LB Sione Takitaki (8.8.21)
LB Sione Takitaki:
On hearing Pro Football Hall of Fame Head Coach Tony Dungy speak to the team:
“That is a great coach, a Hall of Fame coach. It was good to hear some wise words he was able to share with the team. It was all great stuff and definitely took it in.”
On the biggest takeaways from Dungy’s speech:
“He talked a little bit about being united and about the greatest teams in football. That is something I feel like I took [away from it]. We already have a good meshing in the locker room, but just growing together even more than we already are.”
On takeaways from today’s Orange & Brown Practice in front of more fans:
“It was good. We got a different type of feel than just practicing at the facility. It was good to be in the stadium and see all of the fans. Last year, we really did not practice or play games with [many] fans. It is good to kind of get that back. Cleveland was going crazy. It is a good start.”
On how the veterans who have won elsewhere and were added to the Browns this offseason have helped the team:
“Just starting up front on defense, (DT) Malik (Jackson), (DE Jadeveon) Clowney and the rest of the guys who they brought in is amazing. Those guys have been around the game and established a great identity in this league. Having those guys come to be with us is great and kind of lead all of the younger guys, including myself, in the right way. The guys on the back end, you have JJ (S John Johnson III), (CB Troy) Hill and other guys who they brought in, it is really great, too. On the field, the communication is great, hearing those safeties and nickels talk. It is only going to get better. It is great.”
On if the Browns defense is where it needs to be in its preparation for the season, particularly with the addition of multiple new players to the unit:
“Just one day at a time. I can’t really tell you exactly where we are, but every day, we are coming in ready to grind and getting better. It is chasing that one percent every day. I like where we are going, the coaches like where we are going and the players in the locker room. We just have to continue. We can’t look too down the line of where we are. We just have to attack the day. Today, we got some good work, and we will continue to improve.”
On the competition at LB after several days in full pads:
“It is always going to be a competition. Every year, they will bring guys or guys in the room, you have to compete every year. That is the great thing about this game. You can come in, fight for a job and compete. We have two young guys who came in (LBs Tony Fields II and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah), plus the other guys who they brought in. A-Walk (LB Anthony Walker) is a great leader in our room and (LB) Malcolm Smith. The whole room is stacked. I feel like it is going to be a good trend up for us in our room.”
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