| Jermaine Phillips started his career as a wide receiver and special teams
performer before moving to the defensive side of the ball and earning a starting role at
strong safety in 2000. A four-year special teams performer at Georgia, Phillips is likely
to make an immediate impact in the NFL as a role player. The all-around athlete discussed
why he enjoys playing on special teams and how his interviews went with NFL teams at the
recent NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Q: How much of your future do you think
will hinge on being a special teams player?
A: I mean, at first, I think most rookies are tied into special teams a lot. I think
specificially, just because I have played all four special teams for the last four years,
it is something I love to do and want to do and that is something the NFL is looking for.
Q: How much pride do you take playing on special teams?
A: I take a lot of pride in it. It’s just as important as the next play. If you
give up a kick return or a punt return for a touchdown, that changes the momentum of the
game. So I mean, at that point in time, it is the biggest play in the game, and that is
the way I treat it.
Q: There are a lot of big stars coming into the league that didn’t play special
teams in college. It’s almost beneath them to play on special teams in the NFL, and a
lot of them miss the boat here, but that is the edge you have.
A: You have to do what you have to do to make it.
Q: Do you think in camp that can be your edge?
A: I think it can. I think if players do have that attitude that they are not going to
play special teams, once they get to camp and need to do what they do to make the team, I
think their whole attitude will change.
Q: Both Georgia and Georgia Tech have a lot of guys at the combine. Is that a sign
that they can compete with the programs in Florida in producing NFL talent?
A: I think so. I think we have a lot of talent in Georgia. We have the Georgia-Florida
All-Star game every year and that series is pretty even. So I think both states have a lot
of talent, so if you keep the talent in-state, you know the team is going to be good.
Q: What did you play more, strong or free safety?
A: It was a little bit of both, just the way me and the other safety interacted. You
need to play a little bit of both.
Q: Enjoying special teams says something about you. When you became a starter the
last two years, did coaches tell you that you didn’t have to play special teams
anymore?
A: Oh no. When we got a new coaching staff last year, they were putting the special
teams together, and I told them, ‘I want to be a gunner, put me at gunner.’
That’s what I love to do. You know, I want to win and whatever it takes to win,
that’s what I am willing to do and that’s what I want to do. If that’s
playing special teams, that’s what it is.
Q: How much of an edge do you think that gives you seeing that a lot of rookies,
even if they are picked high, won’t get on the field in scrimmage situations?
A: Once you look at, it’s a job now. You are getting paid to do this. And people
you are going against are going to have families and everything, so they are coming to
work and they are going to be ready to play. Once you get the attitude that you’re
going to do whatever it takes to win and to make it, that’s when you will be
successful.
Q: Is there any interview that you had with any team that was different than others?
A: Not really. I’ve been surprised by how friendly some of the coaches are and how
personable they get with you, because I’ve heard a lot of bad stories about the NFL.
But they seem like really nice guys, good guys.
Q: Has their been anybody that has really overwhelmed you?
A: Not really, not really. Not at all. I’ve heard a lot about Tony Dungy, and
he’s a great person, but I wouldn’t say that I was in awe to meet him. I just
liked to meet him and he was a great guy to meet. He’s really down to earth, relaxed
and a cool guy.
Q: Dungy is rebuilding the defense in Indianapolis. Is that something you would be
excited to be a part of?
A: Yeah, I would love to play under Tony Dungy because I love what he stands for.
He’s a Christian, and he’s living his life the right way, I guess. He’s a
good leader.
To Scouting Combine main page |
