Shaquille Quarterman just signed a contract with the Eagles for the fifth year of his NFL career after a four-year career at Miami. TE Cam McCormick was in his same recruiting class. The nine-year veteran met with reporters after practice to discuss the TE room, Cam Ward and how this team stacks up with the great Oregon teams.
On the tight end room: The group can be really, really productive. We all have different skill sets and bring something different to the table.
We're a very unselfish room, and we like to celebrate the success of others in the room. Whenever someone makes a big play, we're all super excited, cheering, getting loud for each other. We know the hard work that we put in the offseason. When we get out there on Saturday, those big plays are going to find us and we'll be right there to celebrate with all of the guys.
On Elija Lofton: He’s definitely ahead of the game. You can just tell when guys come in- his work ethic, how hard he works and how competitive he is to be out on the field. It's impressive for a guy so young to learn the game so quick, because high school to college is a big jump. I give him his props for doing a great job.
On what makes Cam Ward special: His ability to bring the guys together. When he talks, everyone listens. He's a leader. Outside of football, he does a great job of getting guys together, hanging out, building that camaraderie with each other off the field, because that's important. Then, when we get on the field, it's all trust. When we get out there, he says something, it's like, “Hey, listen to him, and let's do it. Let's get it done.”
On his advice to young players: Work hard. Compete, Days are going to get hard. There’s going to be adversity that's going to come your way. It's about how you can handle that adversity and move forward. Every day is not going to be a great day. How are you going to be able to move on from that?
Are you going to be able to adjust your mindset to understand, “Hey, we’ve got another practice tomorrow. We’ve got to go do it all over again.” Can you keep the same level of consistency throughout the week?
On whether he’s discussed his role with Coach Dawson: I haven't really talked to them about that. I trust those guys. They trust me. Whatever role they need me to play is the role I'm going to play. I leave that up to those guys. I come out here every day. I work hard, work my butt off. Wherever that is, that's what it is.
On how this team stacks up with the good Oregon teams: This team stacks up really well to some of those teams that I've been on. We've done a really good job of tuning the little things. We focused a lot on that this offseason, and I think it's paid off for us. I can't wait to reap those rewards.
On the tight end room: The group can be really, really productive. We all have different skill sets and bring something different to the table.
We're a very unselfish room, and we like to celebrate the success of others in the room. Whenever someone makes a big play, we're all super excited, cheering, getting loud for each other. We know the hard work that we put in the offseason. When we get out there on Saturday, those big plays are going to find us and we'll be right there to celebrate with all of the guys.
On Elija Lofton: He’s definitely ahead of the game. You can just tell when guys come in- his work ethic, how hard he works and how competitive he is to be out on the field. It's impressive for a guy so young to learn the game so quick, because high school to college is a big jump. I give him his props for doing a great job.
On what makes Cam Ward special: His ability to bring the guys together. When he talks, everyone listens. He's a leader. Outside of football, he does a great job of getting guys together, hanging out, building that camaraderie with each other off the field, because that's important. Then, when we get on the field, it's all trust. When we get out there, he says something, it's like, “Hey, listen to him, and let's do it. Let's get it done.”
On his advice to young players: Work hard. Compete, Days are going to get hard. There’s going to be adversity that's going to come your way. It's about how you can handle that adversity and move forward. Every day is not going to be a great day. How are you going to be able to move on from that?
Are you going to be able to adjust your mindset to understand, “Hey, we’ve got another practice tomorrow. We’ve got to go do it all over again.” Can you keep the same level of consistency throughout the week?
On whether he’s discussed his role with Coach Dawson: I haven't really talked to them about that. I trust those guys. They trust me. Whatever role they need me to play is the role I'm going to play. I leave that up to those guys. I come out here every day. I work hard, work my butt off. Wherever that is, that's what it is.
On how this team stacks up with the good Oregon teams: This team stacks up really well to some of those teams that I've been on. We've done a really good job of tuning the little things. We focused a lot on that this offseason, and I think it's paid off for us. I can't wait to reap those rewards.
