QB Dillon Gabriel (4.21.26)
Shedeur (Sanders) was just talking about how the coaches have spoken life into him and he appreciates their communication style. How would you describe Todd’s (Monken) staff and their communication style?
“Yeah, I think, they’re very direct and have a lot of answers to a lot of or have solutions to a lot of problems. And anytime as a quarterback, you appreciate that.”
What’s been your first kind of takeaways about this offense and really like how your skill set kind of fits into this game?
“Yeah, I think you just see what Coach Monken has done at all his stops and how efficient he’s been, and you want to continue to mirror that and try to do it yourself as well.”
What’s your sort of mindset as you head into this quarterback competition?
“Yeah, just running my own race and developing each day and getting better. That’s all you can do. And that’s what I’m focused on.”
How do you feel like, I mean, a year ago you’re still waiting to hear your name called. You don’t know where you’re going to end up, how much growth you feel like you, personal growth you’ve kind of gone through over this last 12 months and where maybe was it the biggest for you?
“Yeah, a bunch. I don’t want to limit it to one area, but just in every area. You get to learn a lot more about how the league works and just want to continue to improve. I think that’s…you want to have constant improvement and get better each day. And I think the more you do that, the better it’ll be.”
We didn’t talk to you at the end of last season. What was those final couple months like for you emotionally? You know, being a starter to get hurt and then not being a starter?
“Yeah, just learning, you know, a bunch of learning. I think even prior I was able to learn from Joe (Flacco), but even in that towards the end of the season, I think you just have opportunities for growth and learning, kind of take a step back after playing and continue to apply to get better.”
Was it difficult to lose the starting job with the concussion?
“Yeah, I don’t think it’s ever easy, as a competitor, right? But you just want to keep staying the course, trust in God’s plan and then ultimately you got to run your own race and focus on your goals.”
Were you pretty much in Hawaii the whole off season?
“I was places.”
How different is this playbook from the one that you guys used last year?
“Yeah, I think there’s of course going to be similarities and concepts that maybe universally everyone runs, but everyone has their different ways they progress through it and think through plays. That could be all the difference. But look forward to continuing to learn it. You know, it’s day one, but as days keep coming, we’ll keep learning.”
Even in Monk’s career, he’s had pretty significant diversity schematically from place to place based off the players. So, I guess what have you learned about the way he thinks about offenses and wants to design a system around y’all?
“Yeah, I think early on, like I said, he’s kind of implementing our mindset more so as an offense, of course, today with plays, but like I said, things that will be our bread and butter and things that you’ll want to rep, but I think it’ll continue to as he’s more around us as well, kind of fine tune what we’re good at.”
Dillon, I know there was a coaching change, but, like, did you approach your first true NFL off season any different than maybe you might have done in college?
“It was just different, you know, and it was my first one, so attacked it how I did. I know what makes me at my best mentally, physically, the whole nine, and attacked it that way.”
With that said, what feels most different for you out here in these first reps of early minicamp compared to your first reps of rookie minicamp last year?
“Yeah, probably just a lot more familiar faces. Obviously there has been some turnover, but for the most part in teammates. But still with the new coaches out there, still always learning and getting better, so just learning that new routine and trying to master it.”
Dillon, what’s it been like learning this system and offense and mastering the playbook? And Coach Monken talked a lot about you guys being responsible for so much in that first phase before you could even get on the field today. What’s that part been like?
“Yeah, it’s just making sure we take as good notes as we can. You know, today were able to install and get on the grass, which is great, but you want to do your due diligence, learn what you can and try to learn it from the beginning with a lot of the formation shifts and motions. Try to get ahead of that and then start applying the concepts.”
Dillon, last year you talked a lot about listening to Deshaun (Watson) and how he helped you mostly in like a classroom setting when you guys were watching film and then he was out I know late in the season with you guys a little bit. But now that he’s kind of out there, just how has your relationship with him grown over the offseason and seeing him actually out on the field?
“Yeah, I think you’re around each other all year. I think for the off season, you kind of just do your thing, but, you know, just being back with each other. Deshaun’s a great dude. Great person to learn from. And just he’s got a lot of knowledge. So anytime you can ask questions, I think that’s to anyone, you can learn from him.”
Dillon, do you head into this draft weekend at all, sort of wondering how it all might shake out?
“I think I’m just controlling what I can.”
What were your initial impressions of the defense going against them for the first time? Obviously some returning faces, but some new pieces in there. What do you think of them?
“Yeah, I think just early, you know, day one. I wish we could talk on day six or seven, but still early, but obviously think highly of the guys we have. Love competing against them, a great defense. So, ultimately that’ll help us get better.”
Dillon, even with it being early, Monken mentioned specifically about your professionalism and intelligence that he’s seen. How do you go about showing that to the coaches early?
“I think being a pro is just showing up every single day and doing your job and doing it at a high level. And I look forward to doing that.”
Dillon, so much, obviously from the outside, so much of the noise has been about Shedeur (Sanders) and Deshaun, but do you feel like you enter this competition on even footing with those guys?
“You know, I think I’m just running my own race and focused on what I can control, and that’s mastering my reps and doing it a high level.”
What did you learn from the competition last year?
“I think I’ve been in a bunch of competitions up until this point. Of course, new because it’s the first one in the NFL, but you just got to focus on yourself and master those reps so you can keep getting better. And, you know, ultimately the best player will play.
What’s your biggest takeaway from your first NFL season?
“Yeah, I think it’s just continue to get better and knowing that it’s a marathon, not a sprint, and I think I’m taking it one day at a time, trying to improve each and every day, and I look forward to continuing to develop.”
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