NWCN Blog - Marcus Pollard

Marcus Pollard on Saturday's Win Over the Vikings

Oh yeah the game Saturday night (30-13 win over Minnesota) was special. It all made feel real good and bigger part of the team.

I was sitting on the bench think I wasn't going to get any shots (balls thrown to me tonight, and right when I said that, we got the ball back. And then I caught three balls on the same drive and it just made me feel part of the offense overall - not just the blocking side of it. I know I've got to do all of it - it's my job.

I don't consider myself a blocker or a receiver, I'm a complete tight end and it's my job to do all the things a tight end needs to do well. So when I get a chance like that to be a part of running and passing, I feel like I'm doing my job better.

We finally got a chance to hook up because Matt (Hasselbeck) played the whole first half and we got a chance to make some plays. We could feel the rhythm of the offense and this gave everybody a look at what we're capable of doing as a group.

Everything has been getting better each week in practice, the timing, the understanding of where we go - and tonight we got a chance to do it in a game, and that feels great. Each day, he has a better idea of the way I run routes and that's important as the season progresses.

I really think this game was important for our whole team, especially the offense. I think that I got more solidified the way Matt threw the ball today, the way Shaun (Alexander) ran the ball. We really attacked them offensively. The defense stepped up and gave us some turnovers and stopped them when they needed to and especially gave us some good returns. So that stuff, all in all, we really did well and gave everybody a lot more confidence.

It has been a slow grind through training camp getting all of this, but this game showed that we are getting it. We're not there yet. I'm not there yet. But a game like this showed I'm getting there and Matt can have more confidence in me that I will get open and catch the ball. It's the kind of thing where the longer we're together, the more plays we make, the better we'll get.

I've been saying for weeks it's all about me getting the nuances of the offense, with Matt's timing and confidence in me and this game could be the difference. Sometimes, one game can change everything.

I'm hoping this one did it for us.

Marus Pollard Looks Back at This Year's Training Camp

From start to finish, this has been a great camp and transition for me. At this point of my career to have an opportunity like this has worked out as well as possible.

This was by far the most pleasant temperature-wise of any training camp I've ever been and as a team we responded the right way by not sitting back and resting on our laurels of being a highly-regarded team. Instead, I saw everybody take it upon themselves to say 'We've still got something we've got to prove as a team," and that's the most important thing of all for this team.

It's easy to sense that the guys on this team all believe if they do things the right way they'll contend for the conference title again. I won't say I had my doubts coming in, but like any new player I had some reservations not knowing the real makeup of this team. I knew they had some great players and had done some great things in the past. It's why I came out here because my dream was always to finish my career around winners who were only there with the idea of getting to the Super Bowl.

But coming here and seeing the hunger that everybody here has to get back to the Super Bowl, I think everybody is sensing that same thing and everybody has bonded together with the same goal in mind. The talk about the character on this team isn't talk. It's the way guys are - we all understand what it means to be teammates and function as a group. Not every team is that way ... not even close.

Personally, I feel real good about being a part of this thing. I'm really enjoying my teammates and having moved my family out here too. The Emerald City offers so much with so many great restaurants and all the outdoor activities for everybody. I'm enjoying my teammates as we grew together during this camp. That's what was so nice about having training camp here - it was all football - but we also got a chance to get a feel for what a great place this is to live for everybody.

All of that aside, I know I can get to another level as a player here too. Every day the system is becoming more of what I do out on the field instead of thinking so much about it. As camp has progressed, I've become more a part of the offense and Matt (Hasselbeck) has gained more confidence in me. From what I've experienced and what I see happening, this was exactly what training camp was supposed to be about for me and everybody else.

People have talked about my age (35), but I think I've been showing everybody that I've still got a lot left in the tank. And the way we've grown over the last month, it's giving me the opportunity to make some plays for this team and help us end the season where we'd all like to be ... Arizona ( for Super Bowl XLII).

Marcus Pollard on Golf

I was really disappointed I didn't hit the (golf) ball well when we had a couple of pros out here at practice yesterday. When I found out Jim Colbert and Jerry Pate were challenging us, I wanted to be involved because I love the game. But I was slipping in my shoes and I was embarrassed.

I'm too competitive to let that go ... I'm better than that.

I started playing golf my second year in the NFL. I remember going to (former Colts teammate) Jim Harbaugh's golf outing at the University of Michigan and playing with some guys. I hit a lucky shot here and there, and kind of got the bug for a while ... then went away from it.

Then I started playing again and the past six years it's been my passion. They say you get bit by that golf bug ... well I got bit by two bugs the last 4-5 years. I've never had a lesson, but I do a lot of reading and I spend a lot of time watching the Golf Channel.

When I'm playing a lot I'll shoot in low 80s - I've broken 80 three times, two 78s and a 79. But that's my best and I'd really like to get there consistently, so I'm working on it.

When I shoot 87 and I play poorly, I'm not a happy camper- so it's just something I really love and need to excel at. Yesterday I had a chance to compete against a couple of guys playing a sport that I wish I could do for a living. I wish those shots were better. It was a lot of fun just being out there with them and talking to them about the game.

If I could put any three guys in my foursome it would be Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Jesus Christ. Yes, he (Jesus) plays. He can do anything he wants. If two of us were playing against Michael and Tiger, I would say there's a pretty good chance we can't lose because he can do whatever he wants.

The best part of my game would have to be my short game because I spend a lot of time not hitting greens. So I'm chipping, pitching and putting all the time trying to save shots. My short game has really gotten better because I've been working so hard on it and getting closer to the pin.

I play 3-4 days a week during the offseason and when I'm not playing golf, I spend that time probably fishing. But really it's about golf. I take trips with guys in the offseason. We planned a trip to Myrtle Beach in the past, we went to Arizona this past year, and we took a big golf trip to Tampa before - I think there were 30 guys on that trip. They love it like I do and we just play.

It's great to get away, get a hotel room, and play 36 a day for 4-5 days. And that's all we do. Golf is like mowing my lawn and planting flowers for me. I love the outdoors. Golf is just another way for me to get away from the daily rigors of football, and compete - not only with the other guys, but the course and myself.

So being out on the golf course gets me out, and it still allows me to have that mental and physical competition at the same time. It's the perfect combination.

Marcus Pollard on Taking Care of the Details

Personally this game Saturday night doesn't feel any different for me, but with the intensity of the other guys and the coaches, it's easy to tell this game is real important for a lot of guys.

The excitement for all the guys trying to make the team has really showed with great practices every day this week. For me, I look at each game as just what they are in this preseason for me - another opportunity to take advantage of being out on the field against other guys to see where I am heading into the regular season.

It's always about measuring myself competition-wise.

From the coaching staff, it's obvious. They're using this game as the biggest one to see how far we've come in camp, where we need to improve and what kind of talent we have. Typically, third preseason games are generally that way. A lot of the starters will get a lot more playing time than they have and that gives the coach a better barometer to see where we are than the other games have.

I am looking forward to more playing time Saturday. It's good for me to get out there and mix it up - get some snaps with Matt (Hasselbeck), get some snaps with Sen (Wallace) and be able to make calls with the tackles on all the runs. All of that comes into play.

It's also important to get square with Shaun (Alexander), and where I'm going with my blocks. I'm looking forward to that. He's definitely not a normal running back. He's a great downhill and great cutback runner. In the past, I've been in systems where I could take a little break on the backside when the run is going the other way.

Not here. I've already found that out. Shaun will come right back to area where I don't think he's coming to ... and that's what makes him so hard to defend. He can hit it downhill and he can also be a great cutback runner. It means I have to be very, very, very alert with him because just when I think the play is going one way, I'll look up and the play is coming right to me. So I've always got to stay on my toes when he's got the ball and that's a good thing.

To me yesterday was one of the most intense drills I've been in when we did the one-on-one blocking drill. To me it was intense and we had to expect it because of the way we haven't been protecting the quarterback lately. Our pass protection hasn't been up to par and Mike (Holmgren) wanted to see just where guys are individually. That was mano a mano. Sometimes during games you may get lucky and run him into another guy, but that wasn't going to happen in that drill.

Coach needed to see who wants it most and showed us he's in control here. That's going to get your attention and I think it carried over to the rest of practice and today. He's an intimidating guy in his stature alone, then when he gets going and speaks his mind, he's even that more intimidating.

Every team he's been associated with, have been working. He's made a point with his coordinators and they've all made it clear to us, let's make things go well. Take care of the details. This needs to be our best game so far.

Marcus Pollard on Focus and Intensity

The last time I had 48 points hung around my neck I was playing hoops. With that being said (the 48-13 loss at Green Bay), it was one of those nights where we couldn't get the offense going and stop making mistakes.

My job is to help us score points on offense. We needed to score 49 or do a better job to prevent turnovers. We didn't do either one to have a chance.

Today we came out to a great start to the week. It was all about focus. Everybody has been trying hard, trying to be in the right spot and doing the right things, right now we need to focus and screw down the final details of blocking pass-protecting, the precise depth on routes.

It's all about cleaning up details and maintaining our focus.

I think the intensity comes with it. Once you've gained a focus and the details of all your responsibilities are sound, everything flows a lot better. Intensity will come based on being in the right place, doing the right things and using the right technique. Intensity is something will come. You've got to get the fundamentals down first, and then the intensity will follow.

It's a safe assumption that all guys have the intensity or they wouldn't be playing football at this level. Knowing the right things to do and using the techniques that you're taught, I think you can play with intensity because you're not thinking anymore. You're just going out and having fun playing football. At that point, I just need to whup my guy ... beat my guy. Then you're not thinking about so many things ... am I taking the right steps, am I holding, am I off sides? That's the kind of thing that will prevent you from ever playing to your potential. Once you're beyond thinking about those things, that's when you start playing to your potential as a team.

There's an argument to be made there are a lot of guys in this league that really give it all they've got but they're just playing 100 miles an hour with nowhere to go. It's just like a floating balloon ... you're taking off, but where are you going? The destination could be anywhere.

That's why it's important to have the right focus first before you start playing with too much intensity. Intensity without focus doesn't give you much. And if you have the intensity first, it's tough to get the focus. That makes it even harder to get the job done the way you're supposed to.

When guys are just wild and out of control with the way they play, they may make some plays because they play so hard. But in the long run they're going to hurt you more than they'll help you. Going 100 miles an hour without knowing where you're going, the only thing you know is you're going to crash.

And most of the time, that makes you a detriment to the team.

All we have to do is regain our focus this week and the intensity will come to make us a better football when we play the Vikings on Saturday.

Marcus Pollard on Football Instincts