Jaxon Smith-Njigba: “Process Over Results” | Seattle Seahawks

Jaxon Smith-Njigba: “Process Over Results” | Seattle Seahawks

It’s your third straight week going against an OSU receiver. Uh what’s going on? Is you still take LSU over OSU for receiver? Nah. No, I wouldn’t say I take uh No, I don’t. But it is always good to play former Buckeye and um been having some good luck with that. So hopefully we continue, you know, to win against those guys. You just got offensive rookie of the year over there in Tampa Bay. What what have you seen from from that rookie uh from OSU? Man, he’s been balling out. Um you know, definitely happy for him. Um you know, he’s a sharp route runner. He’s going to catch the ball. Um a solid player. You know, something um we’re going to have to focus on. You know, hopefully he doesn’t have, you know, too good of a Sunday, but um super proud of him. You know, he’s a brother of mine, so it like I said, it’s great to see him balling out. Did you ever run run into him around here? He was um I didn’t. Uh he had his his draft party here. You know, got to see him get drafted out here. So, you know, that was cool. I know he has a lot of friends and family and a lot of love out here in Seattle. So, um I’m sure it’d be a cool moment for him to come back. Did you get more of a clarification at all on that holding penalty than what happened? No, I didn’t. I didn’t. I just got to be better on my my end, I guess. When you look at a matchup, I know that you’re looking at film, right, and what’s happening in front of you. How much do you dive into the numbers, if at all, to know statistically what a defense is trending towards? Uh yeah, um we do a great job. Um they put it up on a board for us uh statistically like what coverages they’re in. um if that’s what you’re asking, you know, um their base coverages and the percentages, you know, they like to do on first and second and third down. So, um statistically, that’s the only thing I really look at. So, when you look at this Bucks defense and you look at rushing yards allowed, which is not very many, one of the best in the league. You don’t look at those numbers to think, oh, maybe the focus goes again towards throwing the ball a little more this week. Yeah. Uh for me myself, um not really. Um, I don’t think, you know, I don’t really think like that. I just, you know, I have a ton of respect for these guys, though. These guys, um, like you, like you said, um, run to the ball and, you know, the rushing yards per game, you don’t really see. And, uh, but I think they have a solid secondary and a and a great defense, and I think it’ll be a great challenge this Sunday. You’re establishing yourself as one of the best receivers in the game. Uh, you’re not the tallest, you’re not the fastest, you’re not the strongest. What’s something maybe people don’t understand that it takes to be a good receiver that just doesn’t show up on those types of things? I guess some willpower, you know, um just getting the job done, you know, plain and simple, executing, building relationships, working and uh executing like I said. What was your mindset like in the first half of that game? I don’t think you had a target uh until what was it late in the third quarter? at some point in the third quarter, are you going to sand before that and saying, “Hey, give me the ball. I’m open.” Like, what’s your what’s your mindset like? Uh, no. I know it’ll find me when it finds me. And, uh, I just got to focus on doing my job and that is running routes and catching footballs. And that’s what I love to do. And, uh, you know, as long as we’re winning, we’re putting points up, we’re creating solid drives, you know, I’m happy with that because, you know, at the at the end of the day, winning is all that matters. What cleat did you have on and what did you switch to? Um, I had a couple cleats on honestly. I had some Dion, I had some my my regular shoes, but uh put the untouchables on. Those were those were the ones right there. Say that again. The the untouchables. Yep. So, you had two different ones on in the first half and then change. So, those are the same. Yeah, did feel any different? Yeah, I think the last pair felt the best. So, everyone focuses on your receiving, but you’re also willing to dig out a safety in the run game. Is that something that you’ve always done or something that you’ve picked up more here? No, that’s something I always done. Um, looking back, you know, my career all the way to high school is something that, you know, I take pride in and um, you know, want to spring open Zack and K9 and whoever has the ball, you know, just do my extra part because I know those guys will do it for me. So, um I think that’s kind of the bond we created. So, anything I can do in the run game, you know, I’m going to do it. When you catch a back shoulder throw like, uh you did on the final drive there, is that the idea? Is that is the play designed that way or is that sort of based on the look you get and how the quarterback plays you? I say, yeah, it’s based on the look, you know, just playing ball honestly. Um a million things, you know, can happen, but it’s just about, you know, executing, you know. at the end of the day and Sam did that putting put the ball in a great spot and I was able to make a play. You know, you’ve talked in the past about the different veteran receivers you’ve been lucky to play with since you got in the NFL. You’ve been with Cooper Cup now for a little bit. What What’s a thing or two you’ve learned from him in the time he’s been here. Just his preparation. Um I love when he when he says, you know, process over results, that’s something that sticks with me. Um, it’s about the process, you know, being dedicated to the process and, um, not dedicated, you know, not attached to the result, you know what I’m saying? That can go up and down. So, but being dedicated and um, trusting the process is something that he kind of like something I felt like was in me, but he put it in words and I thought it just clicked and, you know, that’s something, you know, I would take from him. Jackson, with the start to the season that you’re off to, do you expect defenses to start approaching you differently, start trying to shade more your direction, try to do things to to get you out of your game more than you’ve seen up to this point? I’m I’m sure. I’m sure. Um, you know, that is a possibility. And, uh, but like I always said, we got threats all over the field. you know, Toy Horn coming alive. Um, Cooper Cup, you know, obviously K9 backfield O line. So, um, you know, this is a group effort and, um, you know, if they shade my way, you know, spring somebody else open and that’s a that’s a good that’s good for us. Did you ever at Ohio State, did that ever happen to you where you kind of win the games? Say it again. At Ohio State, did that happen where you, you know, noticed defenses kind of putting more such as you ever? I mean, we had so many guys on the field, it was I I think it was, you know, kind of hard at that time. But, um, yeah, I don’t know. When you have a lot of when you have a lot of guys on the field that can, you know, create plays, which I feel like, you know, like I said, the Seattle offense does as well. I mean, it’s kind of hard to key on just one guy. You guys have been the best, most efficient, uh, two tight end offense in the NFL so far. Uh what is it about uh that grouping that’s working so well for you guys right now with the two tight end set? Yeah, just um being able to run the ball. Um physical presence. I think the tight ends do a great job, man. I don’t think they get enough credit. Um being able to be in a run game and also um run great routes and catch the ball, be available. So them being versatile like that just opens up the offense so much and uh they’re a big part of this offense and we’re lucky to have AJ and um Aoro and and all those guys specifically with AJ. What stands out to him about uh uh as a pass catcher. But AJ uh AJ um he he got big hands, you know, he’s a big target. Um you know, he knows how to attack the ball. um just very athletic, you know, big athlete, big target like I said. So, um a for sure catcher and um yeah, that’s what I said. In the offseason when you told M McDonald that you wanted to come back and be the best, what part of you became better, that had nothing to do with your speed, your answer, or your rout? Yeah. Um just I know just ending the season like I did and collecting all that information. um having that that confidence. Um yeah, building that throughout the season and you know just knowing that you know letting time play his course and uh you know this is what I you know dream and love. So I just knew that like I said just playing the course you know I going to come back better. What was it I think you said it was like your junior year you like I’m about to go to the league in high school. I mean, what was it about that junior year that you felt? Yeah. 1,800 yards, about 25 touchdowns. You know what I’m saying? Like, yeah, it’s time. Like, were you just were you unsure about it before that? Unsure? I mean, you know, anything can happen and which it still could have, but um I think I was just I felt stamped at that time, I guess. Good. Thanks, guys. Thank you sir.

Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba discusses the upcoming game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and reflects on his NFL journey. Smith-Njigba explains his approach to game preparation at (1:37), focusing on defensive coverage statistics. He attributes his success as a receiver to willpower and execution (2:48). The conversation touches on his performance in recent games, including a crucial back-shoulder catch (4:48). Smith-Njigba also highlights the importance of the two-tight end set in the Seahawks’ offense (7:13) and shares insights learned from veteran receiver Cooper Kupp (5:15). He mentions teammates Zach Charbonnet, Kenneth Walker III, and AJ Barner, emphasizing the team’s offensive threats.

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