Q. (On Davis Mills' moustache)
REX BURKHEAD: Just showed up today. I noticed it right away. I was like, I like it, man. Looks good on you.
Q. What do you think of what he's done? He's worked on his body. Lovie said he leads everything in the building. What do you expect from him?
REX BURKHEAD: Yeah, he's done a tremendous job. Physically he's in great shape, arm looks great. Mentally he's stepped up his leadership even more. Some of our installs and stuff as an offense during meetings, like he's leading it. He's telling guys what to do, which is super impressive to me, and it's going to help his leadership skills even that much more.
I love his confidence out there. I love how he's being commanding in the huddle, and really taking control of the offense and leading us down the field.
Q. What do you think about playing behind Laremy Tunsil?
REX BURKHEAD: Oh, I love it. Love it. Big guy, can move, just an absolute freak athlete. He's tough. Comes to work every single day, and it's fun to run behind those guys. It makes your job easier. Anytime you get a run play going behind him, it works out well. Of course his pass protection, he's one of the best in the game and has been doing it for a few years now.
Q. Players tend to open up after being a rookie. How have you seen that with Davis?
REX BURKHEAD: Yeah, definitely. He's getting to know his teammates. Of course that first year I remember being a rookie, it was just -- at times just trying to see what you need to do for that day, whether that was on the field or in the building. He's definitely more comfortable, even getting so every single day and getting to know his teammates. That's huge, brings guys together, and having that camaraderie to go out there and perform every day.
Q. We got to see a little bit of him during the pre-draft process when he got drafted, but what have you noticed from Dameon Pierce? More specifically, how has he adjusted?
REX BURKHEAD: Yeah, he's done a great job. He's really trying to learn as quickly as he can. I think the biggest thing for him, as a rookie you're going to make mistakes. That's just how it is. If you have one day, try not to do it the next day, and he's done a great job of that. Just learning from things that maybe he didn't have all the way down the day before and coming back and showing, okay, I've got it down now, this is how to do it, and asking questions. He's come up to me on little details, too, which is huge. Usually if you're getting questioned about the big things, it's like, okay, yeah, there's that, but when you're asking some small details on routes and just run techniques or whatever, that's when you know someone is really locking in and picking it up quickly.
Q. Protecting the running backs, even Marlon in the backfield, how important is that to be able to take away (indiscernible)?
REX BURKHEAD: Yeah, it's huge, whatever way he can help Marlon, whoever has got the ball or just out there on the field, if that's in the passing game, pass protection. It's huge. It makes us that much more versatile, and being able to open up the offense even more for Pep.
Q. As a running back how do you get a sense a quarterback is in his comfort zone?
REX BURKHEAD: Yeah, really it's just kind of a rhythm deal, just play after play, understanding the assignment, understanding the down and distance, and making that simple play, whether that's just a check-down, if guys are spreading out or dropping back in the zone, where that is, you can just tell they know what the assignment is play after play and getting the job done.
Q. Talk about the growth Davis has had from last year to this year, the difference in him now, that kind of thing?
REX BURKHEAD: Yeah, it's been huge. Like I said, he's much more comfortable. Physically he's in great shape. Arm looks good, and just mentally leading us down the field, where that's also in the classroom, as well, making sure we're all on the same page and understanding what we're doing.
Q. You talked about running behind Laremy Tunsil but what's your evaluation of the whole offensive line?
REX BURKHEAD: Yeah, they've done a great job, guys like Laremy, of course J.B. right there in the middle, great leader for that group. Just the way he comes out and works every single day is impressive. When you have a guy like that leading the way, whether that's some younger guys in the room, of course we've got a first-round pick in that room, and just new guys on to the team, that's huge. To show their toughness every single day and to run behind them, it's quite a joy.
DraftScripts by ASAP Sports
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports