Isaiah Adams Press Conference – 7.16.24 | AZ Cardinals
Uh there’s obviously a handful of Canadians that are in the league, but to go back and to see the growth of the sport, you know, live and in action now that you are in the league. Uh was it rewarding or what were some of the emotions when you saw the kids out there at the camp? Yeah, I think rewarding is the word. Um you know, you’re a part of something that’s bigger than yourself kind of that’s what I’m realizing and we’re at the early stages of kind of growing the sport in Canada. So to be a part of that in any way I can is is huge. Do you did you sense that from some of the kids just their excitement of seeing an NFL player around them? Yeah. Yeah, for sure. Growing up playing football, I didn’t I didn’t ever have to get the opportunity to see an NFL player like live in the flesh. So, um for some of these kids, I bet it was huge to kind of see the the finish line and, you know, stuff like that. The red guard position for you obviously is something that you learned a lot about throughout the season last year. uh when you re-evaluate how the season went last year. What are some of your takeaways? Um I think it was obviously like I just want to be got to be thankful for even getting in there. Um you know, you’re you’re not having the success that you’re used to in college and I think it just it’s humbling, but at the same time it just kind of motivated me to get bigger, stronger, faster, and you know, maybe switch up my approach and added a way more fuel to the fire. So I’m excited to see how that turns out. What were some of the things you were focused on throughout the offseason to get ready for year two? Um, I think like obviously physically like kind of things like that I have on my list that but I think it was more so from a mental aspect just kind of trying to slow the game down, trying to look at the game, you know, going into this off seasonason from not really just kind of like with blinders on, but maybe just kind of broaden my vision and kind of understand what’s happening out there and why things are happening. you know, more defensive coverages could influence a Dline game. So, just not trying to look at it just on from a 1v one, but more like from an 11v1. You got any valuable reps that you did in hindsight? Now, is there, you know, a a most important lesson you learned, whether that’s things in the meeting room, on the field, like what I guess was your biggest takeaway from your rookie year that is going to help you this time around? I’d say just stay an even kill. like you know kind of not getting so high when you’re having a good day and you know when things don’t go your way don’t get too low I think the more you can kind of just stay consistent um is I think what I saw good players do you know especially even guys on our team you know you can’t really see if they’re too excited or too in their head it’s just one next play after the other so I think that’s a huge takeaway getting those reps at the end of the year do you come in thinking this is kind of your job to lose or what’s your mindset heading into this year for that job at right I just say just take it one day at a time continue to, you know, build trust among the guys. Um, give Tyler Kyler some confidence. Um, you know, same with James, same with, you know, the whole offense. You know, I think it’s just kind of just trying to give them, you know, the feeling that Isaiah’s here and I I can trust Isaiah. I can Jonah Yela both those guys. I want them to know that like they can count on me. You guys haven’t been able to practice in pads yet. It’s going to take a few practices at training camp, but you have a beefed up defensive line from what you have seen. Is there a player in particular you are itching to go against or what kind of differences have you seen from what you can tell so far? Yeah, they it just looks competitive over there, you know, and whenever I look at them kind of doing their indie, I know they got a new coach over there that’s excited. So, they just look competitive. They all look ready to go. So, I can’t wait to, you know, compete with them. There’s not one guy that I’m, you know, have a star on. We’re all teammates. But, you know, I’m excited to see, you know, like some of the veterans, Kas and um Dalvin. I think it’s just kind of it’s it’s unique. I’m going into my second year and, you know, those guys are a lot older than me. So, just to just test myself and compete with them is such a honor. So, I’m thankful for that. What do you like about your offensive line as a just a group of guys? Yeah, man. We’re we’re, you know, we do things the right way. Um, I think, you know, Paris is a is a great example of a first round pick, but, you know, we have guys that are undrafted, guys, late round guys that, you know, have played in the NFL for a long time. So, they do things the right way. Um, they show you no matter where you’re picked, no matter how it start, it’s about kind of where you’re finishing. And, you know, we have guys on the O line who exemplify that every single day. So, that’s what I like the most. What’s it been about working with the new coach for yourself, Justin Fry? Man, he’s he’s a breath of fresh air. Uh, I obviously loved Clayton and he drafted me, but at the same time, you know, Coach Fry does things a little bit different and, you know, I enjoy them. Um, I, you know, I trust Coach Ganon and I trust Coach Fry. So, you know, they’re going to get everything they can out of me for sure. I’m I’m excited to be with him for sure. You mentioned Harris. He’s still a fairly young guy in his career. You also kind of taken over some kind of leadership roles in your group. Um, you know, he’s definitely a vocal leader. Um, and I think I’ve seen that grow throughout, you know, this his second year and going into his third year. Um, he was extremely vocal throughout the OTAAS and mini camp period. So, that was great. And, you know, he’s a guy that does the right things every single day. So, you can’t really ask for more from one of your top guys. Yeah. Have you and Christian had any words of advice for Hayden about any sort of rookie duties for your room? Yeah, we’ve had we’ve gave him some pointers kind of what to expect and um to make sure he has some drinks and snacks and jokes ready. Yeah, we’ve kind of told him everything he needs to know. Um yeah, so how are you for this moment? How ready am I? Um I’m ready, man. I’ve I’ve prepared my whole life for it. So I think um I just want to take it one day at a time and you know I’m not get too high and just keep competing. I think you never know what’s going to happen until you’re running out that tunnel week one. So, um, for right now, it’s just there’s so much more work to do and, you know, it’s a long, long season and kind of getting ready to play 17 games. Different physically this off season to get yourself as prepared as possible or are you just continuing with what you’ve been doing? Yeah, I’ve done um a couple things different, but at the same time, I I’m a guy that, you know, empties the tank every day. So, um, obviously I’ve switched kind of my training and but at the end of the day it’s the same effort that got me from Garden City, Kansas to Illinois to Illinois to Arizona. That’s kind of the mentality I’ll always take. What are these last few days like before like do you anything knowing that you know business about to pick up in a sense? Um, no, you just want to keep the same routine, get your body feeling good. Obviously, you know, relax your mind because like this training camp it’s a taxing period. It’s long days. So right now we our days are kind of open so you want to enjoy that but at the same time know the storm’s well to come for sure. Yeah. When you were in uh Canada you did a lot with the stampede rodeo. Do you have experience doing some of the things you were doing with the Cowboys or was that all new to you? That was all new. I I actually grew up in a suburb and like right outside of a major city. So it’s kind of like taking a New York kid to Wyoming for the first time. And that was the experience I got. And I’m, you know, definitely thankful for it. Yeah. Was it different? Like what were you what were thoughts running through your head? Um, yeah, it was different. Like I never been to a rodeo. I don’t own a pair of boots or cowboy hats, so I I learned a lot. Um, and I would definitely be back, but at the same time, like the media stuff is just kind of I like to just play football, guys. So, yeah. And I just, you know, I know this is a big year coming up. So, I just got to but it was good to get out there, get to Canada, inspire some kids, and that was the bigger purpose of the whole trip. You do any rodeo stuff? I met pretty much like every guy that was kind of headlining each event and they kind of broke down what their day in the life looks like and yeah, it was pretty cool. Rope and ride. Yeah, I tried a bit. I wasn’t the best. So, yeah. No, I couldn’t do no riding. Um, the coaches kind of specifically asked for me to not do nothing physical. So, yeah. Yeah, it was a lot of learning. Just kind of mental notes. You played all over the place until last year finally got your first taste of right guard spot. Yeah. What’s any difference for you than left guard or right tackle, left tackle? You’ve done all those, but you haven’t done right guard until last year. Yeah, I mean, no, it’s not it’s not different. It’s it’s kind of you have to use your experience. Like I played I started 10 games my senior season at Illinois at right tackle. So, same side of the ball, just kind of a little bit tighter space between tackle and guard. So, I think everything I’ve been through kind of prepared me for this moment. Yep. How were those five games for you last year when you started right? How were they? Uh, they were a huge like learning process. There was highs, lows, um, growing pains and you know, I care so much about this game. So to not have the success that I would like to have is obviously challenging but you can either you know get better or you know stay the same. So I chose to get better for sure. You said the success you want to have looking at numbers is it a feel? Is it pressures? Like what what would you feel good about to have a successful game? Uh just I think when James has a good day on the ground or Kyler can, you know, stay clean. And I think, you know, it’s a feeling that you get when other guys are having success and you know how you help that happen. So that’s really I can measure it just how other guys are having success and if I feel like I help that. Yeah. Thanks Isaiah. Makes no worse. Thank you guys.
Arizona Cardinals OL Isaiah Adams addresses the media in the offseason from Dignity Health Training Center.
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