Juwan Johnson talks about life as a new father and his learnings in Saints training camp so far.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 Well, congrats being a dad.
00:04 >> Well, I'm just proud to be a dad.
00:07 Yeah, honestly, it's been so fun.
00:10 It's gonna be a month tomorrow, so it's been so fun.
00:15 I guess just being a dad, obviously everybody knows what we've been through.
00:20 But I guess God has been so thankful.
00:24 It's been so fun.
00:25 My wife and dad have a great time being a mom.
00:28 I've been excited to come home after camp, the long dog days, and
00:32 just spend an hour with them, getting smiles, getting love at home.
00:37 It's been really good with this time around.
00:40 >> Have you noticed if it's changed your mindset at all, or
00:42 just how you approach the game, having that?
00:44 >> Yeah, the mindset has been the same, but it's just more so having more fun.
00:51 Obviously, when you look at the sidelines, you see two, not just one.
00:55 So it's just been so fun.
00:57 >> Well, that's all I can really say about it.
01:00 It's just been a blessing to know that you got a little one,
01:03 you get the whole business, and you also have your wife and kids.
01:07 >> Have you had the chance to pick up Steve Jordan's brain before?
01:11 Is that a first?
01:12 >> Yeah, that was, I mean, we've talked before.
01:16 >> Yeah.
01:16 >> But that was the first time that I faced that situation with my kids.
01:20 I feel a lot of self-empowerment.
01:22 I was looking for a little bit of an opportunity.
01:24 I mean, great, so I'm just gonna talk to him, talk about the game,
01:29 and talk about what I need to do, things I can improve on.
01:33 It's something that I always think is big that you have a guy like him.
01:37 So when I came in here also, I wanted to come in and talk to you and
01:42 show you what the possibilities you have, and
01:46 just being able to talk with him and his kids.
01:49 >> What's it like trying to find men's warriors and guys to get advice from?
01:53 >> As a tight end, because those two tight ends kind of felt the same.
01:57 >> Yeah, definitely.
01:59 I mean, obviously, you always have your own little, you can always learn from it.
02:05 I've learned from so many guys, I've only been in this position for
02:10 only three years.
02:12 Me picking up just the rest of me now, that's just something that's been so
02:16 big for me.
02:16 And I think the biggest guy right now is Jimmy.
02:20 And Jimmy's been here for me since the moment he got here.
02:24 And he's been so genuine and so helpful to me, and
02:27 that's something I needed in the past few years.
02:31 God has been willing to teach me, help me, and
02:34 groom me into something that I know that I can be, and even though he's done every
02:40 bit of that.
02:40 >> You wanna know two things that you set out that you wanna-
02:42 >> All of the 53, huh?
02:44 >> Yeah.
02:44 >> I mean, obviously, Jimmy's always taught me about just being here,
02:49 and I don't know what it means.
02:51 Cuz obviously, there's more to do than one another.
02:54 But also, his big name is Rego.
02:57 So, just being Rego, just knowing that that line is a lot different.
03:02 He's a big body guy, so knowing he's been at a different place right now,
03:08 his philosophy is a bit different than everywhere else.
03:12 >> Was that surprising a little bit, maybe, that he was so giving you that?
03:17 >> No, I've heard many stories about Jimmy, even before I even got here.
03:22 Him just being here, knowing that, I feel like he's just a warm guy.
03:28 So I knew that coming into this, but he's never been like that.
03:32 He's been good to us, and everyone I've ever met.
03:36 I definitely, I was impressed with him,
03:38 not only the way he's been, but also the way he's been a well-rounded guy.
03:43 >> How would you describe your level of comfort in this car?
03:47 It seems like you guys are hooking up a couple of times every day.
03:51 >> Yeah, it's been good, man.
03:53 I don't even know how to say it.
03:54 It's just like my long lost brother, right?
03:57 And so just knowing that we can just go out there and
03:59 play that he knows I'm gonna be here.
04:02 I know where he's gonna throw.
04:03 That's kind of the biggest thing about quarterback and receiver.
04:08 Temperature, it's all about trust.
04:10 It's all about what he's gonna be.
04:12 Is he gonna be there or is he not gonna be there?
04:13 Second guess, is he gonna sit in zone or is he gonna keep running?
04:16 It's all about comfortability.
04:17 It's all about experience.
04:18 We haven't had much rest at it, but we understand the game.
04:22 The game is in the first quarter.
04:24 So just knowing that we can be on the same page,
04:26 some early stage of our connection is pretty good.
04:30 >> Has it all sort of slowed down for you at this point?
04:33 >> In terms of just football?
04:35 >> Yeah, just the understanding, what you're doing, where to go, where to be.
04:39 >> Yeah, I have.
04:40 I just think that just comes with investment.
04:43 I know I had a big role to fill coming into this season.
04:46 Knowing that I had to do a lot more blocking, I had to do a lot more pass throw.
04:50 And I had to keep doing those chances.
04:53 So I think I accepted that challenge and I feel a lot more comfortable than I have
04:57 before.
04:58 I feel really comfortable blocking the deep at the end,
05:02 blocking the flying back, or setting the pass throw.
05:04 I mean, these are things I've never done.
05:06 The only things I've chosen about the locker room would be the things I'm doing
05:08 now on the field.
05:10 And that's how I can see what's in the job.
05:13 But I've learned a little bit of it, but it's really helped me.
05:16 >> I just saw a shoot.
05:17 >> And just being this guy that I always wanted to be at the tight end.
05:20 And then the great saying from Antonio Gibbs that he told us in the DVD,
05:24 and you guys can look that up and see what that means.
05:27 But our tight end runs well in the DVDs.
05:31 >> How fun was that two minute throw today?
05:33 You and the big guy, the- >> Yeah, it was good.
05:39 Obviously, two minutes is something that Derek's been really good at.
05:42 And that's something that the Saints previously had been very good at.
05:47 So we're just trying to keep that going.
05:50 Two minutes is a time and situation in the game where it's the end of the half,
05:54 end of the game where you need it.
05:56 These are things that we're gonna need late in the season, early in the season,
05:59 wherever it is.
06:00 These are things that won't allow a game.
06:03 Hopefully, they'll be in the game for two minutes.
06:06 Hopefully, we don't have to.
06:07 We'll blow everybody out, that's what we love.
06:09 But yeah, two minutes is big.
06:12 We're gonna need it and everybody needs it.
06:14 And we're gonna win games.
06:15 >> So you said that Derek has been really, really good at these things.
06:19 >> Yeah.
06:19 >> Obviously, today was a big day.
06:21 >> That's right.
06:22 >> Can you sense that when somebody's got it in one leg?
06:26 >> Definitely, definitely.
06:27 >> You can feel it even in the back.
06:28 >> You can just tell by his comfortability.
06:31 When you come to the huddle, you're like, all right, let's get it.
06:34 Let's make a big play.
06:36 Take the first possible play.
06:37 And that's kinda how we go off of him.
06:39 Just take one play at a time.
06:41 He's really good at just taking what he has in front of him.
06:45 Just making it easy.
06:46 He doesn't do too much.
06:47 I mean, I feel like sometimes he just makes it very easy.
06:51 I'm better than him.
06:52 >> And then I think it was like a back shoulder.
06:55 >> Yeah.
06:56 >> Yeah.
06:57 >> Just like in place.
06:59 >> That's just Derek.
07:00 That's just Derek being Derek.
07:01 And I'm just trying to catch the ball.
07:04 I mean, obviously, I just ball and I ball, whatever.
07:07 As long as I got the ball, I don't care how I fall.
07:09 I mean, that's really just how it is.
07:10 But he did a great job just putting it in the right place at the right time.
07:13 He was inside of me.
07:16 I tried to hold my line and just try to turn it flat so they could catch it.
07:20 Yeah, it just felt good knowing that.
07:22 We're all soldiers.
07:23 We're all having to do what he's saying.
07:24 Just stay in there.
07:26 >> Is it like looking at a comfortable crowd?
07:28 Does it finally feel like y'all are ramping up to a game?
07:31 Or does that still feel pretty far away?
07:33 >> I mean, every practice feels like a game.
07:36 These practices are insane.
07:37 These practices feel like we are in games every day.
07:40 And I go into the locker room and say, all right, we're on game 11.
07:46 We're in game 10.
07:47 Every practice feels like a game to me.
07:50 And I've been saying it last year, how I do feel like I'm on week five already.
07:54 Because of the pace that we're at and how we're working and how we're running.
07:58 So it feels like a game to me.
08:01 >> Do you want to follow up on that?
08:03 How will the offensive approach change for this upcoming preseason game?
08:08 Based on there's so many combinations of people who haven't played with each
08:12 other, right?
08:12 Jamal Williams hadn't played alongside there.
08:14 Nobody's caught a pass in the game from Derek Carr besides Foster and
08:17 Brian Edwards.
08:18 How is that gonna change going up against defending Super Bowl champs?
08:22 I know it's preseason, but in the dome to get the opportunity to do that.
08:27 >> Well, I mean, we just kinda treat it like a game.
08:30 Obviously, it's a piece of the game.
08:31 The guys are fighting for spots in the roster.
08:34 I just think we're all just competing.
08:36 We definitely don't know the other excellent logistics behind it.
08:39 We're not gonna play.
08:41 But at the end of the day, we're all just trying to win.
08:44 It's a piece of the game, but obviously, it's a piece of the game.
08:47 We're all trying to become the winner.
08:48 So our main focus is trying to win.
08:51 >> Do you want to play?
08:52 >> I always want to play.
08:53 I mean, anytime you get a chance, someone's good in the dome.
08:57 >> And once off the top of your head, just a few.
08:59 What are your thoughts about Oregon's offensive team?
09:01 >> Yeah, yeah.
09:03 Obviously, I love it.
09:04 I was at Penn State before, so
09:07 knowing that there could be a possible Penn State Oregon rivalry or even game.
09:13 That would be huge, and I'm hoping we got some bye week here.
09:16 We have a bye week, so I can go in the game.
09:18 Don't ask me what side I'm gonna be on.
09:20 I'm just gonna be at the game.
09:22 So yeah, I'm really excited about Oregon being in the big game.
09:26 And I think it's gonna be not only cool and cool, but
09:29 also a great university that I'm gonna be able to celebrate.
09:33 There's a lot of hype and a lot of attention, but
09:36 it's gonna be a big thing for the field.
09:38 But I'm just really excited.
09:39 [BLANK_AUDIO]
09:49 [LAUGH]
09:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]
10:09 [BLANK_AUDIO]
10:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]
10:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]
10:39 [BLANK_AUDIO]
10:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]
10:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]
11:09 [BLANK_AUDIO]