Inkana7
07-29-2008, 08:46 PM
Yeah, I said it. I like the old guy. I don't think he'll be making that much of a contribution on the field, but from these comments he made today, I feel he's a pretty good leader, and a great veteran to have around:
MICHAEL PITTMAN
On Coach Shanahan’s approach to camp:
“This is my first camp here, but this has been my easiest camp. Last year I was at Tampa, the past six years I was at Tampa. I think Coach is doing an excellent job keeping us fresh. Having one practice in the morning, and we come out here and hustle really hard and he rewards us with a walk-through in the afternoon. As a veteran, an 11-year guy, I can tell that my body feels much fresher. I’m taking more reps now because one of our fullbacks is hurt, but I feel a whole lot better now in this part of camp.”
On the competition at running back:
“We are friends. It’s a great competition right now. Selvin Young, he’s the lead guy. Andre (Hall) is another good guy. Ryan (Torain), a rookie draft pick, myself. It’s going to be great competition. Last year, I believe at this time Selvin was fourth on the depth chart. Look at him now—He is number one. With this offense, and with the coaching staff, I believe they will play the best player.”
On his impressions of QB Jay Cutler:
“I like Jay. He is a laid back, mellow type of guy. I’m used to Jeff Garcia, the fiery type. Jay is a great quarterback. He is a young guy, but he shows great leadership. I think he has a bright future for him.”
On lining up as a fullback:
“I’ll do it, I’m not a fullback, but I will do whatever my coach asks me to do. I’m a tailback, and that is what I have been drafted to be coming out of college. If my coach asks me to go in there and feel some blocks, I’ll feel some blocks. I’m 220 pounds, I’m strong, but I am not as big as some of these linebackers in league, but I’ll do whatever they ask of me.”
On his durability:
“I bring a lot to the table with myself, being a veteran, being smart of course. I bring a lot. I can catch the ball well out of the backfield, and I can run the football. Just being around the league and seeing defenses, I try and figure out what they try and bring to the table. I bring a lot to this offense.”
On advice he has given to rookie RB Ryan Torain:
“I have just been trying to keep these young guys motivated. And really the odds are so wide open, so big, the coaches are coming down on them. I have just been telling them the things I learned as a rookie. I had it a whole lot worse. I came out in ‘98, and everybody was on me. I was carrying everybody’s pads off the field. I have been trying to keep them motivated because sometimes the confidence falls. Being a veteran and being around for so long, I just try and pick them up. Ryan and the other guys are going to be the future of this team. I myself only have about two or three years left in me. Those young guys are going to be around for a long time.”
On playing fullback this season:
“I am just going to playing there until Peyton (Hillis) gets back. I am just filling in and doing the best I can. I am running in there full speed and lowering the shoulder. All the blocks are not great, but I’m not a natural fullback. There are sometimes where they have me block as a halfback. I’m not complaining about it. I’m happy to be here, and I’ll do whatever they ask of me.”
On if he has ever played fullback before:
“No I have never played fullback in my life. I was always halfback, receiver, strong safety. In my career since high school, I have always played halfback. But fullback, I am fine with it. If coach asks me to do it, I’ll do it and do the best I can.”
MICHAEL PITTMAN
On Coach Shanahan’s approach to camp:
“This is my first camp here, but this has been my easiest camp. Last year I was at Tampa, the past six years I was at Tampa. I think Coach is doing an excellent job keeping us fresh. Having one practice in the morning, and we come out here and hustle really hard and he rewards us with a walk-through in the afternoon. As a veteran, an 11-year guy, I can tell that my body feels much fresher. I’m taking more reps now because one of our fullbacks is hurt, but I feel a whole lot better now in this part of camp.”
On the competition at running back:
“We are friends. It’s a great competition right now. Selvin Young, he’s the lead guy. Andre (Hall) is another good guy. Ryan (Torain), a rookie draft pick, myself. It’s going to be great competition. Last year, I believe at this time Selvin was fourth on the depth chart. Look at him now—He is number one. With this offense, and with the coaching staff, I believe they will play the best player.”
On his impressions of QB Jay Cutler:
“I like Jay. He is a laid back, mellow type of guy. I’m used to Jeff Garcia, the fiery type. Jay is a great quarterback. He is a young guy, but he shows great leadership. I think he has a bright future for him.”
On lining up as a fullback:
“I’ll do it, I’m not a fullback, but I will do whatever my coach asks me to do. I’m a tailback, and that is what I have been drafted to be coming out of college. If my coach asks me to go in there and feel some blocks, I’ll feel some blocks. I’m 220 pounds, I’m strong, but I am not as big as some of these linebackers in league, but I’ll do whatever they ask of me.”
On his durability:
“I bring a lot to the table with myself, being a veteran, being smart of course. I bring a lot. I can catch the ball well out of the backfield, and I can run the football. Just being around the league and seeing defenses, I try and figure out what they try and bring to the table. I bring a lot to this offense.”
On advice he has given to rookie RB Ryan Torain:
“I have just been trying to keep these young guys motivated. And really the odds are so wide open, so big, the coaches are coming down on them. I have just been telling them the things I learned as a rookie. I had it a whole lot worse. I came out in ‘98, and everybody was on me. I was carrying everybody’s pads off the field. I have been trying to keep them motivated because sometimes the confidence falls. Being a veteran and being around for so long, I just try and pick them up. Ryan and the other guys are going to be the future of this team. I myself only have about two or three years left in me. Those young guys are going to be around for a long time.”
On playing fullback this season:
“I am just going to playing there until Peyton (Hillis) gets back. I am just filling in and doing the best I can. I am running in there full speed and lowering the shoulder. All the blocks are not great, but I’m not a natural fullback. There are sometimes where they have me block as a halfback. I’m not complaining about it. I’m happy to be here, and I’ll do whatever they ask of me.”
On if he has ever played fullback before:
“No I have never played fullback in my life. I was always halfback, receiver, strong safety. In my career since high school, I have always played halfback. But fullback, I am fine with it. If coach asks me to do it, I’ll do it and do the best I can.”