05-23-2020, 12:11 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-23-2020, 12:14 PM by SomeSay....)
Welcome everyone, to the Minnesota Grey Duck rookie spotlight. I'm your CB Matt Krause and all this week I'll be sitting down with the Rookies from my Minnesota Grey Ducks. Talking draft, football, life and everything in between. My third guest this week is my partner in crime. Our Rookie CB Ray-Ray Jackson
Ray-Ray Jackson has been stellar in his rookie CB campaign. Amassing 40 Tckls and 5 Pass Deflections. Ray-Ray was our 19OA pick in the 3rd round of the S22 DSFL draft.
Ray-Ray welcome my man, such a pleasure to finally have a CB on the show. I had to deal with those diva WRs first. You know how they get. How is everything going my man?
I'm doing pretty great actually. The regular season just finished so I'm excited to finally get to the real season, the postseason. I've been working out regularly and making sure I watch my diet so I can be at my best when it really matters. Other than that, I've just been relaxing and reading all these articles with the other rookies on the squad and I've been loving them so far. I hope I can contribute a little bit to what you're doing here and we can talk about the hard-hitting, physical play that we like over here on the defensive side.
Awesome, so happy to be sitting down with you this week. Let's talk defense for a minute. We play a high profile position. If we fail, it doesn't go unnoticed. How have you been able to handle some of these veteran WRs your up against, and dominating some of your rookie class WRs. I'd say you've done quite well, but I wanted to hear your opinion.
It's pretty easy to look at the stats and say that since I don't have an interception so far this season, I might not be doing too well. I think it's the opposite. I haven't really had a lot of chances to go up and do what I do best. Coming into the DSFL, I thought I was going to have a pretty rough time facing up against these speedy WRs but the league is much more run-heavy than I expected. For some reason when they do decide to throw, you usually pick them off so they go back to being scared. I may not pop out to many on the stat sheet at the end of the game but I take that as a good thing and that I'm doing my job correctly. At the beginning of the season, I was having a bit of trouble with the penalties but I think as the season progressed, I keep getting more and more comfortable. I've been able to study film and get to know everyone's tendencies and it's really helped me so far. If I can just continue to finish my tackles and break up those big plays, I think it's going to be tough to get a big play on us.
So you got recruited to Alabama where you played college ball, how's the recruitment going for the NSFL draft? Any places you want to land or places you prefer not to? Theres some good GMs out there who I know would love to have you.
To be completely honest, I haven't really been paying much attention to the NSFL season as much as I would've liked because I'm just so concentrated on what's going on with our team and our journey. After we finish the playoffs and we win the trophy, then I can start figuring out what's going for the draft. But I can't sit here without saying that some NSFL teams have started to contact me about the future. I appreciate everyone reaching out to me and asking those important questions that every player has to go through. Since my college days, I've had to sit down and talk to GMs and I understand that they're just doing their jobs and getting a feel for every prospect. I've spoken to my agent and he told me that some teams are really in the market for that elite cornerback of the future and so I know that I'm going to get a lot of calls and that scouts are going to be looking at me in the playoffs. Like I've told everybody, I don't have any sort of preferences on where I go, I just want to do what I love and that's play the game of football.
You and me both brother, its all about just being on the field. You made the jump from Canada to a warmer Alabama but wound up back in the cold with us Ducks. Speaking of which, how do you feel your rookie campaign has went? How do you feel about Minnesota in general and us Grey Ducks?
I think me being on the Minnesota Grey Ducks was probably the best thing that could've happened to me. After being picked up off of waivers at the end of last season, I was able to get an early glimpse of what the locker room felt like and I was really sad to see it all go away when the season was over. So when they called my name in the draft, I couldn't have been happier. I really felt that it would be easier for me to get going early if I was back in Minnesota so I wouldn't have to feel like I was out of place. What can I say, the team is fantastic. On the field, we finished first in the North and I got a lot of playing time so I have nothing to complain about. Off the field, everyone on the team has been really important to me in my development. We have a great group of guys on defense and it really pushes me to play hard when I see everyone else give 110% for the team. If ever I have any questions, I get a lot of guys trying to help and everyone just wants to make everyone better and I really love that.
Honestly I think your rookie campaign has been fantastic. You get a lot of pressure being on a island over there. We know they don't like to throw at me, and then they've gotta deal with you! Not mentioning Buck and Tyron. Do you think being surrounded by veterans in our defensive backfield has helped you grow? Is there anything that we could of done better? And maybe what your hoping to find in a NSFL team that can help continue that growth?
I appreciate you saying that. Sometimes it can get tough when you're playing man-to-man but I think I've handled the pressure pretty well. I've been putting a lot of hours in practice and in the weight room so that I don't let the team down and the hard work has been paying off lately. Our CB group continues to push each other and I think that the competition just makes it even better. It feels like your fighting for your spot on every play and every down so you just have to learn how to cope with the situation. It's been an honor to play and train alongside all of the DBs and I can honestly say that I've learned a lot just by listening and watching everything that you veterans do. Personally, I think I could've done a little bit better by creating turnovers but the rest of the team really picked me up on that. I can't stress enough how much of a leadership role the veterans really played for us rookies and it's made me more mature as a player and a person. I'm just hoping that I can use these leadership skills when I get drafted in the NSFL and find a team that loves to train hard and grow as a unit so everyone gets better.
I can't help myself but end these interviews with talk of our grey ducks and you rookies. The last word is yours. All the GMs are paying attention. Is there anything you want to say to all the GMs, coaches, staff, players, fans whoever!? Let them hear it!
I just want to say to the fans we really appreciate your support here in Minnesota and we're going to need you guys now more than ever with the playoffs fast approaching. The defense really feeds off your energy and we need the place to be as loud as possible. To everyone on the Grey Ducks, that include players, coaches, and staff, the season isn't done yet. The real season is about to start and I'm not going to the NSFL draft without the word champion next to my name. I know we have what it takes to win it all and now we just have to go out there and prove that we can do it. Thanks for the interview Matt, I appreciate you taking the time to do this with me. Now, let's win this dang thing.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for stopping by and reading my chat with Ray-Ray Jackson. It was such a pleasure to sit with him. Stay tuned tomorrow for my sit down with Juilo Jones! And then the final piece to my series is a round up Q&A with our GMs
Graders please split payment 50/50 between Reaper11B and Jason
Ray-Ray Jackson has been stellar in his rookie CB campaign. Amassing 40 Tckls and 5 Pass Deflections. Ray-Ray was our 19OA pick in the 3rd round of the S22 DSFL draft.
Ray-Ray welcome my man, such a pleasure to finally have a CB on the show. I had to deal with those diva WRs first. You know how they get. How is everything going my man?
I'm doing pretty great actually. The regular season just finished so I'm excited to finally get to the real season, the postseason. I've been working out regularly and making sure I watch my diet so I can be at my best when it really matters. Other than that, I've just been relaxing and reading all these articles with the other rookies on the squad and I've been loving them so far. I hope I can contribute a little bit to what you're doing here and we can talk about the hard-hitting, physical play that we like over here on the defensive side.
Awesome, so happy to be sitting down with you this week. Let's talk defense for a minute. We play a high profile position. If we fail, it doesn't go unnoticed. How have you been able to handle some of these veteran WRs your up against, and dominating some of your rookie class WRs. I'd say you've done quite well, but I wanted to hear your opinion.
It's pretty easy to look at the stats and say that since I don't have an interception so far this season, I might not be doing too well. I think it's the opposite. I haven't really had a lot of chances to go up and do what I do best. Coming into the DSFL, I thought I was going to have a pretty rough time facing up against these speedy WRs but the league is much more run-heavy than I expected. For some reason when they do decide to throw, you usually pick them off so they go back to being scared. I may not pop out to many on the stat sheet at the end of the game but I take that as a good thing and that I'm doing my job correctly. At the beginning of the season, I was having a bit of trouble with the penalties but I think as the season progressed, I keep getting more and more comfortable. I've been able to study film and get to know everyone's tendencies and it's really helped me so far. If I can just continue to finish my tackles and break up those big plays, I think it's going to be tough to get a big play on us.
So you got recruited to Alabama where you played college ball, how's the recruitment going for the NSFL draft? Any places you want to land or places you prefer not to? Theres some good GMs out there who I know would love to have you.
To be completely honest, I haven't really been paying much attention to the NSFL season as much as I would've liked because I'm just so concentrated on what's going on with our team and our journey. After we finish the playoffs and we win the trophy, then I can start figuring out what's going for the draft. But I can't sit here without saying that some NSFL teams have started to contact me about the future. I appreciate everyone reaching out to me and asking those important questions that every player has to go through. Since my college days, I've had to sit down and talk to GMs and I understand that they're just doing their jobs and getting a feel for every prospect. I've spoken to my agent and he told me that some teams are really in the market for that elite cornerback of the future and so I know that I'm going to get a lot of calls and that scouts are going to be looking at me in the playoffs. Like I've told everybody, I don't have any sort of preferences on where I go, I just want to do what I love and that's play the game of football.
You and me both brother, its all about just being on the field. You made the jump from Canada to a warmer Alabama but wound up back in the cold with us Ducks. Speaking of which, how do you feel your rookie campaign has went? How do you feel about Minnesota in general and us Grey Ducks?
I think me being on the Minnesota Grey Ducks was probably the best thing that could've happened to me. After being picked up off of waivers at the end of last season, I was able to get an early glimpse of what the locker room felt like and I was really sad to see it all go away when the season was over. So when they called my name in the draft, I couldn't have been happier. I really felt that it would be easier for me to get going early if I was back in Minnesota so I wouldn't have to feel like I was out of place. What can I say, the team is fantastic. On the field, we finished first in the North and I got a lot of playing time so I have nothing to complain about. Off the field, everyone on the team has been really important to me in my development. We have a great group of guys on defense and it really pushes me to play hard when I see everyone else give 110% for the team. If ever I have any questions, I get a lot of guys trying to help and everyone just wants to make everyone better and I really love that.
Honestly I think your rookie campaign has been fantastic. You get a lot of pressure being on a island over there. We know they don't like to throw at me, and then they've gotta deal with you! Not mentioning Buck and Tyron. Do you think being surrounded by veterans in our defensive backfield has helped you grow? Is there anything that we could of done better? And maybe what your hoping to find in a NSFL team that can help continue that growth?
I appreciate you saying that. Sometimes it can get tough when you're playing man-to-man but I think I've handled the pressure pretty well. I've been putting a lot of hours in practice and in the weight room so that I don't let the team down and the hard work has been paying off lately. Our CB group continues to push each other and I think that the competition just makes it even better. It feels like your fighting for your spot on every play and every down so you just have to learn how to cope with the situation. It's been an honor to play and train alongside all of the DBs and I can honestly say that I've learned a lot just by listening and watching everything that you veterans do. Personally, I think I could've done a little bit better by creating turnovers but the rest of the team really picked me up on that. I can't stress enough how much of a leadership role the veterans really played for us rookies and it's made me more mature as a player and a person. I'm just hoping that I can use these leadership skills when I get drafted in the NSFL and find a team that loves to train hard and grow as a unit so everyone gets better.
I can't help myself but end these interviews with talk of our grey ducks and you rookies. The last word is yours. All the GMs are paying attention. Is there anything you want to say to all the GMs, coaches, staff, players, fans whoever!? Let them hear it!
I just want to say to the fans we really appreciate your support here in Minnesota and we're going to need you guys now more than ever with the playoffs fast approaching. The defense really feeds off your energy and we need the place to be as loud as possible. To everyone on the Grey Ducks, that include players, coaches, and staff, the season isn't done yet. The real season is about to start and I'm not going to the NSFL draft without the word champion next to my name. I know we have what it takes to win it all and now we just have to go out there and prove that we can do it. Thanks for the interview Matt, I appreciate you taking the time to do this with me. Now, let's win this dang thing.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for stopping by and reading my chat with Ray-Ray Jackson. It was such a pleasure to sit with him. Stay tuned tomorrow for my sit down with Juilo Jones! And then the final piece to my series is a round up Q&A with our GMs
Graders please split payment 50/50 between Reaper11B and Jason