DK Metcalf, Keeanu Benton Media Availability (Sept. 3) | Pittsburgh Steelers

DK Metcalf, Keeanu Benton Media Availability (Sept. 3) | Pittsburgh Steelers

DK, how eager are you to get out on the field with this entire first team offense given you guys didn’t have any game reps during the preseason? Um, very eager u because I haven’t played football since January. Another reason why um you know I’m ready to get there out there on the field, but also just to see all my new teammates u just so they can get used to me on Sundays on game days and you know vice versa. So just excited all around. Are there any concerns about being able to start fast given that you didn’t have that experience in game in the preseason altogether? No, that’s everybody else’s worry, not mine. What are you guys hoping to show as an offense out there Sunday? Uh, just score as many points as we can. DK, what have you guys been able to do to make sure you’re where you need to be for the week? Uh, I mean, going against this defense will definitely prepare you, uh, you know, for that. Um, but also just making sure we’re in football shape out there. Uh, you know, taking those reps serious at practice, always finishing in the end zone, finishing the rep. Um, and then using those as game our game reps. DK, are you up to speed with Aaron? And did this play out like you thought it might? Uh, I mean, I didn’t have any expectations, but of course playing with a gold gold jacket hall of famer quarterback, uh, you know, of his caliber. Um, you know, I I got to catch up to speed to him cuz he’s seen a lot of ball. Um, and like I ain’t have any expectations. I know I’m a hard worker and, you know, vice versa on his end. So, uh, you know, just ready to put a product out there on the field. What do you catch up on? Sir, what what do you catch up on? Yeah, that’s what I said. I ain’t have an expectation. So, no catching up. This is just, you know, us getting to know each other. How has that rapport grown with him in the last six weeks or so? Um, I just think, uh, our signaling, uh, the way we see the game, um, starting to, you know, get a feel for, you know, what he’s going to do at the line of scrimmage, if he’s going to make a check or not. Um, and then just the type of throws that he makes, uh, in certain coverages. Building off what you said before, maybe beyond just whatever your relationship is with or has been with Aaron, what was your anticipation of coming here and has it lived up to that so far as you guys get ready to start the season? Yes, sir. I’m just happy to play football. um and just being here in his organization um who’s won six Super Bowls um you know just trying to live up to the expectations that they’ve already set here um and you know the standard that they have here. Being around Aaron do you get a sense of what this game means to him not only that it’s week one but it’s at Metife it’s against his former team. No I mean I don’t think um his former team has anything to do with I think you know he just loves the game of football and he’s ready to um you know go out there and put a product out there on the field. I know uh it’s kind of a bad taste left in his mouth from uh you know the previous years. He just wants to go out there and win as many games as he can. Do you anticipate S Gardner following you? Uh, whoever they put out there, man. You have some experience playing against him. What does he do well and and what kind of things if he is opposite you are you going to be trying to do? Yes, sir. He’s a very good uh DB. DK, how does it impact you when you have two potential 50 catcher tight ends as opposed to, you know, maybe more guys on the outside? Yeah, that’s not none of my business. I go out there and try to win uh you know every rep um you know whenever the play’s called or if I’m out there blocking just trying to you know make sure my man doesn’t make the tackle that’s it. Even though you haven’t had preseason playing time have there been moments in practice where you walked away from a given practice or even a given represent all right this is going to work like this is how it is supposed to look. No, I mean I got the utmost confidence in everybody out there on the field. Uh whether that’s our offense, our defense, um especially going against Slay Ramsey, um and and JPJ, you know, I I have no choice but to get better. DK, Pittsburgh, City of Bridges. What’s been your reaction just to seeing the overwhelming architecture in this place? Uh I haven’t gotten out of my crib much, so I apologize for that nature, but it’s the vibe of the city is great. Um and I’m love being over. I love being over one back here. Who’s your twin on the team? You lucky I can cuss in front of these cameras. It’s not just it’s not just Aaron going back. You have a couple DBs who played over there last year, too. Can they help you at all with tendencies of individual players that were there with the Jets, too? Uh, the way I look at the game, bro, is they got to stop me and they got to stop our offense. I don’t have to I don’t think, uh, you know, me asking them will be, you know, a lot of insight because I feel like I’m a different player than, you know, a lot of the receivers that they’ve gone up against in the past. DK said that this might be the best tight end he’s ever had. What makes them so good in your eyes? What makes them different? They’re versatile and, you know, they’re tough. Can catch every, you know, football thrown against them or thrown at them. Uh, from Darnell to Pat to Connor to Jonu. They they all are very special in their own right. Just listen to what you talk about some of these matchup questions after getting traded this offse. Do you feel like you still have something to prove to the NFL or No, I ain’t got nothing to prove to nobody. I just like playing football. That’s it. How much do you look forward to having a challenge like this week one, especially after the way last season ended just with the struggles in stopping the run to be able to go out and kind of show what you guys have been working on all off season? I feel like we lead last year in the past and just move on and I think we got a good start and had a great chain of camp on doing so. What kind of challenge did these two running backs and specifically kind of pose to you guys in in Hall and Allen? I mean, I feel like it it’s difficult when you have to go against two good running backs like those guys. Uh, but you know, at the end of the day, they still human and we got to go out there and attack. How do you feel like you’ve grown as a run defender coming out of Wisconsin? You were really known for being a really good pass rusher, but how do you feel like you’ve grown uh defending the run over your first couple years into this year? Yeah, I feel like in college, I was just out there playing ball. uh really didn’t notice formations or anything like that, but just being able to study and know what I’m doing and what I’m actually looking at um and trying to make the like know the play before it even happens. K, what makes this run defense better this year? I mean, just the will. Uh I feel like we got some big guys uh that are in there willing to stop the run. Um we’re not all looking just for pass rush and those big stats, sack stats, but we down to get grimy. Mike talked about you there’s, you know, added schematics this year to help against the QB option and that was something the Rock did well against you guys last year and now you’re facing Justin Fields and uh and and Breeze. What do you guys have to do differently this year to be better against like QB option plays? You have to to mind multiple games like that. Um I feel like that’s something I’m going to keep disclosing. Just we’re going to find out on Sunday. How much of a challenge is Justin Fields though with the type of runner he is and just the physicality? Tomlin said yesterday that he’s really tough to bring down because of just his stature and how he runs. Yeah, you know, when you get a running quarterback is it it adds a whole different aspect to the game and what they can do. Um, so just keeping him contained uh keeping him in the pocket uh be big for us. How much does your experience with him last year help when he’s on the other side in terms of preparation for him? I mean, you kind of know his tendencies, but at the end of the day, once again, it’s game day. People can play different. They can think different. So, gotta go out there and stop them. You mentioned leaving the past in the past, but was that a little challenging based on the way last year ended? No. Elijah Tucker got reportedly uh injured, might not be able to play play in this game when you guys study him. How good is he when he’s not on the field? Like, what does that do for you guys’ game? I mean, I think we still got a plan to play together and make the most of it no matter who’s on the other side of the line. Kevin, do you expect Cam to play Sunday? Is he giving indication he won’t play? That’s a question for Cam, sir. Do you know Allen at all? Brilen? Yeah. Yeah. He’s a good guy. What do you think of him as a back? He’s a good guy. He’s not one of us. So, not really into talking about it. What does Black continue to be like just as a as a rookie learner you guys now that he’s getting ready for his first NFL like real action? Yeah, he he he’s huge. Um he had a great preseason and just talking to him, making sure he bring that into regular season.

DK Metcalf and Keeanu Benton spoke to the media on Wednesday, September 3 ahead of the Steelers Week 1 game against the New York Jets

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