On the touchdown you showed late hands. Where did you develop that?
I think that's just something I've always did even since I was a kid. That wasn't taught at all. And I'll be honest if it was, but it wasn't. And it was just something that I pride myself on in my game, never letting the DB know when the ball is coming. So, that was kind of a routine thing for me. You know the late hands.
Take us through the whole play and how you got there?
They showed up in man, didn't see a safety over the top. Obviously, I ran the go route, but I was hoping Sam (Howell) would give me a chance with other guys on the field running routes too. So you've always got to run to expect the ball though. I beat him off the line and seen the ball in the air and I was like, you just have to come down with it.
You worked with Sam Howell a lot during training camp and the preseason. Was tonight about as dialed up as you'd seen him?
Yeah, for sure, for sure. I love the way he competed tonight. That's my guy on and off the field. We have talked about what we're going to do every game, every practice. He has confidence in all the guys, and we have confidence in him. And he showed what type of quarterback he is.
How did you establish a rapport with Sam Howell?
It is just practice. And after practice we get reps in too. Just making sure we're always staying crisp. He knows what I'm doing, he knows what I'm thinking. I know what he's thinking. So when games come, it's easier.
How do you guys feel like where you are? It seems like it's pretty competitive for the final spot or two at receiver.
I try not to look too far ahead. I treat every day as it is. I just try to get better each and every day. I am thankful to God to be in this position, however it pans out, I'll be grateful. I'm just grateful to be here. I know what it feels like to be on the outside looking in. So just to be here another year, like I said, I'm thankful and grateful and I'm blessed. Very very blessed.
Last preseason you said you would give a ball to your mom. Will you give the touchdown ball to your mom?
Yeah, she'll probably get this one too.
Did you keep it?
Yeah I kept it. I love getting questions about my mom because she just sacrificed a lot for me. It's a lot of times I wanted to give up on the sport. A lot of times she had to talk me out of a lot of dark places. So being here, I just owe it all to her and I know she watched. I can't wait to talk to her.
How did your mother talk you out of not quitting?
I grew up in a spiritual household. My mom's actually a pastor. So, just growing up that way and just leaning on God in those type of situations was something she taught me. It's the foundation I was raised. So I go to her for a lot, for everything. And obviously God is number one in my life for sure.
The correlation between the confidence to go out and execute a few plays. Can you talk about how that just helps?
I think everybody just gets an opportunity to shine in this offense. I think we're good at keeping defenses on their toes. I feel like they never know what's coming. We go tempo. I just feel like it's a receiver's dream, to be honest. And I think our running backs are loving it too. So I just can't wait to see how we progress moving forward.
Can you go through the details of the two minute situation at the end of the half?
Oh yeah, that was great. That's obviously something we practice, every practice. Those two-minute situations have a lot of different situations that we practice, but that's one that we do every time. So that's routine when game time comes. When two-minute comes we know kind of how to operate. So when games comes it's a lot easier.
How much does the run complement this offense?
It's easier and I think it opens up the pass game too. You pound the ball, pound the ball, pound the ball and they bring the safety down, they bring the corners down, the linebackers get nosy and that's when we throw it. So I think it's been a great balance so far.
