How does that impact just kind of the flow, mindset, and maybe hesitation?

Really, when whoever turns the ball over, that gives the momentum to the other team to either go score or get a field goal.

Really, it's just a momentum thing, I can say, when the ball is turned over.

When you kind of take this game as a whole, what do you make of the way it ended?

You got to leave it out to rest hands, you know.

And that call, you know, to me is a bad call.

But, you know, can't change it.

does it do for a team when you see a receiver blocking the way that Cooper Cup was at the end?

Man, it's wonderful just knowing that receivers out there blocking.

Coop, he's been in the league for 10, 11 years now, and he knows how to block, and there's a lot of receivers that doesn't like to block.

Being

Was that fun to

hold it on? Yes, sir, it is fun.

Actually, it was the wrong block, but I got it done, and she got it rounded, so I guess I did my job on that one.

Yeah, I blocked the wrong guy.

One, tell us where that is, and two, how did you end up, how did you end up getting there?

Um, so Johnson C. Smith University is in, uh, Charlotte, North Carolina, on, uh, Beatties Ford Road.

I mean, uh, going to-- I ended up going to that school because there was a situation where my brother had ended up getting locked up.

My mom had, uh, schizophrenia.

My sister was two to three years old at the time, so I wanted to stay home.

Um, I could have went to, um, a Division I school.

Uh, had a lot of schools looking at me, but it was me not focusing on school as much that didn't make me land at a Division I school.

But how do you, how do you keep his confidence up?

One, tell us where that is, and two, how did you end up, how did you end up getting there?

Um, so Johnson C. Smith University is in, uh, Charlotte, North Carolina, on, uh, Beatties Ford Road.

I mean, uh, going to-- I ended up going to that school because there was a situation where my brother had ended up getting locked up.

My mom had, uh, schizophrenia.

My sister was two to three years old at the time, so I wanted to stay home.

Um, I could have went to, um, a Division I school.

Uh, had a lot of schools looking at me, but it was me not focusing on school as much that didn't make me land at a Division I school.

But how do you, how do you keep his confidence up?

Well, Manuel, how much of it also is like getting into a rhythm? Because it seems like when you're in there for a couple plays and you're out, is that something that really helps you as a running back to get in that rhythm? And how many carries do you think before you start to feel

that? Really, it's just...

The rhythm thing is for every running back that plays running back.

It's just like, shoot, once you find your rhythm, you keep going.

They're going to take you out, of course, to give you a break and stuff like that, but you just try to attack it again once your number's called.

Number of carries, I'd just say it's off the first three carries to see how the defense attack you, how they try to tackle you as far as the linebackers and DBs.

I know the DBs will shoot down at my ankles or to my knees just to try to tackle me.

Is that right? Take us through that whole journey because it seems like you're home now.

How

did it feel to get some extra carries? It felt wonderful.

Just to be able to go out there and show what I can do and just show the team what I can do as well.

All right, here you're going to be on the podium.

It was your

longest gain.

No, so that play, I really, I fucked, excuse my language, I messed the play up.

And that just happened to work out.

How did it feel

to get some extra carries? It felt wonderful.

Just to be able to go out there and show what I can do and just show the team what I can do as well.

All right, here you're going to be on the podium.

So

I think it was your

longest gain.

No, so that play, I really, I fucked up.

I've got to imagine as a back, though, that kind of drive at the end of a game, closing

out, that's got to be one of the best parts of the job.

Yeah, it's a wonderful feeling just because the coaches are relying on us to finish the game, and the alignment did their part, you did their part, so I'm happy about it.

But how much different is

it? I can say it's kind of similar.

Both wide scheme teams.

And it's just similar.

You've got to be dialed in on the little details and stuff like that.

I got to imagine as a back, though, that kind of drive at the end of a game closing out, that's got to be one of the best parts of the

job.

Yeah, it's a wonderful feeling just because the coaches are relying on us to finish the game, and the alignment did their part, you did their part, so I'm happy about it.

How much different is the offense here from Green Bay in terms of mentally, which the longer you play in it, you get a chance to just react and play fast, but how much different is

it? I can say it's kind of similar, both wide-scheme teams, and it's just similar.

You've got to be dialed in on the little details and stuff like that, so it's really no different.

What did you know about Lumen Field and

kind of the noise before you got here? I really didn't know too much.

I just always saw it on TV.

But just knowing like the fans love football out here.

I just know it's going to be crazy.

How do you feel like you fit into that? And what kind of statement do you try to make when you're carrying the football?

Really try to set the tone and just be that guy, you know.

That's just my mentality and what I try to bring to the team.

What did you know about Lumen Field and kind of the noise

before you got here? I really didn't know too much.

I just always saw it on TV.

But just knowing, like, the fans love football out here, I just know it's going to be crazy.

How do you feel like you fit into that? And what kind of statement do you try to make when you're carrying the football? Really try to set the tone

and just be that guy, you know.

That's just my mentality and what I try to bring to the team.

Appreciate you.

How do you kind of feel like the offense is kind of coming into shape at this point, kind of seeing how you fit into it and what you guys are trying

to do? It's kind of similar to the running game.

With the passing game, I'm adjusting to it.

There's a lot that's going in as far as for the running backs.

Just continue to stay in the classroom, meet with Coach Hammock, and just go over stuff.

do you have to say about a rabid fan base like this? This is, you know, preseason

practice.

It was wonderful.