EXCLUSIVE: Patriots LB Christian Elliss joins Zolak and Bertrand

Beasley Digital

After the Patriots Wednesday's practice, linebacker Christian Ellis joined Zolak and Bertrand to discuss his new contract extension and how training camp has gone so far.

Transcript

00:00Christian Ellis joining us after today's practice.

00:03You tell us when we're good to go.

00:05We're good to go.

00:05Hey, Christian, what's going on?

00:07It's going good. How about you?

00:08How excited were you about to get in the extension and going to be here for a while now?

00:13Yeah, no, I'm super excited.

00:14God's blessed me and my family.

00:15I cannot complain with every opportunity that he's given me.

00:19He's given me and my family a home for a bit, and we're excited to be here.

00:23Obviously, last year was a big issue for many reasons.

00:26But, you know, you were one of the guys that really started to pop as games went on.

00:32And with the type of front you guys are going to run and what Mike is trying to steal,

00:37and especially, you know, Terrell Williams and what he wants to do up front with the front seven,

00:41how excited are you about that?

00:43You know, I'm super excited.

00:44I think they both have great game plans.

00:46I think they mesh well together.

00:47And I think, above all, they want us to play with effort, you know, and play physically.

00:51So I'm excited about their philosophy.

00:54I'm excited about how they want this defense to lead.

00:57We're talking with Christian Ellis.

00:58Yesterday we were talking with, I believe you call Splane Spills.

01:03Is that what you guys call him?

01:04Spills.

01:04Yeah, everyone calls him different things.

01:06Bob, Robert, Spills.

01:08We were talking to Robert Splane, and I know that you've been fascinated the same way we were

01:14with his training methods and the things that he does in the offseason.

01:19I'm wondering if you have any unusual or unorthodox training methods.

01:23What do you want me to say?

01:26Like I'm Aaron Donald working with the knives?

01:29I don't really think I have anything unorthodox.

01:32I don't think so.

01:33I work with my brothers in the offseason.

01:36You know, I don't really go to any facilities or anything like that.

01:40So I would say mine's pretty normal.

01:43Pretty normal.

01:43The offense ran a toss play to your side.

01:46You were to the right side.

01:48Yeah.

01:48And Will Campbell pulled.

01:50He's out there.

01:51You kind of got up under his pad level.

01:52You knocked him down on his tail.

01:54You helped him back up.

01:55How does the big rookie look to you, and how physical is he as a player?

01:59Will's an amazing player.

02:02The sky's the limit for him.

02:04He's just so talented.

02:05He's so gifted.

02:06He reads the defense well.

02:07He does his job.

02:08I got him on that play.

02:10But he's just an outstanding player.

02:12He's going to help this team a lot this year and years to come.

02:15And I have nothing but high hopes for him, and I know he's going to do well.

02:19Christian, I know that you've said before that everything in your career,

02:23whether it be at the NFL level or prior to that, you fought for everything.

02:26You know, it's been a real battle, and you've gotten to a point now

02:29with the contract extension.

02:30Do you feel like, you know, you're starting to win that fight, so to speak,

02:34and getting to where you are right now?

02:35It must feel good to be in your position.

02:38Yeah, like, for me, you know, God's given me abilities to use,

02:42and so I want to use them to the best of my ability.

02:44I'm going to put my best foot forward.

02:45You know, even when there's mistakes, even when there's days where, you know,

02:49I'm tired or whatnot, it's about putting that foot forward even on those days

02:53so that when game time comes, the game's easy.

02:56So, for me, it was a long battle.

02:59It still is a battle, and I love it because, you know, fire refines a man.

03:05You know, from up here, there's a lot of standing around.

03:07You guys are always on the move.

03:09When you're going against the offense, do you feel like it's a more up-tempo,

03:13buttoned-up type offense than a year ago?

03:17I would say there are obviously differences.

03:20Our offense right now is just running so smoothly.

03:23I have nothing but praise for them.

03:24They keep us on our toes.

03:26They keep us, you know, having to defend our rules,

03:29and, you know, I'm excited to see them perform this year.

03:32What's it like playing for a head coach who's a linebacker?

03:35And I know you've had that experience already, but, you know,

03:38that when you're talking about whatever it is you're working through as a player,

03:43you've got a head coach who understands what it is you do on a down-to-down basis.

03:48Yeah.

03:48Yeah, no, Mike's just an amazing coach, first and foremost.

03:52Secondly, it's just a bonus to me that he played my position for so long,

03:56and he was really good at it.

03:57So, for me, I just take the tidbits he gives me.

04:01I mean, he gives a lot of tidbits and a little knowledge here and there to the LBs,

04:06honestly, everywhere.

04:07It's amazing how he can coach every single position on the field,

04:10even though he was a linebacker.

04:12It's just props to him, props to him being the head man,

04:14props to him being the leader of this team and setting the tone.

04:17So, we're going to talk next to Milton Williams, you know,

04:20the big free HCU acquisition from the Eagles.

04:22How's he been at camp?

04:23Has he been active and vocal?

04:26Yes, sir.

04:27Milton's a great teammate.

04:28I played with him in Philly.

04:29Okay.

04:30Before I was released there.

04:31So, I have nothing but high praise for Milton.

04:33He's an amazing D lineman, amazing leader.

04:37He is vocal.

04:38He does what he needs to do.

04:39And then some.

04:41So, I'm excited to see him play this year,

04:42and I think he's a huge addition to this defense.

04:44You excited to see how many more downs he can play?

04:46Because I think, you know, he's more of a specialist,

04:49you know, with the big front that you guys had down there.

04:50You guys are loaded.

04:51Yeah.

04:52But he's going to be expected to do a lot here.

04:55I agree.

04:56And he's going to do well with it.

04:57All right.

04:58Christian, appreciate the time as always.

05:00Yeah, appreciate it.

05:01All right, take care.

05:01That's Christian Ellis joining us from the field level

05:05after the Patriots wrap up their practice for the day.

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