Ed Thompson: Wednesday was a full-pads practice for the Jaguars. What do
you gain from having a weekly full-pads day?
Maurice Jones-Drew: Since we're more of a defense-oriented team with Coach
Del Rio, he always wants to practice pad level cause we run the ball. Running
the ball is kind of physical and it's hard to get the real feel for the game in
shorts. We're probably one of the most physical teams out there - us and the
Ravens - we run the ball and the defenses for both of those teams are some of
the top defenses in the game. For us to get ready to play the physical type of
game we like, we have to warm our bodies up to let them know that we'll be
playing a game soon; we can't just stay in shorts.
Ed Thompson: Have you felt the impact of the rookie wall at all?
MD: There's really no such thing, it's all in your mind. The only thing I can
think of as a "rookie wall" is that you're sore for longer. Usually in
college you'd basically be done now at least for a little bit, but in the NFL
you've got another four or five games left plus the playoffs if you make it
there.
ET: Back in September you rushed for 103 yards, caught 4 passes for 32
yards and scored a touchdown against Indianapolis. Is it safe to say that the
game against the Colts was the one that really put the national spotlight on you
this season and got your head coach's attention?
MD: I guess you could say that. I think the coaches wanted to ease me
into the season and not just throw me into the fire. You come out of college
where you were one of the best players on the team and then you get to the NFL
and you play with the backups. It was kind of tough for me to adjust. I knew my
role, but as a competitor you always want to be the best and help the team; not
bite your tongue. Before the game in Indianapolis, I asked the coach "when
am I going to get a chance?" And he said "maybe this game, it just
depends on how things are going." And they gave me a chance and I just
tried to make the best of my opportunity..
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| Photo: Doug Benc/Getty Images |
Q: You've posted some incredible numbers over the past few weeks. Against
both Buffalo and Miami, you've averaged over nine yards per carry. How can they
not give you more carries with numbers like that?
MD: Fred (Taylor)'s there and you have to respect that. That's something you
have to deal with when playing behind a future Hall-of-Famer, you have to wait
your turn. I'm learning a lot from him which helps me out. He's telling me
"I don't know how long I'm going to be here, but as long as I'm here I'm
goning to make sure you're alright, and I'm going to teach you everything I
know." I've been learning more and more from him each week."
Q: Between the two of you, you have a rushing tandem that's ranked third
in the NFL. Why do you think that works so well for your team?
MD: Well first of all, the offensive line does a great job blocking for us.
Then there's the coaching scheme. And with David (Garrard) back there (at
quarterback), it's another weapon for us because they can't chase us down from
the backside anymore. They have to respect David's rollout, and the
receivers are making plays downfield so it's kind of hard for teams to stop us
as an offense. They wanted to stop the run and make the young receivers make
plays and that's what they're doing now, so I'm trying to figure out what
they're going to do next because they're not going to be able to stop
everything.
Q: You're in the top five in seven very diverse categories amongst rookies
including rushing, receiving, scoring, and kick-off return average. You lead all
NFL rookies in total touchdowns with nine, you're tied for first in rushing TDs
(7), you're second to New England's placekicker in scoring, and second in
kickoff returns average (25.2). Those look like pretty good credentials for
Rookie of the Year consideration. But recently against the Bills you had over
220 all-purpose yards and New England's Laurence Maroney had about 50 yards
less, and he got consideration for Rookie of the Week while you didn't. Do you
know why it seems like your being overlooked so far?
MD: I don't think too much about that stuff. I mean obviously I want to get
Rookie of the Year, everybody should, that'd be a great goal to achieve. But so
far at times it seems like some people already have their minds set that certain
people have a chance to get it. The week I had the 220 all-purpose yards, I was
the first rookie to go over the 200-yard mark in that category this year, and
there wasn't even anything about that in the newspapers. I remember when Reggie Bush scored his first rushing touchdown, it was all over the place and
at that time I'm like, "wow, I've scored four of those already." (laughs) As
far as Laurence Maroney, my agent heard I didn't get nominated because our team
lost that week and his team won, which was hard to understand because it's
supposed to be based on individual performance. And it's nothing against those
guys because they're great players, but the media just makes it tough to get
recognized at times when you should. I still don't feel respected in this league
yet and I've done so much. I think I was the first rookie to 1,000 yards and
nobody's said anything about that, but they blew up four touchdowns in one game
(by the Colts Joseph Addai). I have nine on the season and I've only played in
ten games. Again, it's nothing against those guys, Joseph Addai has 800 yards
rushing, Laurence Maroney is doing a great job in New England, but I don't know
what else they want from me. But motivation is the key and I just try to get
ready. I really don't even look at this stuff, but I've got my friends calling
me, my agent, the PR guys at the Jaguars are telling me all that stuff. But it's
out of my control - all I can do is go out there and help the Jaguars win.
