I really like to play inside. I really like being able to go one-on-one with an offensive lineman every play. At defensive end, you're more running up the field and containing more than you are just against an offensive lineman.
As an offensive lineman, having spatial awareness is key: understanding where the quarterback is going to be and understanding what the defensive end might do depending on the play we're running.
The kind of role I play is like an offensive lineman; doing a good job but not being noticed. I feel sorry for myself sometimes. But as long as the end result is there, I can dig it.
In college, my best friends were an offensive lineman, a wide receiver and defensive back. In the pros, when you leave the practice field, players go their separate ways because they are married.
Tight end is one of the hardest positions to play in football. It's right up there with quarterback and cornerback. You have to have the skills of a wide receiver and the strength of an offensive lineman, and it's not easy to balance those two.
Defensive and offensive lineman control the game and true sports fans know that.
Everybody always asked why I wanted to be an offensive lineman. I told them that I had 11 different people I can hit on every single play, while everyone else is chasing one person. I prided myself on being an extremely physical and dominant player.
We had to play both ways on the field, so I was offensive center and defensive end.
I think each guy, whether you're an offensive lineman, receiver, running back, you're focused on your job.
A great defensive lineman causes problems all day long for an offensive line - problems that don't have a way of getting into the official stats.
I have my meals delivered... you know what I like? Chicken and rice... But the problem with being a defensive lineman is, if we get out of hand with our eating, we balloon up to, like, 300-some pounds. So I really got to watch what I eat.
I'm not a huge offensive lineman.
For me, I was always just a down-to-earth guy. From Day 1 my rookie year, I've been the same. As an offensive lineman, we just want to be under-the-radar, humble guys, just like to do our work and not be noticed.
I love the physicality of an offensive lineman.
Like any offensive lineman worth his shoulder pads, I'm a mudder. Football's just not football without a healthy dose of slipping, sliding, snow, or rain.
Being an offensive lineman, you always have the mindset of being an unsung hero - a lot of the people who look at the game follow the ball.
When I see one of my teammates make a good play, to keep that energy going, I feel like that's what I do on the defensive end, and then make a good offensive play.