DENVER BRONCOS QUOTES (5/30/17)
WIDE RECEIVER EMMANUEL SANDERS
On what he sees from the quarterbacks
“The same report. [QB] Trevor [Siemian] is trying to fill in at that leadership role. You see him speaking up a lot more. [QB] Paxton [Lynch], Paxton is not that deer in the headlight anymore. He’s out here competing and he understands what’s at risk. He wants the job. Both guys want the job. So we’ll see how it goes.”
On the complexity of the new offense
“It’s not so much complicated. Like with everything, repetition is the father of learning. Right now, we’re in OTAs, a lot of these guys—I was fortunate enough to play in this offense in 2014, so some of the combinations I’m familiar with, whereas a lot of these guys aren’t familiar with it. They have to get familiar with it. It’s a lot of moving around, but with a complicated offense, once you’re able to master that, that’s when we take off. That’s where we start having those 30-and 40-point games. That’s where we’re trying to get to. We’re trying to rep it over and over and over. As far as complicated, I wouldn’t say that, but as far as package and moving around, it’s a lot of different things. It’s not standing still. You have to be able to adjust on the fly.”
On the difference from the offense system in 2014 to now
“He (Offensive Coordinator Mike McCoy) changed the terminology obviously. He has his own terminology, but a lot of the concepts are still from 2014.”
On the energy during OTAs
“It’s good, but it isn’t where I want it to be. That’s what the coaches preach. We have to up the energy around here. That’s one thing that I got on the guys about today. Just come out here and have a bounce to yourself. Do you know how many people are sitting on the couch or how many guys wish they were out here in the NFL being interviewed by you guys or be out there? We’re blessed to do what we do. I’m like, ‘Pick up the energy. Act like you’re happy to be here.’ Obviously, there’s a lot of pressure that comes with the job, but once you’re able to forget about the pressure, and just enjoy and embrace the game, that’s when you start having fun and winning ball games. That’s what we’re trying to get around here.”
On how he plans to help pick up the energy at practice
“By constantly preaching it. Smile. Smile in the face of adversity. Smile no matter what. Always have fun. Enjoy the music, have conversations. Communicate. Sometimes you’ll see a young guy who’s afraid to walk up to a coach or to me and ask a question. It goes back to that whole saying, ‘There’s no such thing as a wrong question.’ If you don’t understand, find understanding no matter how stupid the question is. That’s what it’s about: communicating. Once you start communicating a lot more, that’s when the energy level starts picking up because the sound of the football in the air just makes every happier. We just have to start communicating a lot more.”
On who impresses him in the rookie class
“All of them. I saw [WR] Isaiah [McKenzie] catch a slant and take it to the house. He’s explosive. [WR] Carlos [Henderson] is a great route-runner. He keeps his arms running through the cuts. I’ve been watching film on him and just seeing how he is. He is a technique guy. We have some good wide outs. I think [Executive Vice President of Football Operations/GM John] Elway did a great job in terms of this rookie class alone. Obviously right now, we’re not able to see their true talents because everybody’s head is swimming in the playbooks. Once everybody gets comfortable, it’ll be interesting to see what those guys can do.”
On whether he’ll have to play the slot with the new rookies on the team
“That’s the thing with Mike McCoy’s offense, I don’t have to primarily move to the slot. We move so much. We have so many different formations and packages, that I’m going to play 50-50 in the slot at No. 3, No. 2, No. 1. It’s going to be hard for teams to double team me or double team [WR] Demaryius [Thomas], or double team anyone. But right now, we’re focusing on understanding it while getting the quarterbacks on the same page—all of us on the same page—while also gaining that chemistry.”
On where he got the idea for his foundation to provide sports equipment to kids
“I was one of those kids. Growing up, I grew up in a rough environment in terms of my mom had me at a young age. My dad had me at a young age. So they were never around and my grandma was working two jobs. I wanted to play sports, but I couldn’t play sports. All my friends were playing sports. Luckily, my uncle fell in love with me to the point that he started paying for me to play sports. Now look where I am today. There are a lot of kids out there that have parents that aren’t able to take them to practice or provide them with football gloves, or football cleats, or a baseball bat or things of that sort. It was one way to touch my heart and something that I wanted to do for kids. A lot of people say, ‘Why chose sports? Everybody is not going to go to the NFL.’ Sports do more than just trying to go professionally. It teaches you team work. It teaches you so much. It teaches you discipline. It teaches you work ethic. Not only that, it keeps you healthy. That’s one thing that I wanted to base it around. I think my entire team with the Emmanuel Sanders Foundation is doing a great job. I’m looking forward to the [Emmanuel Sanders Foundation fundraiser] event tomorrow.”
On his most memorable moments as a kid playing sports
“When I was a kid, just playing football in the backyard. Dropping that backpack and running to go grab the football and knowing everybody is about to come to my house to just play football. Everybody is raising their hands saying who they’re going to be. ‘I’m Tom Brady.’ ‘I’m Deion Sanders.’ ‘I’m Emmitt Smith.’ I always said, ‘Anybody that tries to get No. 21, no. I’m Deion (laughing).’ Automatic Deion. Those days were fun.”
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