Quotes From Kansas City Chiefs OTAs: Tamba Hali and Dontari Poe

Oct 27, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback

(17) is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs nose tackle Dontari Poe (92) during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

DONTARI POE

Q: How have OTAs been going so far?

POE: “So far so good. The first two days, we’ve learned a lot. The young guys are getting in there and getting reps. It’s going as planned so far.”

Q: It’s year No. 2 in a new system, can you see a difference in how you play the position now?

POE: “Knowledge is one of the biggest parts of this game, so us coming in and knowing rather than us coming in and having to learn everything fresh and brand new is way better. We’re moving faster because we know what to do.”

Q: Do you feel like a veteran?

POE: “It kind of is, but at the same time, I’m still working like I’m a rookie. I have a lot to do, a lot to improve on, so it’s pretty much the same thing every year.”

Q: Are you ready to play over 1,000 snaps again?

POE: “Whatever we need. I haven’t been running all these sprints or doing all this for no reason. Whatever this team needs me to do is what I’ll do.”

Q: Where did you check in weight-wise when you reported?

POE: “336 right now.”

Q: That’s lighter than last year?

POE: “Yeah, it’s just saving a little bit for me in the winter time because everyone knows how I go at that time of the year. I’m under now, I should be even by then.”

Q: Did you change your workout plan this year at all?

POE: “Last year was pretty good. It worked for me, and I think I had a hard year last year so I can’t change too much.”

Q: Is there anything you’re doing to work on your pass rush?

POE: “Just working on it every day, just staying consistent. I look at a lot of film of other people and see how they pass rush. Just pretty much coming out here and working on it is the only way you can get better on it.”

Q: Against Dallas, you had a sack. Do you try to make that your go-to move?

POE: “Something in the arsenal. I’m trying to work on a lot of stuff pretty much. You can’t just have one thing these days. They’ll pick up on that and it won’t be useful anymore, so I’m just trying to get as much as I can.”

Q: What does it mean to you to be in the same scheme again?

POE: “It means a lot. Like I said, there are a lot of things that go into a defense, so when you know the basics, you can learn the ins and outs of it. That’s what I’m kind of doing this year is learning a little more about it. Learning what the other positions do is good for me.”

Q: Do you keep in touch with the guys that aren’t here?

POE: “Yeah, I know they’re working out. When the time comes, they’ll be here and ready.”

Q: Does it hurt the rest of the defense when some guys aren’t here?

POE: “No, not at all. They’re professionals. They know what they need to work on. Like we were saying, it’s the same scheme as last year, so they’re not learning anything new. As long as they come in and their bodies are in shape, and I know they’ve been working out so it’ll be alright.”

Q: Are you helping Dee Ford out?

POE: “He’s doing everything he really needs to do. He comes in and works hard. He asks a lot of questions. Anything there is to do, he’s doing it.”

Q: So he’s a talker?

POE: “Little bit. Little bit.”