Las Vegas Raiders LB Divine Deablo's Entire Comments
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HENDERSON, Nev.--The Las Vegas Raiders opened mandatory mini-camp today, and after the first practice, LB Divine Deablo spoke.
We have previously reported that players have quietly been singing the praises of Deablo during the offseason.
We have all of his comments that you can watch, and read the transcript below"
Linebacker Divine Deablo
Q: I was talking to one of your teammates over the weekend, and he told him something from last week and I want to ask you about it. There was a play, and he heard your voice. And he said, 'I know who he is, he's my teammate, he's my friend, but I hadn't heard him on the field being so vocal and putting people in the right spots.' I'm curious, does that come with just maturity now you've grown into your place? Is it something they've said to you we need more of it.
Divine Deablo: "I think it's a little bit of both, it definitely comes with maturity - a little more confident in my job, knowing what to do and everybody else's job. Also that's something the coaches asked me to do to just step up and help lead out there on the field."
Q: Can you take us back to that play in Jacksonville when the injury occurred. What were the thoughts that went through your mind, and what are the things that you've done to overcome that now?
Deablo: "That play, it was a sweep to the right. I got off a block, made the tackle, DP [Denzel Perryman] just came and hit me. I didn't think my arm was broken. The X ray came and it turned out to be broken. Of course I was down, I was sad. That was like two injuries in two years, and I knew I was going to miss the rest of the season, but I saw it as an opportunity. I just studied the game, I worked harder and this offseason I stayed here the whole time just in hopes that it will work out on the field." Q: You obviously look bigger. You added a good weight. Was that just kind of the natural maturation of you going into your third year, or did you feel like you need to do something to increase the power? Deablo: "I feel like I needed to do something. I feel like I needed to increase weight to keep up with the linemen, but not too much weight so I can also do my part in coverage as well."
Q: Do you feel like you've found that balance?
Deablo: "Yes sir, I'm still working on it. I might have gotten a little too heavy, but running out there on the field is going to help over time."
Q: Being a converted safety, how much has helped that helped mold your game, seeing the game from a different lens? When you're playing safety things are happening in front of you. When you're a second level backer things are happening behind you.
Deablo: "To be honest with you, it was very challenging. Like you said at safety is everything is in front of you, you see everything. At linebacker you've kind of got to get a feel for the routes behind you. I will say over the years I've gotten more comfortable with the concept, so we'll see where it goes." Q: What is kind of the message today? It's day one of minicamp, Josh McDaniels said, 'All of us can do better starting with him.' What was kind of the day one message today? Deablo: "The day-one message is just focus, details and energy running to the ball."
Q: Really the whole linebacker room outside of yourself, you guys were hit up pretty badly by injuries from Denzel Perryman to a few others. How much do you think you'll benefit just from having ideally greater stability between you and Robert Spillane and Luke Masterson and some of the guys being back healthy this year?
Deablo: Honestly, I think all the guys in the room are hungry and ready to work. But like you said, Luke [Masterson] Spill [Robert Spillane], Curtis [Bolton], Darien [Butler], Kana'i [Mauga], all of them, [Amari] Burney] - a new guy - rookies, they're all coming to play, we all play with each other. There's no like one position I've played with. I played with five different linebackers today, so we're all just coming to work."
Q: Coach said that you're wearing the green dot, so I'm curious how you feel about your progression in that role?
Deablo: "A lot more confident than I was last year. Last year I was the new kid on the block, I was nervous. It was my first year in the system. So now I'm more comfortable, I've been doing it for a while now, so yeah I'm ready."
Q: Speaking of rookies, what have you seen from Adam Plant Jr.? Deablo: "I have is so focused on this linebacker room, I'll be honest I am not sure." Q: Wearing the green dot, is it kind of like a badge of honor or something you've thought about over the years ever doing?
Deablo: "Honestly it makes myself proud because when I was younger I played quarterback, so now being the green dot is like quarterback of the defense, so it puts a smile on my face."
Q: Did you ever have that opportunity at Virginia Tech to wear the green dot?
Deablo: "Actually no I didn't, well we look towards the sideline the majority of the time, but the linebacker at Virginia Tech was calling the majority of the plays."
Q: What is that conversation like when they come to you and talk to you about that possibility and were you open to it when they approached you about it?
Deablo: "They just called me up to the office and just suggested - basically telling me to prepare for it. And to be completely honest with you, they tell all of the linebackers to prepare for it, so we just all have to be ready."
Q: Have things slowed down this year with year two in this in this particular system? Deablo: "Personally for me, yes."
Q: How much how much weight have you gained since last year?
Deablo: "Before we started OTAs I went from 225 to 238. Now I'm at 234."
Q: When you said you were still kind of figuring it out, is that something you want to go into training camp at the weight? Is that what OTAs and minicamp is for to kind of figure it out?
Deablo: "Yes sir that is the plan. I'm out here at 234 right now. I want to see where I'm comfortable. I want to be able to run as long as I can, and I also want to be able to take these linemen."
Q: What are some things that you did from a mental standpoint kind of throughout the offseason, throughout rehabbing that kind of prepared you going into OTAs and this season?
Deablo: On the field wise I just studied all the great linebackers out there. Fred Warder, DP - Denzel Perryman that was here last year - [Shaquille] Leonard from the Colts, just a lot of guys. I studied them on the field. Off the field I just focused on recovery. I didn't do a great job of the, I've had a few injuries and I really focused on not being hurt anymore." When the alums were here did you get the opportunity to speak with one of the greats like Phil Villapiano? What was the message there? Deablo: "I didn't get to speak with him, but I was a big fan of Art Shell. My girlfriend's grandfather was great friends with him actually so I had to meet with him. It was nice, I enjoyed the event, so I'm glad we got to do that. It motivated me to do even more, so I appreciate it."
Q: Getting to know Robert Spillane, talking to some Steelers in the locker room. What are your initial impressions of him?
Deablo: "I love Spill [Robert Spillane]. He comes to work every day. Even when they take us off the field he's like, 'No Deablo lets go get some more.' So, Spill is an amazing guy, and I know he's going to help me get better."
Q: So playing at 234 right now, do you think that's a comfortable weight where you're not compromising speed because you're getting so big? Deablo: Yes sir. between 230-235 is my ideal range." Q: When you go into that as a goal, what's the process of being able to put on good weight not bad weight? Was there some hit and miss with that at all?
Deablo: "The miss was when I was 238 in the offseason. I was running around and I was too heavy. I felt myself tiring out pretty fast so I lost a little bit, lost a little muscle. Right now I feel pretty good, and I'm going to just keep seeing where this goes."
Q: Where do you think is the biggest need for the defense? What's the quickest path for you guys to improve?
Deablo: "Quickest path? Like the number one goal I said today is just effort to the ball all the time, energy is a big part of it. And really, I just think the ball is the most important thing on the field, so turnovers."
Q: Have you guys been emphasizing that more given kind of where you ranked last year in that department?
Deablo: "Yes sir."
OTA Offseason workouts: June 12-15
Mandatory Minicamp: June 6-8
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