Indianapolis Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard spoke to the media on Saturday following his first participation in 11-on-11s during a fully-padded practice. He also commented on his view of rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson and his relationship with linebackers coach Richard Smith. (Video by Jake Arthur)
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 >> [INAUDIBLE]
00:10 >> It was amazing,
00:10 especially being away from contact for a long time.
00:14 Even back in and then now just going out and
00:16 just taking the fear out of making contact.
00:19 So it felt amazing to get back out there and make some contact.
00:22 >> Is there anything off limits for you right now?
00:24 >> No, we're just taking it slow.
00:27 Today was the first time I got full contact with team reps.
00:31 So that was the last step.
00:32 So hopefully now I'll just continue to build off that.
00:35 >> You said take away the fear, I was about to write more, but
00:37 just anxiety over finally doing the next step?
00:41 >> I would still say fear.
00:43 Just being able to contact for the first time in a long time,
00:47 not knowing what was gonna come.
00:50 So, no, it feels good, I feel amazing and just happy about it.
00:53 >> You went in there on all licks on one of those plays, how'd that feel?
00:57 >> Felt good.
00:57 >> [LAUGH] >> Felt good.
00:59 >> You can talk to Shane, I see.
01:00 >> [LAUGH] >> You guys mentioned that you're really
01:02 close with Richard Smith.
01:03 How has he helped you just throughout this whole process of holding you accountable,
01:07 keeping real with you, not sharing anything?
01:09 >> Just his honesty.
01:10 Just honesty and just telling me if I look bad and
01:13 telling me if I need to be out there or not.
01:15 For a player sometimes you gotta be protective of yourself and
01:18 Coach Smith keep it 100 the whole time.
01:21 He'll let me know, hey, you look like you're shying away from your left side or
01:26 that's one thing I need.
01:27 I need somebody to tell me the truth about what they're seeing on film and
01:30 I love that about him.
01:31 >> You're talking about stacking days.
01:33 What's the next level for you?
01:35 >> I'm just seeing the formation of seeing football.
01:38 You know what I mean?
01:39 Just being able to recognize plays, play fast and
01:43 just working on my playing point and driving, just playing football all over again.
01:47 >> Shouldn't that come?
01:47 Shouldn't that come?
01:48 I mean- >> Yeah, I mean,
01:49 it'll come with reps and I think that's what it is now.
01:52 We just continue to get reps and continue to get better and individual and
01:55 just making sure that I understand I never have it.
01:58 >> I believe back in OTAs you mentioned that when you watched yourself on tape
02:01 last year, you saw that wasn't you.
02:03 >> Yeah. >> What do you see on the tape now?
02:05 >> I'm starting to see somebody that resembles the guy that I used to know.
02:08 So now I'm building more confidence,
02:11 shooting through gaps, getting in windows, stuff like that.
02:16 Now that's who I wanna see on film and that's what I'm happy to see right now.
02:21 >> Do you have to slow yourself down at all?
02:23 Like, you're such a playmaker, you create all these turnovers, but
02:27 you have to kind of tow that line of just getting back to yourself first.
02:31 >> Sometimes slowing down because you wanna make a play.
02:35 Sometimes you kinda do too much, try to push yourself to make a play and
02:39 sometimes you get yourself out of the position.
02:40 So now we just slowing it down, trusting myself and
02:44 the plays that's supposed to be made will just come right to me.
02:47 >> [INAUDIBLE] >> He's nice.
02:53 He's nice.
02:55 He's very athletic.
02:56 He has a cannon and the way the offense uses him, it's amazing.
03:01 I can't wait to see him.
03:03 >> Can you compare him to anybody you've played size-wise and
03:06 what he can do versus somebody?
03:07 >> Size-wise?
03:09 I'll say size-wise like a Josh Allen.
03:12 But he has speed, I would say he runs a 4.4, 4.5 like Lamar Jackson.
03:18 So just the size of Josh and the speed of Lamar.
03:22 And it's kinda hard to kinda see him in full speed right now because the winds
03:27 are blowing quick, but you just see the moves that he got and I just can't wait to see him.
03:30 >> That's unexpected.