When offensive line coach Alex Mirabal singled out one player from the first couple weeks of camp, it wasn’t an offensive player. It was defensive end Akheem Mesidor. The veteran met with reporters to discuss his return from injury:
On the rehab of his foot: I was really just working on small fundamental things while doing rehab. But my feet are no longer an issue. I've been working all winter and spring. I got fitted by Adidas and different things. I got custom shoes now and I feel great. So I'm just trying to play to my full potential.
On his special shoes: Basically, we just wanted to get stiffer cleats. I got my feet scanned countless times to look at the width of my feet, how long my feet are, and then we made cleats based off the results they got off of testing.
On his excitement level for Week One: I'm starving. I can't wait. I love football. I love to play. I love to play with my guys. I just love to compete, man. That's what I'm made for.
On the mental grind of rehab: It was a rough process. It really started off sad because the last thing you want is a season-ending injury. Then I got angry. And then once those phases passed, I started to become basically like another coach on the field. It made me hungry seeing guys like Rueben Bain eat. I want to be right there beside him eating as well. I'm seeing my guys ball out, seeing all the new talent we got in the room. It keeps driving me to be better.
On where he lines up: Everywhere. I just want to be put in position to make plays. If the team needs me outside on the edge, I'll be on the edge. If they need me inside at three-tech, I’ll be three-tech. And even at Jack (standup rusher), if they need me to drop back to coverage. I'll do it all. I practice everything. I'm training myself to do everything. I know the plays from all four positions. So any position I get put in, I'm prepared to play to my the best capability.
On Rueben Bain: Seeing Rueben come in last year, you could see his hunger by the way he practices. He’s a guy who loves to play. He’s a student of the game. I love that about him. As soon as he came on campus and I saw all these different things, I tried to be by his side as much as I could. Especially when I went down, I knew that he was next up. So I just wanted to be there for him and made sure I was there for anything he needed and any questions he had. We grew a tight bond after that. That's my guy. So we're going to work together.
On the young players: Those young guys are hungry. I love to see it. They feed off the older guys. Every time the older guys make a play, it makes them want to make a play. Every time you see an older guy work hard, practice hard, be physical, it drives them. They're just trying to learn from us.
On the word that describes where is at after rehab: Starving.
On the rehab of his foot: I was really just working on small fundamental things while doing rehab. But my feet are no longer an issue. I've been working all winter and spring. I got fitted by Adidas and different things. I got custom shoes now and I feel great. So I'm just trying to play to my full potential.
On his special shoes: Basically, we just wanted to get stiffer cleats. I got my feet scanned countless times to look at the width of my feet, how long my feet are, and then we made cleats based off the results they got off of testing.
On his excitement level for Week One: I'm starving. I can't wait. I love football. I love to play. I love to play with my guys. I just love to compete, man. That's what I'm made for.
On the mental grind of rehab: It was a rough process. It really started off sad because the last thing you want is a season-ending injury. Then I got angry. And then once those phases passed, I started to become basically like another coach on the field. It made me hungry seeing guys like Rueben Bain eat. I want to be right there beside him eating as well. I'm seeing my guys ball out, seeing all the new talent we got in the room. It keeps driving me to be better.
On where he lines up: Everywhere. I just want to be put in position to make plays. If the team needs me outside on the edge, I'll be on the edge. If they need me inside at three-tech, I’ll be three-tech. And even at Jack (standup rusher), if they need me to drop back to coverage. I'll do it all. I practice everything. I'm training myself to do everything. I know the plays from all four positions. So any position I get put in, I'm prepared to play to my the best capability.
On Rueben Bain: Seeing Rueben come in last year, you could see his hunger by the way he practices. He’s a guy who loves to play. He’s a student of the game. I love that about him. As soon as he came on campus and I saw all these different things, I tried to be by his side as much as I could. Especially when I went down, I knew that he was next up. So I just wanted to be there for him and made sure I was there for anything he needed and any questions he had. We grew a tight bond after that. That's my guy. So we're going to work together.
On the young players: Those young guys are hungry. I love to see it. They feed off the older guys. Every time the older guys make a play, it makes them want to make a play. Every time you see an older guy work hard, practice hard, be physical, it drives them. They're just trying to learn from us.
On the word that describes where is at after rehab: Starving.
