Coogs
06-19-2007, 03:11 PM
Q&A with DAMON HUARD - 6/19
Jun 19, 2007, 3:13:21 PM
Q: Were you dinged up a little bit today?
HUARD: “I was just resting my arm a little bit. I’ve thrown a bunch of balls, so no I’m good.”
Q: You ready for this month off?
HUARD: “Yeah, it will be a nice month off to get away from football a little bit, but stay in shape still. It’s certainly right around the corner here at River Falls so I’m looking forward to it.”
Q: As a veteran who has a chance to earn a starting job, what will you be doing the next few months?
HUARD: “I’m just going to go out there and compete and do the best I can. We’ll see what happens. I’m definitely looking forward to the challenge and the competition and just going out there and competing every day trying to get the team better.”
Q: Does that make camp any different to prepare for?
HUARD: “Not really honestly. Every year you’re competing for something. Whether it’s to be a backup, to make the team or to be the starter. For the most part there is always competition. I’ve been in this position before competing for a starting job or competing for a roster spot when you’re a young guy. I’ve certainly be down the road of competition and at the end of the day I think it makes you better.”
Q: Are you looking forward to this camp maybe more so that other camps?
HUARD: “I don’t mind training camp. It’s a time to get away and build camaraderie among your teammates. Herm (Edwards) sets it up the right way. It made a lot of sense for us with training camp last year. He understands recovery and we just had a really good experience with him last year and I’m sure we will again this year up there.”
Q: If you and Brodie Croyle have a even battle, do you have a gut feeling on which of you will be the starter?
HUARD: “I have no idea. I think camp will unfold and things will play themselves out with preseason games and whatnot. I can’t predict the future, all I can do is work hard and compete. May the best man win.”
Q: What kind of factor do you think experience will play in the competition?
HUARD: “I don’t know. Brodie is a talented guy, there’s no question. Just compete and go play. We’ll let the chips fall where they may.”
Q: What are your expectations?
HUARD: “The expectations are to go out there and win the job. Everyone wants to play.
Q: Trent Green didn’t feel like he’d have a fair shot at winning the job. Do you feel that way?
HUARD: “I don’t feel that way. From a reps standpoint we’ve all gotten the same reps. Everyone would love to find a young quarterback who can be your staple for the next 10 years. Might everyone be rooting for the young guy to win? Maybe in some ways, but this old guy will go out there and compete, too.”
Q: What do you think about the makeup of this year’s team?
HUARD: “It’s a good group. Offensively we’ve got some serious weapons with maybe the best tight end and running back in football. We’ve got an offensive line with some Pro Bowlers up front. You look at our receiving crew with Eddie Kennison and Samie Parker and then throw in (Dwayne) Bowe, a young rookie with all the talent in the world. We do have some horses and some talent. Then defensively too, we’ve got a couple veterans in the linebacking corps which provide some great leadership and production. You look what Donnie Edwards and Napoleon (Harris) have done in this league and you have to be pretty excited about what our defense is going to bring to the table too. And the speed we have coming off the end is pretty scary. This could be a really, really good football team.”
Q: Do you think this offense will take one more step away from Dick Vermeil’s style and one more step toward Edwards’ style?
HUARD: “We have our philosophy and it really is the same playbook and gameplan as we’ve had in the past. I think each week your opponent dictates really how you’re going to attack them. Is this going to be a week where we really want to pound the football at these guys because they’re nicked up on the defensive line? Or is this a week where we feel they’re vulnerable in the secondary. The neat thing about this offense is that it was the flexibility to do different things each week. I think with our personnel we can really attack some defenses this year.”
Q: Will your pre-camp preparation be any different this year?
HUARD: “No, it will be no different. It’s continuing to work out on your own and finding someone to throw the football to so you can keep your arm in shape. You can’t just lay around on the sofa for a month or you get out of shape fast. So I’ll stay on top of it. I probably won’t watch a lot of film or study the playbook. I’ll kind of get away from football from that end, but certainly from the physical standpoint you really want to hone in right now and get in top shape.”
Q: Are you the best you’ve ever been?
HUARD: “I think so. Coming off a year where I got a chance to play. As much as having confidence in yourself, it’s just as important that your teammates have confidence in you. From going out there and winning a few ballgames last year, it’s just as important as believing in yourself as having your teammates believe in you.”
Jun 19, 2007, 3:13:21 PM
Q: Were you dinged up a little bit today?
HUARD: “I was just resting my arm a little bit. I’ve thrown a bunch of balls, so no I’m good.”
Q: You ready for this month off?
HUARD: “Yeah, it will be a nice month off to get away from football a little bit, but stay in shape still. It’s certainly right around the corner here at River Falls so I’m looking forward to it.”
Q: As a veteran who has a chance to earn a starting job, what will you be doing the next few months?
HUARD: “I’m just going to go out there and compete and do the best I can. We’ll see what happens. I’m definitely looking forward to the challenge and the competition and just going out there and competing every day trying to get the team better.”
Q: Does that make camp any different to prepare for?
HUARD: “Not really honestly. Every year you’re competing for something. Whether it’s to be a backup, to make the team or to be the starter. For the most part there is always competition. I’ve been in this position before competing for a starting job or competing for a roster spot when you’re a young guy. I’ve certainly be down the road of competition and at the end of the day I think it makes you better.”
Q: Are you looking forward to this camp maybe more so that other camps?
HUARD: “I don’t mind training camp. It’s a time to get away and build camaraderie among your teammates. Herm (Edwards) sets it up the right way. It made a lot of sense for us with training camp last year. He understands recovery and we just had a really good experience with him last year and I’m sure we will again this year up there.”
Q: If you and Brodie Croyle have a even battle, do you have a gut feeling on which of you will be the starter?
HUARD: “I have no idea. I think camp will unfold and things will play themselves out with preseason games and whatnot. I can’t predict the future, all I can do is work hard and compete. May the best man win.”
Q: What kind of factor do you think experience will play in the competition?
HUARD: “I don’t know. Brodie is a talented guy, there’s no question. Just compete and go play. We’ll let the chips fall where they may.”
Q: What are your expectations?
HUARD: “The expectations are to go out there and win the job. Everyone wants to play.
Q: Trent Green didn’t feel like he’d have a fair shot at winning the job. Do you feel that way?
HUARD: “I don’t feel that way. From a reps standpoint we’ve all gotten the same reps. Everyone would love to find a young quarterback who can be your staple for the next 10 years. Might everyone be rooting for the young guy to win? Maybe in some ways, but this old guy will go out there and compete, too.”
Q: What do you think about the makeup of this year’s team?
HUARD: “It’s a good group. Offensively we’ve got some serious weapons with maybe the best tight end and running back in football. We’ve got an offensive line with some Pro Bowlers up front. You look at our receiving crew with Eddie Kennison and Samie Parker and then throw in (Dwayne) Bowe, a young rookie with all the talent in the world. We do have some horses and some talent. Then defensively too, we’ve got a couple veterans in the linebacking corps which provide some great leadership and production. You look what Donnie Edwards and Napoleon (Harris) have done in this league and you have to be pretty excited about what our defense is going to bring to the table too. And the speed we have coming off the end is pretty scary. This could be a really, really good football team.”
Q: Do you think this offense will take one more step away from Dick Vermeil’s style and one more step toward Edwards’ style?
HUARD: “We have our philosophy and it really is the same playbook and gameplan as we’ve had in the past. I think each week your opponent dictates really how you’re going to attack them. Is this going to be a week where we really want to pound the football at these guys because they’re nicked up on the defensive line? Or is this a week where we feel they’re vulnerable in the secondary. The neat thing about this offense is that it was the flexibility to do different things each week. I think with our personnel we can really attack some defenses this year.”
Q: Will your pre-camp preparation be any different this year?
HUARD: “No, it will be no different. It’s continuing to work out on your own and finding someone to throw the football to so you can keep your arm in shape. You can’t just lay around on the sofa for a month or you get out of shape fast. So I’ll stay on top of it. I probably won’t watch a lot of film or study the playbook. I’ll kind of get away from football from that end, but certainly from the physical standpoint you really want to hone in right now and get in top shape.”
Q: Are you the best you’ve ever been?
HUARD: “I think so. Coming off a year where I got a chance to play. As much as having confidence in yourself, it’s just as important that your teammates have confidence in you. From going out there and winning a few ballgames last year, it’s just as important as believing in yourself as having your teammates believe in you.”