Cleveland Browns Draft Choice Larry Asante Talks About Joining the Team
(On what he thinks his role will be)- “First and foremost, I just want to thank the Brown’s organization who drafted me. My role heading into rookie camp is just to come in and learn as much as I can from the coaching staff, get into the playbook and perfect the playbook and everything else will just take care of itself.”
(On what he brings to the table as a player) - “Oh, toughness, physical. I’m a leader. I was the guy Coach Bo (Pelini), back in Nebraska, he trusted me in the back end to pretty much get everybody lined up, echo the calls down, so I think I bring leadership, toughness and just a guy that is going to go to work every single day.”
(On if he has been drafted or contacted by any baseball teams) - “Baseball? No, I have never played baseball sir. That’s false information. I love football. It’s what I grew up on and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
(On switching to safety from linebacker) - “Actually, I started the season out at safety and our other linebacker went down and it was kind of like a rover type. The only guy that could fit the role was me, so coach came to me and was like, ‘Do you mind stepping in for this guy?’ and I was like, ‘Sure coach that’s no problem. I can do that.’ It was a fun position, I loved playing it but it wasn’t a big transition.”
(On whom he models his game after and his favorite NFL player) - “I would say Brian Dawkins because of his toughness. He’s a leader out there on the football field. He’s a hard worker from talking to scouts. He is one of the hardest working guys in the game. I looked up to him growing up. Being from Washington D.C., I used to watch the Eagles play against the Redskins all of the time and I used to watch Brian. Even though I was rooting for the Redskins, I always wanted Brian Dawkins to do good because I always looked up to him.”
(On his limitations in coverage and starter quality traits as a run defender) - “It’s fair. I feel like I need to improve upon my cover skills and I have great coaches in Cleveland that can help me build upon my weaknesses and perfect my strengths.”
(On his experience at Nebraska and how it prepared him for the NFL level) - “Coach Bo came from NFL ranks. I feel like we ran an NFL style of defense where there’s a lot of responsibility put on the safeties. Being in charge of lining guys up, making all of the calls, making all the checks and then echoing it down. I feel like that’s going to transition real well to the National Football League.”
(On what kind of quarterback the Browns got in Colt McCoy) - “Colt is a great quarterback. We had our battles. I played against him two years. He’s a great quarterback, he’s tough, he’s smart and he’s a winner. He never gives up. I’m glad he’s on our team because every time I faced him he’s got the best part of me and my team.”
(On his thoughts of how the economy will be going in the near future) - “I believe it’s going to head back up. I believe that the economy is on the rise. I believe the president is trying to, I can’t really get in depth with it, but I believe the president is trying to put some things in place that are going to help get the economy headed back in the right direction.”
(On being comfortable playing a centerfield type position) - “Yes sir. We schemed every team we played. And like the K-State (Kansas State) game, I came out of the box and I was the X-linebacker and I did that. The Texas game, they liked to spread us out. So I always played the centerfield. Depending on what team we played, I was kind of the move guy, coach was always moving me around so I have done both and I am comfortable doing both and whatever Cleveland wants me to do, that’s what I’m going to do.”
(On if he knows T.J. Ward and how his game compares/contrasts to his) - “T.J.’s a great player. He is a great player. I got to meet him at the combine, we exchanged some words, but T.J. is a great player. I think we’re similar in a lot of ways and I can’t wait to practice with him, get to know him even better and compete with him.”
