Post by Guvmintcheeze on Oct 2, 2014 18:18:46 GMT
Kemal Ishmael not going to take baby steps
By Vaughn McClure | ESPN.com
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- An interesting exchange was made between Atlanta Falcons safeties William Moore and Kemal Ishmael after Moore was placed on short-term injured reserve this week with a shoulder injury.
Ishmael, just in his second season, turned to the sixth-year veteran Moore inside the training room and asked one simple favor.
``I actually told him, `You should come to meetings, man, and just watch. I want to sit by you and see what you're looking at so I can look at the same thing,' '' Ishmael explained. ``And he was like, `Man, if you need me in that room, you're in trouble.'
``He knows I don't need him and that I can everything myself. I don't need him to baby me on anything. I just have to go out there and play.''
Moore was one of the few players on defense playing at a respectable level, so now Ishmael has to do the same with Moore shelved for at least the next eight weeks. Before the injury, Moore constantly hyped up Ishmael as a player to watch. Now, it's up to Ishmael to back Moore's claim.
``It does make you feel good, but it also puts a lot of pressure on me, too,'' Ishmael said. ``I don't want to go out there and flop.''
Ishmael's biggest flop this season was the one he made into the end zone following a 23-yard interception return for a score against Tampa Bay. His play, however, will be measured more by his ability to bring offensive players to the ground.
``I'm going to harp on my tackling skills,'' Ishmael said. ``That's what I'm going to lean on. That's what I'm good at. But there are other things I have to do and prepare for. I'll work on those. As the game comes, I just have to get better.''
By Vaughn McClure | ESPN.com
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- An interesting exchange was made between Atlanta Falcons safeties William Moore and Kemal Ishmael after Moore was placed on short-term injured reserve this week with a shoulder injury.
Ishmael, just in his second season, turned to the sixth-year veteran Moore inside the training room and asked one simple favor.
``I actually told him, `You should come to meetings, man, and just watch. I want to sit by you and see what you're looking at so I can look at the same thing,' '' Ishmael explained. ``And he was like, `Man, if you need me in that room, you're in trouble.'
``He knows I don't need him and that I can everything myself. I don't need him to baby me on anything. I just have to go out there and play.''
Moore was one of the few players on defense playing at a respectable level, so now Ishmael has to do the same with Moore shelved for at least the next eight weeks. Before the injury, Moore constantly hyped up Ishmael as a player to watch. Now, it's up to Ishmael to back Moore's claim.
``It does make you feel good, but it also puts a lot of pressure on me, too,'' Ishmael said. ``I don't want to go out there and flop.''
Ishmael's biggest flop this season was the one he made into the end zone following a 23-yard interception return for a score against Tampa Bay. His play, however, will be measured more by his ability to bring offensive players to the ground.
``I'm going to harp on my tackling skills,'' Ishmael said. ``That's what I'm going to lean on. That's what I'm good at. But there are other things I have to do and prepare for. I'll work on those. As the game comes, I just have to get better.''
