PFF’s top-rated returning pass rusher is not projected #1 pick James Pearce, Jr. of Tennessee, or Canes phenom Rueben Bain. It's Elijah Alston. The Marshall transfer spoke to the media about his progress in camp:
On his transition to Miami: In the beginning it was a little rough because I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know how everything was going to flow. I didn't know anybody here. I had to remove all my stuff. So the transition was a little rocky.
But once I finally got settled in, it felt like home. Everybody treated me like family. I like the new people we got coming in. [Simeon] Barrow, Tyler Baron, all the other new faces as well. That just added a little push to the D-line room as a whole. I enjoy the way they work. Their work ethic is very high. I like the way it pushes all of us to get better every day.
On his role with this team: I like to pass rush. I like to drop. I like to do whatever they need me to do. I don't feel like I'm just labeled as one thing. I feel like I'm whatever you need me to be. I'm that type of player. So deep down inside, I would say I'm a utility player. If you need me on the edge, I'm on the edge. If you need me to drop, I'll drop. I play my part. I'm here to help, not just a one-trick pony.
On Cam Ward: Our relationship is a little bit different from everybody else. I do not care to talk junk. That's Cam Ward's game. That's what he does with everybody else. Me and Cam, we're buddy-buddy. When we see each other, we wave at each other. In the midst of the play, we'll wave at each other. "Hey, Cam." "Hey, EA." That's just what we do.
I don't care. It doesn't affect me. It's pointless to me. But getting after Cam, that's some work in itself just because of the type of O-line he has protecting him. It’s a battle to get to him every day. In the pocket, he throws dimes.
Even when you think you're pressuring Cam, you're not really pressuring Cam when he throws the ball. Because when you look down the field, you'll see something that's unbelievable, or somebody making a crazy catch, or where he placed the ball at. So chasing Cam, it's a different experience, but it's a fun experience, because it just pushes me to get there a little bit quicker, so he can't get the ball up.
On the competition at DE: That's just what comes with football. I don't take it like it’s a bad thing. I see it as a good thing, because competition in the room only pushes us individually to get better. If I'm in front and everybody else is behind me and I'm doing good, it's going to motivate everybody else to do better than me. If I'm behind somebody else, and they're starting above me, then that only motivates me to do better.
So I don't see competition as a bad thing or think it'll ruin anything in our relationship or our bond. It only brings us together. It teaches us as a unit to be like, “Hey, he does this better than me. So now I want to go over here and see how he works so it can help me better my game.” The competition only pushes us to get better.
On the goals for the offense: Everybody is focused on offense right now, but defense-wise, I like the defense we put together from spring to camp. The defense can be crazy this year. I’ve got high hopes. Everybody else might doubt us or overlook us. But when we step on that field, y'all gonna see what type of defense we got this year.
On his transition to Miami: In the beginning it was a little rough because I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know how everything was going to flow. I didn't know anybody here. I had to remove all my stuff. So the transition was a little rocky.
But once I finally got settled in, it felt like home. Everybody treated me like family. I like the new people we got coming in. [Simeon] Barrow, Tyler Baron, all the other new faces as well. That just added a little push to the D-line room as a whole. I enjoy the way they work. Their work ethic is very high. I like the way it pushes all of us to get better every day.
On his role with this team: I like to pass rush. I like to drop. I like to do whatever they need me to do. I don't feel like I'm just labeled as one thing. I feel like I'm whatever you need me to be. I'm that type of player. So deep down inside, I would say I'm a utility player. If you need me on the edge, I'm on the edge. If you need me to drop, I'll drop. I play my part. I'm here to help, not just a one-trick pony.
On Cam Ward: Our relationship is a little bit different from everybody else. I do not care to talk junk. That's Cam Ward's game. That's what he does with everybody else. Me and Cam, we're buddy-buddy. When we see each other, we wave at each other. In the midst of the play, we'll wave at each other. "Hey, Cam." "Hey, EA." That's just what we do.
I don't care. It doesn't affect me. It's pointless to me. But getting after Cam, that's some work in itself just because of the type of O-line he has protecting him. It’s a battle to get to him every day. In the pocket, he throws dimes.
Even when you think you're pressuring Cam, you're not really pressuring Cam when he throws the ball. Because when you look down the field, you'll see something that's unbelievable, or somebody making a crazy catch, or where he placed the ball at. So chasing Cam, it's a different experience, but it's a fun experience, because it just pushes me to get there a little bit quicker, so he can't get the ball up.
On the competition at DE: That's just what comes with football. I don't take it like it’s a bad thing. I see it as a good thing, because competition in the room only pushes us individually to get better. If I'm in front and everybody else is behind me and I'm doing good, it's going to motivate everybody else to do better than me. If I'm behind somebody else, and they're starting above me, then that only motivates me to do better.
So I don't see competition as a bad thing or think it'll ruin anything in our relationship or our bond. It only brings us together. It teaches us as a unit to be like, “Hey, he does this better than me. So now I want to go over here and see how he works so it can help me better my game.” The competition only pushes us to get better.
On the goals for the offense: Everybody is focused on offense right now, but defense-wise, I like the defense we put together from spring to camp. The defense can be crazy this year. I’ve got high hopes. Everybody else might doubt us or overlook us. But when we step on that field, y'all gonna see what type of defense we got this year.
