2006 DETROIT LIONS DRAFT TRANSCRIPTS - FIFTH ROUND SELECTION: OT JONATHAN SCOTT

2006 DETROIT LIONS DRAFT TRANSCRIPTS - FIFTH ROUND SELECTION: OT JONATHAN SCOTTCONFERENCE CALL WITH LIONS OT JONATHAN SCOTTOn his communication with the Lions

2006 DETROIT LIONS DRAFT TRANSCRIPTS - FIFTH ROUND SELECTION: OT JONATHAN SCOTTCONFERENCE CALL WITH LIONS OT JONATHAN SCOTT
On his communication with the Lions before the Draft: "I met with them briefly at the combine and even ten minutes ago. At the combine, it was a very good vibe I got from the meeting, so I guess it all worked out for the best."

On if he came to Detroit for a pre-Draft visit: "No, no."

On what position he played at Texas:Â "I played left and right, but I played mostly at left tackle."

On whether he can play right tackle in the NFL: "Sure. Whatever they need me to play, I can play it."

On his preference to which position he will play: "I prefer left tackle, because I played at that position consistently. But like I said, tackle is tackle."

On if he is a better pass blocker or run blocker: "I think both. Pretty much both. Our offense this past year at Texas was pretty much 50/50.

On blocking for ex-Texas quarterback Vince Young: "It was a lot of fun. You just keep blocking until the whistle blows. He's just so athletic that he allows you to make great plays as well and it just trickles throughout the whole team."

On not being selected on the first day: "It was a little frustrating, but I know how to keep my head strong in a negative situation. It worked out for the best and I get a chance to go out there and prove myself."

On if he has played inside along the offensive line: "I played center in like junior high. (laughter) That's about it."

On whether he could play center or guard: "Hey, I wouldn't mind trying. I like playing offensive line regardless, so I wouldn't care what position it was."

On practicing against ex-Longhorns Cory Redding and Shaun Rodgers: "It will be like the good old days; we can get back to the little fist fights and everything. It is definitely something to look forward to and plus I know the kind of man Cory is. He is definitely a person who can uplift another person to get better. That is definitely a positive."

On how difficult is will be blocking for someone not as agile as Vince Young: "Well it's hard to say. I don't know. All I can say at this point is no one is supposed to get his hands on him. That's pretty much why the Lions picked me, because they don't want their quarterback getting dirty."

On which Rose Bowl was tougher, against USC or Michigan: "I would have to say the one against Michigan, because it was a new environment in somewhere you've never been before and you're at the (pinnacle) of college football games."

LIONS OFFENSIVE LINE COACH LARRY BIEGHTOL
On Lions' fifth-round draft pick OT Jonathan Scott: "I think he's a terrific pick, especially where (in the draft) we've taken him. He's a big, athletic guy. If there's one thing that probably held him back from going earlier, I think it's his overall body strength, but that's something he can improve upon. All he's got to do is get in the weight room, get with some good strength coaches like we have here, and improve his overall body strength."

On where on the line he expects Scott to play: "He's played both right and left tackle at Texas. We'll probably start him off there because that's the easiest transition for him, at the tackle. But moving him inside, we'll take a look there as well, see if he can help us inside as an offensive guard, he's certainly athletic enough to play any of those spots. He's got the feet you look for with an offensive lineman."

On whether he would play right or left tackle: "I haven't really decided yet. I told [Coach Rod Marinelli and GM Matt Millen] when they took him off the board they could put him at either spot, whatever spot they wanted to put him at. Nothing is etched in granite. We just want to put him in a spot to start with and then we'll start the experimentation as we get to know a little more about Jonathan."

On whether he wanted the Lion to select an offensive lineman in the first three rounds: "I would have liked to have had one yesterday, but the ones we liked that we thought could compete for a starting job were taken before we had our chance in the third."