DE Shawne Merriman
AM Session – Friday, July 27, 2012
On what he would consider a successful season from himself:
For me personally, just being one of the biggest contributors on defense. Do something to make it easier on other guys. And be a game-changer. Do something to change the game and help the team.
On his feelings about the potential of this year's defensive line:
It is still early. We still have a lot of camp left. Being around the guys for the whole offseason workouts, the OTAs and mini-camp, you got a feel for everybody's work ethic and where we want to go. We just have to get there.
On how much he misses being the big-time "Lights Out" guy:
I used to miss it. Not now so much, now that I am used to doing the things I am accustomed to doing. I am still not where I want to be. You have got to get to that through camp and working on little things and that is why we watch the film every day to see what I need to get better on.
On if he feels like he still has it in him to be that kind of dynamic defensive end:
We will see. You know it is not about talking anymore about what I can do or what happened in the past, or how good things were in the past. You just have to go out and do it. And that is all I have been concentrating on. It is not one of those things I really think about. It is just going out every day and working.
On how he keeps his injury history off of his mind:
The offseason workouts, the minicamps and OTAs really got that out of me a lot. To be able to workout fully for the first time in years and practice every day and not miss a beat…. Repetition is how you do it. And I had enough reps to kind of get that behind me.
On how his skill set differs now as opposed to when he played in San Diego:
Well I am playing a different position obviously, so it is a little bit different for me. But at the same time it is still the same mindset to go out, make plays and go out and continue to work. It is one of those things you cannot count on a numbers thing or what kind of numbers you want to set forth. It is really an everyday grind and that is what it is about right now.
RB C.J. Spiller
AM Session – Friday, July 27, 2012
On how nice it is to have another player to communicate and share ideas with on the field in RB Fred Jackson:
It is great because you do not get that everywhere. For him to be willing and open to share his insight and give me pointers on things and vice versa, you do not have that everywhere. And I am glad that I have a teammate who is willing to do that.
On whether he and Jackson will be on the field at the same time this season:
You have to talk to Coach (Chan) Gailey for that. I am just a football player. He is the offensive guru. I am pretty sure he has some stuff dialed up and we will see how it goes.
On how much more confidence he has at this training camp opposed to last year:
Last training camp I was very confident. It was not about my confidence level getting low, just about the opportunity to get out there and playing. I do not ever get low on myself. I never doubted could I play in this league or could I make plays? I always knew that I could and it was just about having the opportunity. Unfortunately it came in the wrong way, but it did. I just tried to take advantage of it.
On where to go from here after taking advantage of that opportunity:
You just continue to build. You want to say you want to forget what happened because this is a new year. But you still want to try to carry some of that momentum. See what I have done well, see what I have done bad and build from that. This is a whole new season for me so everything that I did in those six weeks is behind me. I am looking forward to this first preseason game against Washington.
On how it feels having to prove to everybody that he could do it: Yea it does. But every day I am trying to prove something. I am trying to prove stuff to myself, to these teammates, to everybody. But the only way to do that is to go out there and make plays
