Justin Pugh

T Justin Pugh

August 16, 2013

Re: playing in MetLife Stadium

A: …I was actually injured when we (Syracuse) played there, so this is the first time I’ll actually get to step on the field and play a game.

Q: Are you feeling 100% right now?

A: Yeah, 100%. I’m ready to go.

Q: Any family coming to the game?

A: Yeah, I’ve got six people coming out: my parents, my buddies, my brother and sister.

Q: Since you’ve been back and you’ve been in different positions, how challenging is that and how do you feel like you’re doing?

A: I felt like playing right tackle all through OTAs and training camp is great for me and helped me get used to that side. Left tackle is where I played for the past four years, so I felt very comfortable there as well. I think either side I’m playing I feel comfortable and can execute at a high level.

Q: What were the biggest things you’ve picked up so far from the other offensive lineman?

A: How to carry yourself on and off the field as professionals and how to go out there and attack practice. You see guys like David Diehl and Chris Snee just doing a walk-through and those guys are going 100%. You have to know what pace you’re going at practice–full-speed, shells, helmets—but your feet are always moving 100 miles per hour. That should never change, no matter what you’re on. So just the way they practice and the way they handle themselves on and off the field.

Q: Do you feel a lot of pressure going into this first game, being a first round pick?

A: No. No pressure at all. I think when you step out there, it doesn’t matter what round you’re drafted in. You’re in the lineup against a guy and that’s the battle, regardless of a first round pick and wherever they’re from. So just go out there and play every play. Do what I have to do and do my job.

Q: Are you nervous at all?

A: I always get nervous before a game, but once you start playing, it all goes away. Probably right before the game, I’ll be a little nervous, but when I step on the field and get that first hit in, I’m good to go.

Q: Do you have a sense of where you’ll be playing yet in terms of position and everything?

A: I’ll probably be playing both tackles. Wherever coach wants me, that’s where I’ll be.

Q: And you’re probably more comfortable on the left right now?

A: No, I think I feel comfortable with both positions. It really is dependent on where we need me at any time. Wherever the coaches want me to play, that’s where I’ll be at.

Q: Are any of the assignments different from left side to right side?

A: No. If you’re playing tackle, the assignments are the same on the right side as they are on the left side. Mentally, you’re doing the same thing on both sides. It’s just the footwork and the technique that’s a little bit different. You’re just switching that foot back. The biggest thing for an offensive lineman is to protect that inside. So your hands are a little bit different too.

Q: How much of an adjustment is it to switch like that?

A: If you’re so used to doing it one way, like I played left tackle for five straight years, coming and playing right tackle was a little bit awkward at first. Then once you get used to it and you play it regularly, it’s not really too much change.

Q: Were there any plays where you had trouble adjusting?

A: In pass protection sometimes you’re kicking back with that right, so you feel very comfortable the way you’ve done it. Doing it the other way you feel like you try to get out of it too quick and you try to over-compensate for feeling like that. It’s something where you have to think mentally and just stay calm. You want to be quick but you don’t want to be in a hurry. You don’t want to rush it.

Q: We haven’t seen you inside, but have they talked to you about maybe playing some guard at any point?

A: When I got drafted they wanted me to be able to play every position. I think right now they just want me to get tackle down and work from there.

Q: You haven’t gone through any of those assignments?

A: No, I haven’t done any guard work at all.

Q: How much did it eat at you Saturday night not being able to play in that first game?

A: That one hurt. I’ve never really missed a significant amount of time. I missed four games at Syracuse. That being the first game, you really want to get out there and play in that one. So it definitely was a tough thing for me to sit out and watch.

Q: You never played with Syracuse at MetLife?IN PUGH 

A: No. When we played USC here, I was out. I was injured.