TRANSCRIPT: Caleb Lomu Postgame Press Conference 8/13

Here’s what Caleb Lomu had to say following the Patriots’ 13-13 finish against the Indianapolis Colts Thursday Night:

On what it was like for him to get out there, get his first reps, and how he thought everything went as far as getting that first taste of the NFL tonight:

“Yeah, it was amazing. It was the first, just a preseason game, but it was an opportunity for all of us to get out there and go and play. So it was the first real of … I mean, we had the joint practice this week, so that was kind of like my first take of going against another team in the NFL. Then the game today was amazing. Go out there, be able to play, be able to just play a game again. We go through all these practices, haven’t played a game in so long. So it felt good to be back out there on the field going against another team. It was just the whole moment of being here and running out that tunnel, the name I got on the jersey, it was just, it was a surreal feeling for sure. It didn’t feel real at all. Still doesn’t really feel real, but I loved every moment of it.

On the fact they converted 2 fourth downs running behind him, and if he can take us through what he saw pre-snap to the end of the first play, And pre-snap to the end of the second play:

“Yeah, just every play that they call out there, my job as an offensive lineman, especially in those short-yardage situations on fourth down, we’re just trying to move the ball. We’re trying to get those few yards. And so my responsibility, same with everyone else on the offensive line, we’re getting that ball a yard or two. And so, pretend we’re in the red zone. What we say is we want to score with our man in the end zone. So that’s my mentality going through really every single play, trying to get as much movement as I can on the offensive line and getting those yardage in those hard situations in the fourth down and critical situation. So, just going out there, it’s just same mindset of every single play, going out there and giving them all.”

On who was there to support him, and on the penalty … that seemed close and if he can take us through what he saw on that:

“Yeah, I got my family out here. I got my wife, my parents, two brothers, and my brother-in-law. So they’re all out here, so it’s awesome to have them out here. I haven’t seen them yet, but a lot of their first times out here to Boston and kind of checking out the area, so it’s cool for them to be here and experience my first game here.”

“Yeah, and the penalty too, just it’s unfortunate penalties happen in the game. It’s just as an illegal man downfield, we were throwing the ball, can’t be 3 yards more down the field when they throw. And so I just got to be smarter on that and realizing now what was going on in the play. But it’s just an unfortunate situation.”

On what was the biggest difference that he noticed from the college game to the pro game out there tonight, if it was speed, the size of the guys, and what it was like for him:

“I mean, you nailed it right there. It’s pretty much everything. Speed of the actual game, how fast the game moves, and then also just the opponents that you’re going against. Those guys out there, everyone’s on that field for a reason, so they’re all the talented players, and everyone is a lot bigger, faster, and stronger. And so just compared to college, everything just moves a lot quicker, really got to hone in on your, details, fundamentals of the game, your techniques and all that, and really, you got to be smart out there. Everyone else is smart out there and they move quick and you can’t think out there. You just got to go, trust what you know. Trust the practice that you put in all week and just go out there. And at the end of the day, just have fun playing the game. it’s a sport that we all grew up playing and that we all love. And that’s the biggest reason why we’re here. So having fun is also very important.”

On, after the touchdown series, Mike [Vrabel] came over and was saying some stuff to the guys as a line, and what kind of things he was saying, and also, Will Campbell kind of chatted up with him after that too, and what kind of things he was saying, and what conversations did he have with him:

“Yeah, after every single drive, it’s kind of the same thing. We go back to what just happened. We look on the iPads and check what we did and what we can do better and what we saw from the defense and just all the things that we can’t really see out on the field. So when we get to the sideline. We can see it and face it and get ready for the next drive.”

“And then, yeah, having Will out there, same with all the O-line, vet O-line that they’re out there who didn’t play, they were a big help today. When we went to the sideline, they were all there helping us, coaching us through what they saw. They’re not playing, but they’re just as involved in the game as we are. They’re watching every single play, they’re coaching us through. So having them out there was a huge help for all us guys who, we had a lot of guys out today that was their first game, including me. And so it was comforting to have them out there to kind of guide us through it.”

(EDITOR’S NOTE: This transcript was done based on the available footage and is subject to typographical errors. If you spot anything, please let me know in the comments below.)

About Ian Logue

Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.

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