Demetrice Webb
The Jacksonville Jaguars kept their routine up this year by drafting another player from the University of Florida. Demetrice Webb joins the team after a productive college year in 2005 under Urban Meyer’s defense. He was selected in the seventh round and 236th overall in the 2006 NFL Draft.
Listen to the Demetrice Webb CYInterview:
(Backup Player: Including IE)
Chris Yandek: First off how are you?
Demetrice Webb: “I am fine.”
CY: Why did you decide to leave a year early from the University of Florida and enter the NFL?
DW: “I felt like it was time for me to after achieving some of the goals I have put out for, the All SEC teams and best cornerback in the SEC.”
CY: How did you feel about your playing time on the Jacksonville Jaguars defense for your first ever preseason game?
DW: “It’s the beginning of a dream coming true I will tell you that, going out there and playing for the home team. To be on the field with some of the people I had always watched on TV growing up was a nice experience. You gotta go out there and keep improving.”
CY: What’s it like to be starting your NFL career with the team in your hometown of Jacksonville, Florida?
DW: “It is really exciting. Got the whole fan base behind me and my family and friends. I have a shout out party to go to the games. I am back in my backyard to play football. That’s all.”
CY: What do you think your role will be on the team this year in your first season?
DW: “Probably a little in secondary, but mostly special teams. Just help us win, get us to the show this year.”
CY: How has your first Jacksonville Jaguars training camp been thus far for you?
DW: “They have been going pretty good. Just a lot of mental things rather than physical. Just learning your playbook and knowing your assignments so you can be ready when you are out there on the field and not second guessing yourself. That’s basically what training camp is all about and getting hazed.”
CY: What was the feeling like when you got the call that you were about to be drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round?
DW: “Probably more excited, especially for the team. I grew up in a hometown that we had a team in. My family and friends were pretty much excited when they heard my name going across. Jacksonville called my cell phone. I didn’t believe it at first. I kind of was surprised, excited too.”
CY: Did you get any calls or offers from other NFL Teams?
DW: “Yeah. The Miami Dolphins had called me and the Houston Texans. I thought one of those was going to get me. Come to find out that it was the Jaguars.”
CY: What are your thoughts on playing for Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio?
DW: “I like him a lot. Since he came here things have been turned around. He knows how to take care of his players.”
CY: What is the most important thing you can learn as an NFL rookie?
DW: “Being responsible and managing your time. This is not like college where you have a meeting or class. You come in earlier in the morning and you are out at four o’clock in the afternoon. You learn how to manage your time and stay out of trouble. That’s all.”
CY: What did you think of the job Urban Meyer did with you guys this past season at the University of Florida?
DW: “We came in with a lot more split packages to help our defense being one of the top defenses in the country. On that side of the ball he brought in a lot of excitement. It will carry over to this year because they have their whole front seven back. The defense better carry them this year to an SEC Championship and hopefully a National.”
CY: Do you think the Jacksonville Jaguars believe that you have your best days ahead of you after what happened this past spring?
DW: “Yeah, pretty much so. I don’t think they would have taken a chance on me as far as the little incident that happened in Gainesville. I feel like it’s past me right now.”
CY: What is the most important thing you think you learned from the incident overall? (Back in February of 2006 one of Demetrice Webb’s guns went off in his Gainesville apartment)
DW: “Probably just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s all.”
CY: Finally, what is the most important thing you can do this season and accomplish over your NFL career?
DW: “As far as my first season, I just want to go out there and get a taste for it and help the team. Help us get to the show. As far as my career, want to be one of the top defensive backs to play the game.”