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King George native Jermon Bushrod (74) has had to learn multiple jobs, such as wedge blocking on kickoff returns.
New Orleans Saints' rookie tackle Jermon Bushrod (74) has benefited from drilling with Will Smith (right) in practice. |
BY GRANT PAULSEN
After finishing his first practice with the King George High School football team back in 2000, Jermon Bushrod couldn't envision that the endless drilling and exhausting workouts would one day lead him to the NFL.
Today, he wears the black-and-gold No. 74 jersey of the New Orleans Saints. Though he has yet to take a regular-season snap, the 6-5, 315-pound tackle is only a play away from becoming a starter on the Saints' offensive line.
From working the trenches for the Foxes to four years of tough blocking at Towson University, Bushrod kept his nose to the grindstone. His efforts were rewarded when he was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft last spring. On Sunday, he was on the Saints' active roster for the first time in his career.
Last week, Bushrod took time to talk about his time in New Orleans, his development on the field, and his new lifestyle as an NFL player.
Grant Paulsen:
How are you enjoying living in your new home city of New Orleans?Jermon Bushrod:
: I really like the city, and I have enjoyed being here. New Orleans is definitely a lot different place than King George, but I've gotten used to it. There is always a lot going on. It's a whole different city, it really doesn't sleep much. I'm getting adjusted to it and it's going pretty good.Paulsen:
What have you found to be the biggest difference between the game at the college and professional levels?Bushrod:
I'd say it's the size and speed of the players. The guys I'm going against now are just better. They're bigger and better, and they know all the tricks of the trade. Guys in the NFL also have veteran experiences that make them a lot better.
Paulsen:
Do you prepare any differently for games that you aren't activated for?Bushrod:
I go about my preparation as if I'm playing, regardless of whether or not I'm going to dress. I still try to make it a habit to look at extra game film, and to make sure I know all of our plays and what I'm supposed to do on those plays. I also make sure that I know whoever would be my opponent well, too.
Paulsen:
You said that you want to know about your opponent. Do you watch film on the defensive end you'll be blocking or film on an opponent's entire defense?Bushrod:
We can get film on the guy we're going against if we ask, and we do that sometimes, but most of the time we watch the whole defense. We watch the whole game in the film study so that we can see what a defense likes to do at different times. We try to find their tendencies on first, second, and third down, and in short-yardage situations.Paulsen:
What has surprised you most about the NFL game?Bushrod:
It's a whole different experience coming from Towson, and then playing in the NFL. There are just so many fans and there's such a great feeling in the stadium that you just feed off of it. It's like when I used to play against Delaware [while with Towson]; they had great fans that would get you pumped. When I played in the preseason and I went out on the field it just felt so good. At first, I was looking around and I was taken back because of where I was at. Then after a couple plays, I settled in and was fine, because it's just football, like it was at Towson.
Paulsen:
What has surprised you most about the lifestyle you live as an NFL player?Bushrod:
Well, a lot of people notice you, and you find yourself signing autographs all the time. You'll be signing stuff and talking to people all the time, people that you don't even know. I think the [signing] autograph[s] part of it is really cool, and I have no complaints about it. I'm still not used to any of this, so I'm pretty much going with the flow.Paulsen:
What players have taken you under their wing and mentored you this season?Bushrod:
The whole offensive line has helped me. We stick together as a group and the line has a way of making sure everyone is doing the right thing on and off the field. I'll go ask them questions a lot of times, or if they see me in practice messing up, they'll correct what I'm doing wrong. One defensive player who has helped me a lot is Will Smith. I go up against him every day at practice because the backups are on the offensive scout team. Last week at practice, I was having trouble going one-on-one with him and another guy. He came over and told me that I needed be more firm and that I should use my hands differently.Paulsen:
Which of your teammates do you spend most of your time with?Bushrod:
I usually hang out with most of the other rookies. The offensive line gets together for a weekly dinner, so I'm getting together with those guys a lot, too. I pretty much associate with the young guys though, but if I'm going somewhere a lot of times, I'll give a few of the veterans a call to see what they're doing.Paulsen:
What has been the most enjoyable aspect of your first half-season in the NFL?Bushrod:
I think helping these guys and witnessing this four-game winning streak after starting out the season 0-4. That's been a great experience. When we were 0-4, everyone was down. We knew we had the right kind of guys to pick everything back up and Coach Payton kept telling us that we'd be fine. We were working way too hard to keep losing, and he kept telling us that we'd bounce back. Now we're winning and the work is paying off and hopefully we can stay on a roll.Paulsen:
What has been the most difficult aspect of your first half-season in the NFL?Bushrod:
I'd say going to the games and not playing. I've been playing football for the last 11 years and this is pretty much the first time where I sit on the sideline and don't play. It's hard to see a team go through losses and not be able to help. It's even hard to see your team win when you aren't contributing. A bunch of the veterans have talked to me about it and they've helped me because they've gone through it before. I'm glad to be on this team though, because I'm in a great organization and I appreciate where I am. I'm definitely very lucky and blessed.
Paulsen:
Have you been on the wrong end of any rookie hazings?Bushrod:
I have, but it hasn't been too bad. During training camp, we had to carry some of the older guys' pads and some little things like that. Every week during the season, we have to bring the veterans breakfast the day before the games. We have some really nice veteran players though, who are helpful, so you don't mind doing things like that for them.
Paulsen:
What's been the key to the Saints' four straight wins and overall turnaround?Bushrod:
I think all three phases of the game have just stepped it up a notch. As a whole, we just got back to doing what this team was doing well last year. We got back to sacking the QB and making stops on defense, and we're back to playing ball the way that we knew we could. We realized that we were too good and that we had too much talent not to win. Everybody has just been playing a little better and we are doing what we should have been doing all along.Paulsen:
What are your individual goals for the rest of your rookie season?Bushrod:
I honestly just want to help contribute to this team in any way that I can this year. I want to keep practicing hard and keep learning. I am just a rookie, and I know that I have a lot to learn. I'm just going to try to get better day-in-and-day-out. The best thing I have going for myself is that I have a good group of guys around that will help me to do that.Grant Paulsen, a contributing columnist, can be reached at The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401, or by fax at 540/373-8455.
