November 25, 2025 • 6 mins
Offensive Tackle Andrew Thomas speaks to the media Tuesday from the Quest Diagnostics Training Center
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You know, for so many years that you've been here,
there's been a lot of criticism of not you, but
the offensive line as a reason holding the team back.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
There's really none of that this year.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Really, How do you kind of rectify that in your mind?
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Do you think you and the rest of your guys
upfront are playing some of the better, some of the
best football you've played since you've been here as a unit,
and that you're not getting the results you know as
a result for that?
Speaker 4 (00:27):
I would say, I think we're playing well, but obviously
not well enough to get the results that we want.
At the end of the day, it's a team sport.
It takes everyone, you know, if we have to do more,
we have to find a way to do more to
get the wins.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
What how has the continuity helped? I mean, you know,
since since you've you know, didn't start the first two
games you've been on the field, the guards haven't missed anything.
John Michael missed a couple, uh lumn Or just missed one.
But you know, for the most part of your five
guys are playing every snap together.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
And how important has that been?
Speaker 4 (00:58):
It helps the time we have a a veteran group
and you know, getting more snaps together, just watching film,
getting more practice reps. I think it helps us. We
communicate a lot a lot better our combinations and you know,
passing off games and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
I think it's important you can.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Really tell that in games that you kind of you know,
maybe you know on the other side of the line,
there's not incredible physical superiority maybe with some of some
of your teammates, but that you guys know what to do,
you know what I mean, you know how to figure
it out and in the game if this is given
your problem. You know, it just seemed like a smart
group right now in your mind.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
I wouldn't say you're just smart. I think we're physical upfront,
that we use good technique, and I would say we're
pretty athletic too.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Good. I didn't mean to disparaged. Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 5 (01:48):
And then Barnes, Hey, Andrew, just I guess, you know,
looking at these, you know, speaking of community, these last
two games, I guess just how pleased it for you
just to be able to to get back to playing
the way you want to play. No obviously mentions a
team game and the wins and lost a matter for you.
Just being healthy and being able to just be in
this groove now, Like, how does that feel for you?
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Just given how last year ended?
Speaker 4 (02:11):
I will say right now, it's a double edged sword,
Like I'm grateful to be out there. Obviously I missed
a lot of ball, so it's fun being out there
with my teammates. But the other part of that is
obviously I hate losing. And then I would say just personally,
I'm not at the level that I want to be at.
So I'm you know, stripping every day watching the film,
trying to figure out what I could do more on
(02:32):
the practice field just to get to the elite level.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Thank you deep why now? And trying.
Speaker 6 (02:41):
I know Jackson hasn't played the last couple of weeks,
but how excited are you just sort of see what
he can do in this offense? It looked like just
as a union, you guys are reinvigorated the last couple
of weeks. How excited are you to see sort of
Jackson play in this offense and get.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Back on the field. Yeah, I'm excited for him. Obviously,
he's a talented kid.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
We've been you know, playing well as the offense as
a group, regardless was at the quarterback position. So you know,
I'm excited for them the comeback. We're gonna do our
job to make sure we protect them upfront and you know,
open them the run lanes for the running backs and
you know we can hit the play action and stuff
like that.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
So we're just gonna do as much as we can.
Speaker 6 (03:13):
I know, you guys don't want to make excuses or
don't make the schedule, but how much of the grind
has been having this late of a bye weekend? And
how do you guys as players sort of kind of
handle that and make it an extra day this time?
But how you sort of handle that grind?
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Yeah, it's the NFL, You don't. You don't choose your schedule.
I think every week it's a tough week, regardless of
what the bie week is. So you just try to
take care of everybody as much as you can and
then you know, we get the bye week next week
and you know, try to take some time off to
finish the last four strong.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Thank you, yep, our stable ten Hey, Drew whom Gar
you good.
Speaker 7 (03:48):
You mentioned your you know, your personal standard and holding
yourself to that high standard. Has it always been in
that process for you? Knowing you for a while I mean,
you've always kept that standard, but how has that st
andre changed through the years for you?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
And how do you know?
Speaker 7 (04:03):
It's funny, you know, the other day there were a
lot of people saying how well you played in Detroit,
and your reaction after the game was, you know, just
not good enough for yourself.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Have you always been that way?
Speaker 7 (04:16):
What is that out of your personality allows you to
keep that standard as high as it is.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Yeah, I would say it's just the nature of the position.
It's not just one play, you know, where you make
a splash play and you know you're a top player.
You have to play, you know, sixty seventy snaps, being
consistent each and every down and to be one of
the best to play, you have to do that, you know,
over a long period of time. So each game, you know,
I'll go through the film and with Detroit, I knew
(04:44):
before you know, watching the film that there are some
things that I need to clean up be better at.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
I expect to play better, and I'm gonna play better.
Thanks man, Sure we'll take two more. Presto Andrew.
Speaker 8 (05:00):
Interested from your perspective, obviously, you see the outside linebackers
a lot of practice and everything. Just what are your
kind of impressions on Charlie Bown and just like what
what does he maybe do unique that's kind of made
him stand down?
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I guess.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Yeah, we don't spend much time with the defensive coaches,
but I would say just since he's been here, he's
done a good job of, you know, talking to us
about ball, just like how we approach different guys. Our
sets are hands, you know, timing things like that, and
we we asked him questions as well about rushers that
we might be facing. What his opinion may be. But
I think he's done a good job with the outside
(05:34):
line maker group. Obviously they're talented, but I've seen, you know,
growth in those guys from you know, the two years
that he's been here.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
So excited for him to get the opportunity. Oh, thank you, yep.
Last one, John Schmelck, he.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Drew you guys played on my Arabel defense.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
It's still at the twenty twenty two season.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
What are some of the characteristics of agreeable defense and
what are the things you have to be prepared for
on Monday night.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Yeah, I haven't watched a ton of film yet, but obviously,
you know, they're a great team.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
They have a great record up front.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
I know they're going to have a physical mentality, so
we're just gonna have to do our best to have
that same mentality. I think the technique and the run
game fitting some things differently are identification with the front,
so I think that all that's gonna matter.
You know, for so many years that you've been here,
there's been a lot of criticism of not you, but
the offensive line as a reason holding the team back.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
There's really none of that this year.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Really, How do you kind of rectify that in your mind?
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Do you think you and the rest of your guys
upfront are playing some of the better, some of the
best football you've played since you've been here as a unit,
and that you're not getting the results you know as
a result for that?
Speaker 4 (00:27):
I would say, I think we're playing well, but obviously
not well enough to get the results that we want.
At the end of the day, it's a team sport.
It takes everyone, you know, if we have to do more,
we have to find a way to do more to
get the wins.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
What how has the continuity helped? I mean, you know,
since since you've you know, didn't start the first two
games you've been on the field, the guards haven't missed anything.
John Michael missed a couple, uh lumn Or just missed one.
But you know, for the most part of your five
guys are playing every snap together.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
And how important has that been?
Speaker 4 (00:58):
It helps the time we have a a veteran group
and you know, getting more snaps together, just watching film,
getting more practice reps. I think it helps us. We
communicate a lot a lot better our combinations and you know,
passing off games and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
I think it's important you can.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Really tell that in games that you kind of you know,
maybe you know on the other side of the line,
there's not incredible physical superiority maybe with some of some
of your teammates, but that you guys know what to do,
you know what I mean, you know how to figure
it out and in the game if this is given
your problem. You know, it just seemed like a smart
group right now in your mind.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
I wouldn't say you're just smart. I think we're physical upfront,
that we use good technique, and I would say we're
pretty athletic too.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Good. I didn't mean to disparaged. Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 5 (01:48):
And then Barnes, Hey, Andrew, just I guess, you know,
looking at these, you know, speaking of community, these last
two games, I guess just how pleased it for you
just to be able to to get back to playing
the way you want to play. No obviously mentions a
team game and the wins and lost a matter for you.
Just being healthy and being able to just be in
this groove now, Like, how does that feel for you?
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Just given how last year ended?
Speaker 4 (02:11):
I will say right now, it's a double edged sword,
Like I'm grateful to be out there. Obviously I missed
a lot of ball, so it's fun being out there
with my teammates. But the other part of that is
obviously I hate losing. And then I would say just personally,
I'm not at the level that I want to be at.
So I'm you know, stripping every day watching the film,
trying to figure out what I could do more on
(02:32):
the practice field just to get to the elite level.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Thank you deep why now? And trying.
Speaker 6 (02:41):
I know Jackson hasn't played the last couple of weeks,
but how excited are you just sort of see what
he can do in this offense? It looked like just
as a union, you guys are reinvigorated the last couple
of weeks. How excited are you to see sort of
Jackson play in this offense and get.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Back on the field. Yeah, I'm excited for him. Obviously,
he's a talented kid.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
We've been you know, playing well as the offense as
a group, regardless was at the quarterback position. So you know,
I'm excited for them the comeback. We're gonna do our
job to make sure we protect them upfront and you know,
open them the run lanes for the running backs and
you know we can hit the play action and stuff
like that.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
So we're just gonna do as much as we can.
Speaker 6 (03:13):
I know, you guys don't want to make excuses or
don't make the schedule, but how much of the grind
has been having this late of a bye weekend? And
how do you guys as players sort of kind of
handle that and make it an extra day this time?
But how you sort of handle that grind?
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Yeah, it's the NFL, You don't. You don't choose your schedule.
I think every week it's a tough week, regardless of
what the bie week is. So you just try to
take care of everybody as much as you can and
then you know, we get the bye week next week
and you know, try to take some time off to
finish the last four strong.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Thank you, yep, our stable ten Hey, Drew whom Gar
you good.
Speaker 7 (03:48):
You mentioned your you know, your personal standard and holding
yourself to that high standard. Has it always been in
that process for you? Knowing you for a while I mean,
you've always kept that standard, but how has that st
andre changed through the years for you?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
And how do you know?
Speaker 7 (04:03):
It's funny, you know, the other day there were a
lot of people saying how well you played in Detroit,
and your reaction after the game was, you know, just
not good enough for yourself.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Have you always been that way?
Speaker 7 (04:16):
What is that out of your personality allows you to
keep that standard as high as it is.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Yeah, I would say it's just the nature of the position.
It's not just one play, you know, where you make
a splash play and you know you're a top player.
You have to play, you know, sixty seventy snaps, being
consistent each and every down and to be one of
the best to play, you have to do that, you know,
over a long period of time. So each game, you know,
I'll go through the film and with Detroit, I knew
(04:44):
before you know, watching the film that there are some
things that I need to clean up be better at.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
I expect to play better, and I'm gonna play better.
Thanks man, Sure we'll take two more. Presto Andrew.
Speaker 8 (05:00):
Interested from your perspective, obviously, you see the outside linebackers
a lot of practice and everything. Just what are your
kind of impressions on Charlie Bown and just like what
what does he maybe do unique that's kind of made
him stand down?
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I guess.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Yeah, we don't spend much time with the defensive coaches,
but I would say just since he's been here, he's
done a good job of, you know, talking to us
about ball, just like how we approach different guys. Our
sets are hands, you know, timing things like that, and
we we asked him questions as well about rushers that
we might be facing. What his opinion may be. But
I think he's done a good job with the outside
(05:34):
line maker group. Obviously they're talented, but I've seen, you know,
growth in those guys from you know, the two years
that he's been here.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
So excited for him to get the opportunity. Oh, thank you, yep.
Last one, John Schmelck, he.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Drew you guys played on my Arabel defense.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
It's still at the twenty twenty two season.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
What are some of the characteristics of agreeable defense and
what are the things you have to be prepared for
on Monday night.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Yeah, I haven't watched a ton of film yet, but obviously,
you know, they're a great team.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
They have a great record up front.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
I know they're going to have a physical mentality, so
we're just gonna have to do our best to have
that same mentality. I think the technique and the run
game fitting some things differently are identification with the front,
so I think that all that's gonna matter.
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