This is your second time wearing a cowboy hat. Is this going to be a theme?
It might be. It might just have to be. It felt comfortable and we're 2-0 in it. So you might see it again later on this year.
What does it mean to you to break DK Metcalf's record and do it as fast as you did this year?
It means a lot. This organization, great organization. Great receivers have come through here. Honestly, I look at it as a team award quite honestly because without Sam (Darnold) and without the protection, without Sheed (Rashid Shaheed) and Coop (Kupp), this doesn't happen. So, I'm grateful and thankful and blessed for my team. Blessed to be a Seahawk.
Where was this among your goals to break this record?
The goal that I set, I guess you could say this was definitely part of it.
So did you know going into today that you had a chance? I mean that you were a hundred or something yards away from it?
Yeah, I knew. Yes sir.
You've both in the Arizona game, this game, other games, you throttle down sometimes on deep passes and kind of box out your defender. Is that something you've always been able to do or something you picked up?
I would say like I'm starting to notice it like more, like I'm doing it a little bit more. But yeah, just playing ball, going out there playing ball. Definitely notice it a little bit, but I wouldn't say something that I've done. Any way to make a play, you know, I've got to do it.
On the one today, at what point when the ball was in flight did you notice you might be overrun and it needed to slow down?
Once the ball was in there, as soon as I saw the ball, just adjust, make a play as soon as I (saw) it.
And when you're doing that, are you trying to keep the defender on their back or is that an actual conscious effort you're doing?
Yeah, sometimes. And that in that play specifically, he was kind of on my side. DBs, I would say I have better ball tracking skills than a lot of DBs and I can kind of feel their tenseness and freaking out when the ball is in the air. So, just staying relaxed, staying calm. Me and Dareke (Young) and Coach Frizz (Frisman Jackson), we work on drills like that all the time, every single day. So you know, just bringing it to life.
Do you work on giving them just enough of a nudge to create some separation?
Yeah, hold it off. Hold the line. Hold your line and let the ball be out there and break at the last second and catch the ball. It's a great drill and something that you can see in the game.
What's the technique on that to not get called for offensive pass interference?
Just stand your ground. Don't panic. I don't need to push. I can just hold off and stand my ground and get the ball at the last second, sort of thing.
You went in motion on that play, it ended up getting guarded by safety, I think. And Mike Macdonald was saying that was probably a coverage bust by them and Sam Darnold said you weren't necessarily the top number one read there. But did you figure out immediately like 'I've got this matchup?'
Oh yeah, I mean credit to Sam (Darnold) just seeing it, sticking with me and understanding that I'm going to adjust my route mid play. So for him to be able to see that and put the ball up and give me a chance, I think that's elite, championship football and something we hope to continue.
What was your reaction to what Sam Darnold did one week after having some turnovers. Come out, throwing only touchdowns, no picks, and still going for the deep ball?
No panic, no panic from us. We're going to stick to the routine, make it right. We believe in Sam (Darnold). He's our quarterback, he's our guy, and we're going to ride with him and every time we come out we just want to play our best game. And if we didn't the week before, we're going to come back and keep swinging.
Kenneth Walker had some explosive runs today and got more carries. He's starting to feel like what he can add to this offense the rest of the way?
Oh, for sure. Get 9 (Kenneth Walker III) the ball and good things happening. It's great to see him. His elusiveness is next level, never seen it before and we just got to block better and create more open lanes for him.
With the running backs seemingly being more involved in the passing game here, last game and a half or so, are you seeing that have a little bit of an impact in terms of what you guys are seeing in the back end too? Because now teams are having to focus on that.
One thousand percent. That's the name of the game. Take what they give you and running back's been doing a great job. Sam (Darnold) just check down, make it to the next play and running back's making the most of it. We're going to need every single guy out here and I'm proud of my guys.
Where'd you get that hat?
This hat? On a little online shopping, you know. I can't tell you the brand, but it's like an online shopping.
