CB MJ Emerson (7.27.23)
Do you feel like you’ve taken that step up from rookie year to second year and that if you feel there is way more you are going to be able to accomplish this season?
“Yes, ma’am, I would say so. This offseason, I made a lot of goals for the team, but also for myself, and I was just working towards those goals. I see a lot of improvement, but there’s still a lot of improvements to get done.”
What goals did you set for yourself in the offseason?
“I rather keep those to myself.”
How much do you feel like the game is slowing down for you compared to training camp a year ago?
“A lot. Honestly, as a rookie, I was out there second-guessing myself a lot, not trying to make mistakes. But this year, I just hit my playbook this offseason pretty hard, just building that chemistry with my guys and trusting everybody that they’ll be in the right position and just trying to do my job every place. So, it slowed down a lot.”
Was there a point last year in camp or in the game where you were like ‘Ok, I can do this’?
“Maybe the preseason pick-six last year. That was a big confidence boost for me. Going out on my first NFL debut, I made some good plays, and I was like, ‘Okay, I feel like I belong here’ -probably that moment.”
What did you see on your pick-six in the red zone today?
“Just reading my keys. Using the red zone – you get a straight stem – it’s usually a dig, but he didn’t press my leverage and he didn’t try to run past me, he tried to get underneath me. So I just stayed square. And when he tried to cross my face, I just broke and then the ball was right there.”
Is the game slowing down for you a little bit this year?
“Yes, ma’am. I would say so.”
I know last year you liked it when opposing quarterbacks were throwing your way. How much did that help build your confidence?
“Oh yeah. I’m a competitor, the ultimate competitor. So I love when the quarterback targets me. It just keeps me honest, keeps me focused and keeps me ready. I just want to do my part to help the team win, so doing my job is the main goal. I love when the quarterbacks target me.”
Do you feel like man-to-man coverages fits the DB room’s strength?
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“Yes, sir. I would say we have a lot of great corners in our room – different. We all can do different things. We can match up, I feel like, with any team. So man-to-man, that should be a great tool for us.”
Is that something that Coach (Jim) Schwartz has talked about utilizing more than maybe you did a year ago?
“Yes, sir. We just want to take away the if/then statement. So just get after guys and just play fast. Get your man and just win wherever he goes.”
How different is it with a new defensive coordinator and a new position coach, whether it’s technique, philosophy, or coverages, how different does it feel?
“It’s a little different. But football is football. You just have to learn the techniques, learn the playbook and just execute your job. It’s different, though, I would say different in a good way.”
Knowing how physical you are to go back to Chris’s (Easterling), man-to-man question. Do you thrive in that one-on-one kind of matchup? Do you really enjoy that?
“Yeah, I enjoy one-on-one matchups because it’s just the coaches and your team. They’re trusting you to eliminate this guy. So that’s what we live on. Cornerbacks – we want to eliminate our man and play fast. So, I love playing man-to-man. It’s just me and you and may the best man win.”
How far back do you have to go where you really played a lot of man (coverage)? Did you do it at Mississippi State? Did you do it in high school?
“Yeah, in high school we only played man, honestly. My former teammate (Seahawks) Devon Witherspoon, was top-five job pick this year. And, yeah, we played a lot of man (coverage). Him on one side and me on the other. So in high school, we just got after guys. Well, in high school I really didn’t play off a lot, so I had to learn the off techniques and I feel like I wouldn’t say mastered it, but I’m just more comfortable playing off. And press has always been my thing because I’m a bigger corner and I like to get after guys. So pressing kind of comes easy to me.”
Anybody ever complete any passes against you guys at corner (in high school)?
“In high school, the talent is not the same level as the league, obviously. But of course, yeah, we have some great talent in the Panhandle, that Florida area. Some guys got after us, but we got after a lot of guys too.”
It seemed like by the end of the year, the coaches really trusted you. What does that mean to you to kind of earn that trust and feel that the coaches believed in you as much as they did?
“Man, it’s just a blessing. It was a blessing for them to trust me as a young player, but I feel like trust is earned, not given. I feel like I kind of earned their trust, and that was a blessing.”
How is it benefitting you to go up against Deshaun (Watson) in camp?
“Deshaun, you know, he’s one of the best the game has ever seen. So it’s just a blessing itself you know, playing against one of the best quarterbacks in the game. Know there’s a lot of guys that are not going to make passes like him, not going to read the field as well as him. So, it’s a good thing. It’s going to make us better, and we’re going to make him better.”
Did you play against Ced (Cedric Tillman) in college at all?
“I played Tennessee my freshman year, my true freshman year, and I think he’s younger than me.”
What’s it like being edged up against Elijah (Moore) when he is split out wide?
“Elijah Moore? Great talent. He can run every route. So, it’s fun going against him. It is fun.”
So I guess what is it about him that makes him [Moore] successful no matter where he plays?
“I’ll probably say his history. He played running back growing up. Also, he’s a Florida guy, you know we can do it all now. Elijah, he’s special man, and I’m happy he’s a part of his team. I’m excited to play with him.”
Anthony (Walker) was saying you guys have been doing a lot of team building while you’ve been down here. Can you tell me a little bit about your time here in West Virginia? What has it been like, what have you all been up to?
“I don’t think I’ve been anywhere without a DB with me. So we have just been here just trying to build that chemistry with each other. Coach (Kevin Stefanski), he blessed me with a suite. I don’t know why, but I brought my PS5, so it worked out. I got my games. We play a lot of UFC, play a lot of Madden and 2K. We just relaxed there until bed check. We’re just getting to know each other and just getting ready to go to war in a couple of days.”
How do you like The Greenbrier?
“I love it, man. It’s beautiful. I would love to come out here and practice and run all day and just look at this view if I could, but I’m having a good time here.”
What did you do on your off day?
“My off day? I had a spa, so I had a massage, relaxed a little bit, and took a nap there. We went to the pool and then bowling. And then after that went to play UFC in my room until bed check.”
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