Adrian Clayborn Speaks
October 6th, 2011
Adrian Clayborn gets in the face of Dolts quarterback Curtis Painter Monday night.
Joe was among a gaggle of reporters who got a chance to speak with Bucs rookie defensive end Adrian Clayborn after the Bucs beat the Dolts on Monday Night Football.
Q. Tell us how the defensive line dominated late and controlled the line of scrimmage.
A. Aw, man, we just put it in our heads that we needed to get to the quarterback in the second half and change the game. We got them in third downs, third-and-longs and when we do that, we hunt.
Q. How much does that help you as a defensive end when you get teams in must-pass situations? You hear the phrase “Pin your ears back.” How much does that help you as a defensive lineman.
A. You just know that you have no other obligations in your head like the run. Just get to the quarterback. It’s just you and the tackle or the guard or the center. You just hunt.
Q. The defensive line took a big step forward.
A. We were on a big stage. We struggled a little bit in the first half but we got it together and came through and made a difference.
Q. You were a sophomore at Iowa when Curtis Painter was a senior at Purdue. Did you ever get a sack on Painter when you played for the Hawkeyes?
A. (Huge, beaming smile came across Clayborn’s face.) Naw man, I sucked back then. I didn’t play against him.
Q. Tell us about playing on Monday Night Football. I’m sure you watched Monday Night Football growing up dreaming about playing on Monday nights and in your rookie season in your fourth game you get a sack on Monday Night Football.
A. Aw, man, that was fun. If you can’t get up for this, you can’t get up at all. We got some energy in the second half and came through for the team.
October 6th, 2011 at 10:09 am
I am seeing dominance on our defensive line lately, and not just Clayborne either.
They have been an extremely disruptive bunch lately.
October 6th, 2011 at 10:13 am
Honestly,I did not like the Clayborn pick but so far he has proven me wrong…glad he is on our team !
October 6th, 2011 at 10:28 am
Great interview – thanks Joe. The only thing I have a problem with is: “If you can’t get up for this, you can’t get up at all. We got some energy in the second half and came through for the team.” If it’s so easy to “get up” for a MNF game, why did it take you guys until the second half? The slow starts won’t get us wins against the good teams, Adrian. We need to start playing 4 quarters of football, not two.
October 6th, 2011 at 10:50 am
The Bucs killed Hank Williams Jr .. This will always be known as the Game Hank left Monday Night Football .. ESPN Fired him for a political opinion. Crazy
October 6th, 2011 at 10:50 am
This guy is really starting to come on! Bet he gets 8 sacks this year.
Both DEs are playing great so far. I’m dying to see Bowers get some major time soon. He was considered the top talent in this draft, until the rumors started drifting around. As his knee gets better, he should start showing what a beast he’s gonna be. Nothing but great stuff to say about this young line!
October 6th, 2011 at 10:58 am
@jvato24 There’s only two people who should ever be compared to Hitler. That’s Stalin and Pol Pot.
Now back to the Predator, this guy is gonna be a beast once he actually learns how to play, what you are seeing this season is pure unadulterated raw talent with some coaching-up. I can’t wait until he knows what he’s doin’.
October 6th, 2011 at 11:03 am
flmike, that’s the most exciting part of all this. This dline is so young and raw. To think they’ve got a ton of room for improvement and I get the chills. They have the potential to be the best Buc’s dline ever. It will be exciting to see them grow, learn, and get nastier.
October 6th, 2011 at 11:11 am
How in the world did you not like the Clayborn pick?? The dude was a stud at Iowa.
October 6th, 2011 at 11:13 am
KD:
Don’t think Clayborn was the issue with the Bucs in the first half against the Dolts. Didn’t he have a sack in the first half?
October 6th, 2011 at 11:26 am
Hard not to misundestand people in todays eggshell society! No one was compared to Hilter. It was the circumstance he was comparing! People should listen first and not jump to conclusions or be so politically correct.
BTW I don’t even like Hank Williams Jr. or country music. Too many long road trips/vacations with the parental units and their music!
October 6th, 2011 at 11:36 am
Yeah who was compared to hitler??? I could say wearing brown shoes with a black tie is like seeing hitler sitting next to Churchill. I am neither calling the shoes or tie hitler, just saying it doesn’t make sense.
So much for everyone is allowed and opinion.
Maybe he should have said it would be like seeing an acid play with a base….no then people would have said that Hank stated Obama had a drug problem. America needs a reading comprehension review.
October 6th, 2011 at 11:56 am
KID ROCK NExt ?!?
October 6th, 2011 at 11:59 am
chris his last year he didn’t do anything…different style,blocking scheme,whatever…I was wrong it appears
October 6th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
@Joe – of course I don’t think he was the issue in the first half. I said “you guys” in my post because I was directing it at the team (looking at it again, I shouldn’t have mentioned Adrian. I can see how that would be misleading. My bad.). I love Clayborn, he’s on his way to being a fan favorite. But the question does need to be asked: If it’s so easy to get pumped for a MNF game (I would guesstimate 90% of the roster played their first MNF game last week) why the hell did they come out flat against a terrible Colts team? Yes, we played decently and definitely should’ve beat them by more, but it’s all about the scoreboard and we scored ZERO points at half (should’ve been 3, which is not much better). All I was trying to say is someone in that locker room needs to get the rest of the team up BEFORE THE GAME STARTS because these slow starts will come back to bite us in the ass.
October 6th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
It’s funny how he uses the word hunt, because when I watch him in the games he looks like “The Predator” flying around out there, just as relentless as the movie character. Plus they both have dreads like me…lol. The whole line looks like predators as well, “Pewter Predators” 🙂
October 6th, 2011 at 12:19 pm
My biggest concerns this year were the young d-line and foster at mlb. I now believe this could be our strengths moving forward in the season and into the following years. Hopefully the Bucs can start building some 7-10 point plus leads and let the d-line tee off on the opposition. Then we will truly now how good they will be.. If they do Capt Tim; I think 9-10 sacks might be the realistic goal for him:)
October 6th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Hunting the QB is Warren Sapp’s schtick. Perhaps that mindset is being adopted by the D-Line!
October 6th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
Can’t be the QB-Killa, without the hunt!
October 6th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
A lot of fans complained about both the McCoy and Clayborn selections but without those two guys this line would be nothing right now. Absolutely nothing.
October 6th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
agreed flboy
October 6th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
@ Raph, a stud is a stud.
October 6th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Chris FWC
Pretty easily. There were a lot of question marks surrounding him. THey did their homework and, by the looks of it, got a great player.
They also landed Bowers. He has not been real flashy yet, but when he does flash he reminds me alot of Mario Williams. He might take another year but then look out!
October 6th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
” he reminds me alot of Mario Williams” Please don’t give Rah any ideas… 😉
October 6th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
none of what clayborn is doing on the field is suprising to me. his college game translated directly into the pro game. i think capt. tim and i both saw this coming, erbs palsy be damned.
October 6th, 2011 at 5:15 pm
I’m not a Democrat, so before I get jumped on as a liberal, it’s simply not true. It’s not that he compared him to Hitler, but he left a lot of wiggle room to that possibility. The comment was based on his extreme dislike for Obama (which is fine and perhaps justified), so of course it’s going to be spun to be a direct comparison. Besides, he hasn’t done much to clarify his comments, nor to show remorse. You just can’t do that as (basically) a spokesman for ESPN and the NFL. It’s just not smart, and he left ESPN very little choice. And yes, if someone said something similar about a Republican President, they would and should do the exact same thing. ESPN is a private company, so the freedom of speech argument has no merit either.
October 6th, 2011 at 6:47 pm
By the way, he also called him “the enemy”. So no, I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to draw the conclusion that he is comparing Obama to Hitler. It was simply a ridiculously stupid statement.
October 7th, 2011 at 6:32 am
Hawaiian- yup. Nevermind who the man is. That’s just to disrespectful to the Office and the country. Besides, if he’s dumb enough To try and hold one party or the other to blame, then he’s wrong . To screw up a great country like this- it took a concerted effort by both parties. The lot needs to be given lashes at Washington circle.
October 7th, 2011 at 6:33 am
And Predator is the perfect nickname for Clayborn. Just perfect!