RAN CARTHON: Good afternoon. How's everybody doing? Good. It is with great pleasure that Mike and I sit here having our first pick together in attendance with his parents, Bob and Ann.
Like we talked about last night, Peter's a guy that we coveted. A guy that we didn't expect to be here for us at 11. We're thrilled to have him.
So I'm going to pass it on to Mike before we bring him up and introduce him to the Titans fans.
MIKE VRABEL: Absolutely. Just want to welcome Peter and his family to our organization. On behalf of the coaching staff and everybody involved it's been great to see him in the building and meet everybody. I know he's excited just as we are and it's just been cool. It's been really comfortable. Like to welcome you guys. Obviously this is a great opportunity, not only for us, but for you and your family and I know that Peter's ready to get to work. And the first job that he has is to take your questions. So we would like to welcome him and have a great picture here.
RAN CARTHON: Peter Skoronski, everybody.
(Photo opportunity.)
Q. With your grandfather playing for the Packers, was playing offensive line just kind of in the bloodline, so to speak?
PETER SKORONSKI: Yeah, I think bloodline and the genetics. I don't think I really had a choice when I started playing tackle football. I think I was too heavy to even be allowed to carry the ball so I always had to play O-line. Never really played anything else. So just always felt natural. I was a bigger dude, so, yeah.
Q. You mentioned the versatility that you have. If you're asked to go and play guard, what is -- since the sixth grade you haven't played that position, I don't believe it was. So what is it makes you feel you can do that successfully?
PETER SKORONSKI: More than anything I'm going to try to do what I can do to help the team. So if that's what I'm asked to do I'll definitely do it. Obviously it's an adjustment having only played tackle. The game's a lot faster in there, it's a lot different. But that's just going come with reps and drill and technique. So obviously just happy to do it if it helps the team. That's just my mentality and I'll get the hang of it, for sure.
Q. Working with Duke is that something that, leading up to the draft, is that something that you worked on just some of the things you maybe had to do?
PETER SKORONSKI: To a little bit of an extent. Obviously nothing like too position-specific. Work both sides of the line, both positions. So just trying to be ready to play anywhere. But, yeah, I think that helped a little bit. But it's hard to really do anything without putting pads on, which I didn't do with Duke. So obviously once I get the pads on I'll have a better feel for that.
Q. Are you surprised by -- I don't know how much attention you paid to it, but you said you took an awful lot of questions about it -- just how much big draft machine automatically looks at the arms and puts you at guard, despite the fact that you started every game at left tackle and had a very successful career there had the bloodline and all of that?
PETER SKORONSKI: Yeah, yeah, obviously it was a big talking point. I just feel like my opinion is that there's so much more that goes into being a good tackle than just arm length. There's so much more to blocking than that. I think at the end of the day it's just about blocking people and I think I proved I could do that in college. But there's so much in terms of foot work and punching and efficiency with your hands that I think matter. That's something that I have to continue to work on to get better at. But I think that that sort of matters more than just, oh, your arms are this measurement. So, yeah, I just think there's more to it than that and that's why I feel like I can play the tackle position.
Q. Was that happening back before January or was it kind of just manifesting during the draft that people were talking about your arms?
PETER SKORONSKI: Yeah, so I didn't realize it was a thing until probably last spring when I sort of knew that the NFL process could be in my future. And it was kind of funny, like during spring ball I think last year I made some comment about a rep and I mentioned to my coach about, oh, my arms are shorter, so I have to do this. And he was just like, I don't care. So that was sort of the end of that discussion and it was just sort of -- I didn't really think about it much until that.
Then obviously it's been a big talking point with people. But I always just had to go out there and block people. It's not about length and that's it.
Q. What have the last 18 hours been like for you? You talked about your phone blowing up. How have you handled it?
PETER SKORONSKI: Yeah, it's been a whirl wind. It feels crazy, 24 hours ago I didn't know what was going to be in my future and now here I am in Nashville. So it's been a whirlwind and I got to take a second to stop and soak it in for a little bit. But just a huge blessing to be here and be a part of the Titans organization. So really happy about how things have gone, yeah.
Q. What went into your decision to not attend the draft?
PETER SKORONSKI: Yeah, I just feel like -- obviously I'm not a huge media guy generally, so kind of wanted to avoid that scene there. Obviously nothing against it.
But also wanted the opportunity to have a bunch of family and friends and teammates around me, which I was able to do at home. So really appreciated that and spending that time with them, because a lot of those people helped me get to where I am. So that was what really kind of drove that and having those people around me for that.
Q. Talking to your friend Dan Pompei talking about some your leadership, going outside of your comfort zone. There's room here even for a new young guy probably to lead on this line. How do you plan on kind of gauging the room for that and what you're able to do as a first-year guy?
PETER SKORONSKI: Yeah, yeah, I know obviously as a young guy it can be tough to be in that position because you don't have the experience under your belt. But I think it just starts with just doing your job and being a consistent guy right off the bat. Someone who does what they're supposed to do on and off the field.
So that's just where I'm, that's what I'm going to start with and go from there. I think guys will, you know, I'll earn guys' respect by doing what I'm supposed to do. That's really the only thing you can do to sort of earn that leadership position.
Q. In your meeting with Ran and Coach Vrabel were you able to kind of gauge and just get a feel for like what this organization is about?
PETER SKORONSKI: Yeah, that for sure and just obviously being a NFL fan and knowing the Titans organization and how they play and just like a hard-nosed team and really tough mentality. I was Packers fan and pretty upset when they beat the Packers last year. So just kind of familiar with what they do. Sort of really admired that from afar. Obviously now really happy to be a part of it.
Q. Now having gathered that information, how do you feel you will fit into the organization?
PETER SKORONSKI: Yeah, I think it's kind of similar to how like our general mentality at Northwestern in terms of work ethic and physicality and violence and just sort of that hard nosed, gritty mentality that we had at Northwestern I think that will be a pretty good transition for me coming here I think it's the same values here too.
Q. We talk about the physical part of your game. How would you rate yourself as a technician because as a left tackle you got to be probably the most athletic person on the offensive line?
PETER SKORONSKI: Yeah, I think technician is probably the number one title I would sort of strive for personally behind being violent, being a physical player. But offensive line's so difficult you have to have technique. Especially, I guess, someone like me who is not like the built-in-a-lab-type tackle. So technique is something I always really, really pride myself on and that's how you're going to be able to win, especially at this level with this competition.
Q. What do you want Titans fans to know about you?
PETER SKORONSKI: I think I'm someone who prides myself on consistency. I want to be someone for this organization that people can count on day-in and day-out on and off the field. That they can count on for a good performance week-in and week-out. So that's what I promise and I hope fans will realize that.
Q. Have you had anybody reach out, player-wise, from the Titans?
PETER SKORONSKI: Ryan Tannehill texted me last night just real quick. I haven't checked my phone or my texts, there might be more.
Q. What did he say?
PETER SKORONSKI: Just welcoming me to the organization. Excited to get to work. So I'm excited too.
Q. Do you have any other connections just with college or Big Ten that you know some guys?
PETER SKORONSKI: I really don't actually. Obviously familiar with a lot of guys on the team, but not personally.
Q. Now that the draft process is over, what are the next steps for you?
PETER SKORONSKI: Yeah, just getting through mini camp and rookie development and finding my way through the organization and learning the playbook for sure is big and kind of conquering that mental aspect will be big priority on my mind before we put the pads on.
Q. The family ties to Green Bay, how quick is the transition then to turning them over to converting to Titans fans here?
PETER SKORONSKI: Yeah, well I'm going to put on it that blue jersey, so it's not too hard once I'm going out there. I don't think it will be an issue.
Obviously the organization, having my grandfather play there will always be a part of our family history and a part of me. But definitely all Titans now.
Q. Is there anything your grandfather ever told you that kind of stuck with you?
PETER SKORONSKI: Yeah, his big thing was keep your head up was kind of his mentality. I think, especially at offensive lineman things can get rough and it's a tough positions, it's just keep your head up and keep going. Even from a technique standpoint. As my offensive line coach in college says, There's nothing to look at on the ground, as far as coming off blocks and stuff.
Q. Did your grandfather take you to any Packers games? Take you down to the locker room or any of those types of things when you were young?
PETER SKORONSKI: Not really. Mostly went to Packers games with my uncles who were season ticket holders.
I do remember one game I went with him where he did an autograph signing and he was announced at Lambeau Field which was real cool to see that and have the whole stadium sort of cheer for him. But I've been to tons of Packers games, but mostly with my family and uncles.
Q. Was there ever a question about what position you would play? You didn't start playing until you were 12, is that right?
PETER SKORONSKI: Yeah.
Q. How big were you then?
PETER SKORONSKI: I was pretty big. I was a sixth grader playing -- that was my first year, sixth grade, playing on a seventh and eighth grade league. So I was pretty large. Immediately I had like the stripe on the helmet saying I couldn't carry the ball, I had to play O-line. So there wasn't really much of a question about it. I was an O-lineman right off the bat.
Q. What do you think your size was?
PETER SKORONSKI: Oh, I don't know. Looking at my dad right now. I can't remember.
Q. Talking to Pat Fitzgerald, he told me that you, on the biggest day of your life so far, you went to Northwestern and worked out. What does that say -- is that just who you are?
PETER SKORONSKI: I think it's just a routine thing, personally. Just it's really another day and obviously if it's a normal Thursday morning, I'm probably going in and working out. Definitely getting some nervous energy out too. So just wanted to do that. Keep up with my workout routine.
I think in the afternoon, actually, I was like super anxious and stuff just laying around the house, so I like started doing planks randomly. Just like to get the energy out. So, yeah, just part of my routine and get the energy out, for sure.
Q. That physicality, the violence that you're known to play with, everybody has their own reason for it. What's your why? Why do you play with that physicality?
PETER SKORONSKI: I just kind of love the aspect of the game of being able to dominate someone for 60 minutes. I think that so much of that relies on physicality and violence and just sort of like moving a guy against his will, sort of getting him to fold. So I think that's really cool to think about.
I think some of the best moments offensive linemen will talk about is like a series where you only run the ball and just kind of beat the piss out of the defensive line and just run it up their throats and move down the field. Just because there's such a physicality, physical aspect to that and just like mano-a-mano, kick their ass.
Q. And that vibes right with Derrick Henry, right?
PETER SKORONSKI: Yeah, yeah, for sure. That's kind of why I was definitely really excited to come here because I know this team has that mentality. Especially with Derrick and the offensive line. So really excited for that.
Q. When you were being recruited who all was offering you and what made you decide to go to Northwestern?
PETER SKORONSKI: It kind of game came down to Stanford, Northwestern, Notre Dame. So I wanted to go to a good academic school, for sure. I think just Northwestern kind of had everything I was looking for in terms of culture, coaching staff, academics, like I said. It was relatively close, it's close to home. That's not what I set out to do, but it was convenient for sure. So kind of checked all the boxes. So it worked out great.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports