Offensive Lineman Ja’Wuan James
(On how it feels on his first day back playing football) – “It felt good to get back out here. I haven’t played football in a long time. We’ve been practicing to be track stars through this whole draft process, so it’s good going out there and competing.”
(On if he feels like he needs to be a leader as the first overall pick in this rookie class) – “Yes, I’ve been trying to lead, that’s what I did at Tennessee. You know these 35 guys just came in. Thirty-five guys came in yesterday. Just trying to help everybody get along, to help everybody in the right direction. I try and do what I can”
(On how it has been picking up the new offense) – “It’s been going good. It’s a lot of similarities to the stuff coach (Butch) Jones brought my senior year, that zone read stuff. It’s definitely picking up smooth.”
(On if he knows if the team expects him to be the right tackle, or what the team expects of him immediately) – “They haven’t gave too many expectations as a set thing, but like I said before, I’m just coming in trying to compete. I just want to contribute to the team the best way I can.”
(On the biggest thing he wanted to see out of his play today) – “Just working on the new technique we learned and trying to sharpen that up. Coach Benton has taught us a lot of different techniques, changing up stances, changing the first step, things like that. So I wanted to show him that I could do that, and just work on it.”
Wide Receiver Jarvis Landry
(On how much he has worked in the slot) – “It’s been a little bit of everything, just trying to learn the system as much as I can and trying not to be so one-dimensional. Coach has been putting us in different positions, making us learn every position on the field. It increases our chances of having success no matter where we line up.”
(On where he lined up at LSU) – “I was outside and in the slot.”
(On if he moved around a lot in lining up) – “Yes sir.”
(On how it is when he has to learn two or three positions on the fly)– “It’s very challenging, but the coaches, they give tasks and they expect them to be met. It’s my job to study the way that I need to to be on the field and have an effective offense.”
(On how he would ideally be used this season) – “I don’t know. Right now I’m really just focused on this camp, every practice every day just trying to get better with my teammates and hopefully when time comes for depth chart I leave that up to the head coach and his staff to make that decision.”
(On if footwork drills today was about getting his steps correct for slot and wide routes) – “Yes sir, it was a little bit of both just critiquing little things just to develop as a pro.”
(On what he wanted to see the most out of him the first day of rookie minicamp) – “That I can take it from the classroom to here outside on the field and also, just come out here and compete with the guys. Come out here and have fun and do what is asked of me.”
Offensive Lineman Billy Turner
(On if the team invisions him playing on the left side) – “Talking to coach, he just wants me to stick to one side right now, just until I learn the play book. And then, from there, I can go back and forth from side to side.”
(On how the transition has been after playing tackle in college) – Good actually. I was working with Howard Mudd and Bob Wylie, two highly ranked offensive line coaches that have been in the league a while. Between the two of them, I think they have over 60 years of knowledge of the offensive line so I was working with them at all three positions. So I did have a little comfortability coming into it.”
(On what he’s learning about the guard position) – “You have a tight space. At tackle you’re out there on an island, you don’t have as much help. When you’re playing guard, not necessarily that you have help every play but you’re down there, you’ve got guys on each side of you so you’re in a narrow space and whatnot. And you also have the ability to be a lot more aggressive, which is how I play is aggressive, so that’s what I like about it.”
(On if he feels like sticking to one side will help in his transition) – “Right now yes, just to help me learn the plays. But once I’ve got the plays locked up in my head and whatnot, going back and forth shouldn’t bother me.”
(On what he means by playing aggressive) – “I like to hit people. That’s why I play the game, that’s why I play offensive line. I’m an aggressive guy, and like I just said, I like to hit people. Coming off the ball being as aggressive as I can is how I play. Besides a pass set when I’ve got to get a little depth off the line, but like I said I like to be as aggressive as I can every play, but no I not going to hit anyone after the whistle.”