FLOWERY BRANCH – Here's what Falcons first-round pick Keanu Neal had to say to the Atlanta media via webcast from Chicago on Thursday:
On what it was like getting the news tonight that he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons:
“It was amazing. I kind of wanted [Atlanta] to be the team that I went to, just thinking schematically and everything, but just the coaching staff and the chemistry that we have, it’s a blessing to be a part of it.”
On how he fits into the Falcons scheme:
“I think I fit perfectly. They want a guy who’s interchangeable, a guy who can do more than just one thing and I fit that.”
On his strongest attribute at safety:
“For one, my physicality. Everyone sees me as a physical player, but also my covering ability. I can stick with guys and play guys in the pass game.”
On whether he had any idea this was going to happen tonight:
“I kind of hoped for it, but I didn’t know. You never know with the draft, so just getting a call and hearing that I was going to get called, it was surreal. I’ll never forget that moment.”
On his decision to come out early:
“I’m really happy. I was ready to take that next step. It was a hard decision for me, you know, leaving my guys. I’m a team player so to leave my guys behind and leaving the chemistry and everything that we had behind was the toughest thing for me. It all worked out and this is only the beginning. I’m ready for the journey.”
On what his relationship with Head Coach Dan Quinn is like:
“It was awesome. He recruited me so I knew him then. Once he went to the NFL, we didn’t talk much. Well, we didn’t talk at all but we had a great relationship. We met when he started recruiting me and we built a relationship from there.”
On what makes him feel like he’s the right fit for this defense:
“Everyone on the defense likes to compete, and it’s a competitive defense. I’m a competitor. I love to play the game. I play it the right way. I respect it and I take it serious. That’s what the Falcons defense is about.”
On getting off the field on third down:
“I can see myself making plays all over the field. This game nowadays is about turnovers. It’s about getting the ball off the field. I can do that.”
On the adjustment to this defense:
“I wouldn’t say there’s too much of a change defensively, but just continuing to focus on the details, studying film and understanding that the game is going to be faster. Those little things that you got away with in college aren’t going to fly in the NFL because everyone’s good, fast, and strong. So just focus on the details and the little things, watching film, and studying your opponent are going to be the biggest things for me.”
On his ability to cover a tight end:
“I’m a bigger person. I’m a bigger safety, but I’m as fast as the smaller guys. Just being a bigger body and being able to handle those guys and not be bullied by the big guys in the league helps me out a lot.”
On playing down in the box:
“I did it a lot this past year, you know, just getting down in the box and playing the run game, reading the gaps, and making plays in the hole. I did that a lot this past year, so I’m used to it. I like it. I like the contact. I just like playing football and that’s what it’s about.”
On which players he has modeled his game after:
“I like to watch a lot of guys, back in the day Shaun Taylor, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. I love watching all of those guys, but as far as modeling my game after, I don’t model my game after anyone. I’m my own player and I want to be the best me I can be and that’s what I focus on.”
On what fans can expect from him when he arrives in Atlanta:
“Obviously, my physicality, you know, a guy who cares about the game, a guy who’s going to enjoy and have a great time out there and really take it serious.”
On being a physical player:
“That’s the type of player I am. I play the game the way it should be played. The way it was played in the old school with guys like Ronnie Lott and things like that. They just love to hit, love to play the game, and just be physical. That’s the type of player I am. I love to be physical, but I love to cover as well.”
On stopping short gains from turning into long gains:
“Once you hit a guy, if he gains yards then he won and you don’t want him to win. You don’t want the offense to win. You always win as a defensive player so once you hit a guy or have contact with a guy, he’s going the opposite way.”
On whether playing in the SEC helped him prepare for the NFL:
“No doubt. You always go against great competition in the SEC, there’s no drop off there. It definitely helped me out for the big leagues I think. In college, there are sprinkles of great players but in the NFL there’s a ton of them. It helped me out but I know I’ve got a lot more to learn and a lot more to focus on. I’ve got a journey ahead of me.”
On whether his teammates would say he had leadership ability:
“You’ve got to have credibility. Being a rookie playing and trying to be a leader, you’ve got to have something behind you. It’s something the guys look at and respect. Before you get started talking or saying certain things, I do see myself as a leader. I’m not very vocal but with my actions with my work ethic I do a lot of things that guys tend to care about and follow behind.”
On some of the other teams that were interested in him:
“I mean there are a few teams. Obviously Atlanta, the Cowboys worked me out, the Panthers who I thought were interested worked me out. I went on a visit with the Steelers and the Titans. I thought all of those teams were interested. But who was going to take me? I wish I knew before. It was nerve-racking but, in all, I’m thankful to be an Atlanta Falcon.”
