sacking)
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When they asked me that question the name Peyton Manning comes to mind. He really doesn't get touched that much. He has a good offensive line around him. I just want to get after him a little bit. He doesn't get sacked too often, so it would be a great opportunity.
HEAD COACH JEFF FISHER
(on if the door is still shut)
What door?
(on if there is still a possibility of trading for Albert Haynesworth)
That door was never open. I don't have the keys to the door and I have no idea as to its location.
