- Joined
- Oct 23, 2003
- Messages
- 29,179
- Likes
- 6,092
CJ Leak Interview
With: Matt Miller
7/18/04
Matt Miller: CJ, thanks for taking the time for an interview. With Casey Clausen graduating this past year, do you feel you have the upper hand in the battle for the opening at QB?
CJ Leak: Yeah I do. Coach Fulmer actually came out recently and pretty much said that I am the guy. They credited my maturity, my arm strength and my big play ability. I definitely think the hard work this summer has paid off and the leadership ability. You get a lot of older guys showing the young guys, everybody needs direction. And frankly, I had a pretty productive spring and I think that helped me take the next step.
Matt Miller: What kind of year are you expecting from yourself?
CJ Leak: I expect to play very well and I expect our whole team to play well. Just being prepared and leading the team. I am the type of quarterback that takes what the defense will give us. Being a leader, a director and a commander. More of an operator. The numbers will take care of themselves, we have enough playmakers around and I know if I do what I am suppose to do, the numbers will take care of themselves. Just being efficient. Coach Fulmer preaches efficiency a whole lot and I think that will carry over to the season.
Matt Miller: Tell us about your receivers this year?
CJ Leak: Well be able to give a guy like Robert Meacham reps, hes a great young talent that has a lot to learn but will get it with game experience. Jason Swayne, plus we already have Tony Brown and Chris Hannon, those are two big play guys. Tony is a very disciplined route runner, he is very crafty on the inside, but will be playing outside this year where he can do more damage. We have a lot of weapons. Throwing the ball and getting it to those guys wont be a problem at all. I was 22 of 28 in the Spring Game and that is the kind of efficiency they need me to have. When they had Peyton (Manning) and Tee (Martin) we always had a big time back running the ball, and we have that now too. The defenses wont be able to dictate to us what we are gonna do.
Matt Miller: Are you glad you transferred to UT?
CJ Leak: I am. I am glad everything has happened the way it has. I am looking forward to ending on a bang. I feel like everything in my career has built up to this point and Ive learned and grown so much from it. I think thats gonna help me out this year. When you start competing in a SEC battle, you need that.
Matt Miller: What part of your game are you trying to improve?
CJ Leak: Biggest thing is just getting out there. I know I can get them the ball and I dont think my teammates doubt me, its just a matter of getting on the field and being able to do something. Im just looking forward to the chance to play. Im just gonna let it come to me naturally. Im not gonna try to determine what goes on. Im just gonna go out there and play. Thats the biggest thing.
Matt Miller: How does your knee feel today?
CJ Leak: Its feels great. This is the best its ever felt. I broke the squat record (QB-475lbs) this year and weight room wise, everything has been fine. My knee has been fine and is the strongest its ever been.
Matt Miller: How often do you think of playing in the NFL?
CJ Leak: Im more like, Ive always known physically that I have the ability and Ive always been a smart guy. Im just looking forward to that one season left and to get out there and give it all Ive got. Athletic ability isnt going to be a problem. Guys come back here all the time from the NFL, like Donte (Stallworth) and Peyton came back and I worked out with him in the film room for 4 hours. Just going over the mental things. Its just a matter of going out there with one season to play and everything to prove. I think that will help me at the next level. Right now, Im just gonna focus on winning games. Ill get my chance.
Matt Miller: Who would you compare yourself to as a QB?
CJ Leak: Probably a Steve McNair, Donovan McNabb role. Ive always been a guy that can run, but doesnt have to. A Steve Young type. Big, strong and mobile. Like I said, Im just looking forward to getting out there and showing it.
Matt Miller: Was there any point during your career where you thought of switching to another position?
CJ Leak: Yeah there was. Maybe last spring, I remember talking to my dad about moving to safety. There arent many safeties with my size. But QB has always been my heart, and Im glad I stuck with it. I did think about it though. I thought it would be a good thing.
Matt Miller: What is the competition like between you and your brother Chris (QB, Florida)?
CJ Leak: Its always been competitive. We are workout partners over the summer and anytime we have a chance to come home, its a guarantee we are going to workout. We push each other and hes learned a lot from my injury and I know thats only going to help him. He is actually learning so much and getting older and when we are out there running drills we are trying to out do each other. Seeing who can throw the best deep ball, which has the prettiest touch and little fundamental type things. But he understands as much as I do know, about watching film and reading coverages. The competition will always be good, but we are brothers and that will always come first.
Matt Miller: Are you looking forward to the Florida game though?
CJ Leak: Definitely. Especially since I am going to be playing. In terms of our family, itll be great to get everyone together and we feel blessed that we are able to have that opportunity.
Matt Miller: Who is the better QB?
CJ Leak: At this stage in his career, Chris is a better QB. Hands down. I think once I show what I can do this year, it may be different. But at this point in his career, he is so far ahead of where I was fundamentally. I was very good fundamentally, but he is developing so well. His attention to detail is amazing. Hands down, hes the more polished QB from when I was at that age.
Thanks again to CJ for taking the time out for an interview and the best of luck to him in 2004.
With: Matt Miller
7/18/04
Matt Miller: CJ, thanks for taking the time for an interview. With Casey Clausen graduating this past year, do you feel you have the upper hand in the battle for the opening at QB?
CJ Leak: Yeah I do. Coach Fulmer actually came out recently and pretty much said that I am the guy. They credited my maturity, my arm strength and my big play ability. I definitely think the hard work this summer has paid off and the leadership ability. You get a lot of older guys showing the young guys, everybody needs direction. And frankly, I had a pretty productive spring and I think that helped me take the next step.
Matt Miller: What kind of year are you expecting from yourself?
CJ Leak: I expect to play very well and I expect our whole team to play well. Just being prepared and leading the team. I am the type of quarterback that takes what the defense will give us. Being a leader, a director and a commander. More of an operator. The numbers will take care of themselves, we have enough playmakers around and I know if I do what I am suppose to do, the numbers will take care of themselves. Just being efficient. Coach Fulmer preaches efficiency a whole lot and I think that will carry over to the season.
Matt Miller: Tell us about your receivers this year?
CJ Leak: Well be able to give a guy like Robert Meacham reps, hes a great young talent that has a lot to learn but will get it with game experience. Jason Swayne, plus we already have Tony Brown and Chris Hannon, those are two big play guys. Tony is a very disciplined route runner, he is very crafty on the inside, but will be playing outside this year where he can do more damage. We have a lot of weapons. Throwing the ball and getting it to those guys wont be a problem at all. I was 22 of 28 in the Spring Game and that is the kind of efficiency they need me to have. When they had Peyton (Manning) and Tee (Martin) we always had a big time back running the ball, and we have that now too. The defenses wont be able to dictate to us what we are gonna do.
Matt Miller: Are you glad you transferred to UT?
CJ Leak: I am. I am glad everything has happened the way it has. I am looking forward to ending on a bang. I feel like everything in my career has built up to this point and Ive learned and grown so much from it. I think thats gonna help me out this year. When you start competing in a SEC battle, you need that.
Matt Miller: What part of your game are you trying to improve?
CJ Leak: Biggest thing is just getting out there. I know I can get them the ball and I dont think my teammates doubt me, its just a matter of getting on the field and being able to do something. Im just looking forward to the chance to play. Im just gonna let it come to me naturally. Im not gonna try to determine what goes on. Im just gonna go out there and play. Thats the biggest thing.
Matt Miller: How does your knee feel today?
CJ Leak: Its feels great. This is the best its ever felt. I broke the squat record (QB-475lbs) this year and weight room wise, everything has been fine. My knee has been fine and is the strongest its ever been.
Matt Miller: How often do you think of playing in the NFL?
CJ Leak: Im more like, Ive always known physically that I have the ability and Ive always been a smart guy. Im just looking forward to that one season left and to get out there and give it all Ive got. Athletic ability isnt going to be a problem. Guys come back here all the time from the NFL, like Donte (Stallworth) and Peyton came back and I worked out with him in the film room for 4 hours. Just going over the mental things. Its just a matter of going out there with one season to play and everything to prove. I think that will help me at the next level. Right now, Im just gonna focus on winning games. Ill get my chance.
Matt Miller: Who would you compare yourself to as a QB?
CJ Leak: Probably a Steve McNair, Donovan McNabb role. Ive always been a guy that can run, but doesnt have to. A Steve Young type. Big, strong and mobile. Like I said, Im just looking forward to getting out there and showing it.
Matt Miller: Was there any point during your career where you thought of switching to another position?
CJ Leak: Yeah there was. Maybe last spring, I remember talking to my dad about moving to safety. There arent many safeties with my size. But QB has always been my heart, and Im glad I stuck with it. I did think about it though. I thought it would be a good thing.
Matt Miller: What is the competition like between you and your brother Chris (QB, Florida)?
CJ Leak: Its always been competitive. We are workout partners over the summer and anytime we have a chance to come home, its a guarantee we are going to workout. We push each other and hes learned a lot from my injury and I know thats only going to help him. He is actually learning so much and getting older and when we are out there running drills we are trying to out do each other. Seeing who can throw the best deep ball, which has the prettiest touch and little fundamental type things. But he understands as much as I do know, about watching film and reading coverages. The competition will always be good, but we are brothers and that will always come first.
Matt Miller: Are you looking forward to the Florida game though?
CJ Leak: Definitely. Especially since I am going to be playing. In terms of our family, itll be great to get everyone together and we feel blessed that we are able to have that opportunity.
Matt Miller: Who is the better QB?
CJ Leak: At this stage in his career, Chris is a better QB. Hands down. I think once I show what I can do this year, it may be different. But at this point in his career, he is so far ahead of where I was fundamentally. I was very good fundamentally, but he is developing so well. His attention to detail is amazing. Hands down, hes the more polished QB from when I was at that age.
Thanks again to CJ for taking the time out for an interview and the best of luck to him in 2004.
