CB Ronald Darby
Saturday, May 2nd, 2015
Q: Welcome to Buffalo. What are your first impressions touring the facility? What are your first impressions touring the facility and meeting the coaches?
A: It’s great. They gave me right away a home feeling just looking at the facilities and meeting everyone…you just have a great feeling inside. Everything feels like a dream still because it happened so fast, but it’s a blessing to be here.
Q: Walk us through from the moment you were picked until today. It has to be a whirlwind.
A: Yes. Like I said once before, it just happened so fast. I hear my name called and next morning, I’m on a plane over.
Q: During your college career, did it get frustrating? You saw the stat of how often teams basically avoided you. You didn’t get targeted very much. Give me a sense of what that was like to keep your head into it game after game.
A: It’s a real hard thing going into a game knowing that you’re probably going to get the ball thrown your way once, twice every week but I just have fun in practice. I like to practice. I just like to go out there and compete and be prepared for the most part.
Q: Meeting Rex (Ryan) and knowing his history with defenses and what he can do with corners, what was that meeting like and what challenge did he present to you immediately?
A: We just met, really. We introduced ourselves but I just know from his past, it’s a blessing. Once again being around someone that’s done what he’s done so I’m just ready to just come in and learn as much as I can.
Q: Did it cross your mind that he’s had some of the all-time great corners in the league play for him like Darrelle Revis. Did that cross your mind when you were told you were joining Rex here?
A: Yes. That’s what I said, “It’s a blessing.” He can teach me some things that he told him and I can pick up on it fast and take my game to the next level.
Q: Who are some of those great corners that maybe you admired and maybe patterned yourself after in that department?
A: Revis. He was the main one growing up in my era I would look up to.
Q: Do you intend to at some point maybe during Rookie Minicamp to maybe pick Rex’s brain on Revis and all that stuff?
A: Yes, I’m going to ask a few questions. Ask, “Who I remind him of?” “What should I do better,”…things like that.
Q: What went into your decision to leave school with a year of eligibility left?
A: Just talked to my family, sat back, thought everything out, and I felt like it was the right time coming into this draft. I felt like I could prove myself. I could help myself get drafted.
Q: What were your expectations as far where you would be picked when you looked at the other corners in this draft? Second round is obviously a lofty place but in your mind, did you have any preset idea of where you might go…first round….?
A: No. I felt as though I did all I could do during the process when it came to the Combine, when it came to pro day so I went into it feeling happy about everything. I wasn’t afraid of anything but I didn’t go into it with any expectations. I talked to some of my past players that’s already in the NFL and they told me not to go in there having your head set on where you want to go so just go in there with an empty mind. It was a blessing though. Everything was good.
Q: Can you describe some of your player strengths for us and how they translate to the NFL game?
A: I’m going to compete; I’ve been in a program that has shown that. I believe it was 26 or 29 and one. I’m not used to losing so I get it stuck in me to prepare. I’m going to come prepared, I’m going to come with skills, speed—something that’s hard to come across, and just going to try to contribute from day one.
Q: Have you looked at the Bills roster right now and what do you make of specifically the defense and specifically the depth at corner?
A: I don’t think of it at all, like I said I just come in and want to contribute wherever it is. Whether it’s special teams, whether it’s on defense, anywhere and if it isn’t my time at the time I’m going to learn as much as I can to help better myself for when it is my time.
Q: Have you given any thought to the fact that twice a year you get to face Tom Brady?
A: No, I haven’t really thought about that yet, I was just happy I was here but thanks for reminding me, I’m going to think about it now. (laughs)
Q: Did you play in the slot at all at Florida State or mostly outside?
A: Mostly outside.
Q: We’re all aware of your past and some of the troubles that you were connected to. What did you tell teams to reassure that you’re a straight up guy going in to this draft and that they shouldn’t have any concerns?
A: I didn’t have to do anything at all. I was around a lot of stuff of course, but you can’t control what you’re around. But I was never the one that was getting in trouble or anything like that, but there was nothing for me to do.
Q: You were roommates with Jameis [Winston], you know him just about as well as a lot of people could. Did you get a sense of what he is like coming into this league, a lot was talked about like everything else, but give me your assessment as someone who knows the guy.
A: He is a great dude. He’s a winner, he loves the sport, loves the game, he would give you the shirt off his back. He’s just a great guy, everyone makes mistakes but in the spotlight like he is, he can’t do a lot of things that other people can do because he is in the spotlight.
Q: Since you’ve been picked here have you guys communicated a little bit or any comments from him?
A: You know just congratulations. That’s it.
Q: Your first year was with EJ [Manuel] correct?
A: Yes.
Q: What were you impressions of him then and what are your impressions of him as he’s made his way through two years of the NFL?
A: EJ [Manuel] is a great person for one and a great player. He did everything Jimbo [Fisher] asked of him at the time. In the league I haven’t been keeping up with him as much because you know I have a season going on and stuff but I’m pretty sure he’s going to be a great player.
Filed under: Buffalo Bills
Tagged with: Buffalo Bills, Ron Darby
Sorry, comments are closed on this post.