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Alex Khvatov:
What are your exact measurements (height, weight and
forty time)?
Justin Pugh: I am
6’5, 306 pounds right now and I run around a 5.0
forty.
Alex Khvatov:
What schools recruited you when you were coming out
of high school?
Justin Pugh:
Syracuse was about it. It was the only Division I
school that I had an offer from.
Alex Khvatov:
Are you happy with the decision that you made by
coming to Syracuse?
Justin Pugh: It
was the best decision that I ever made. I had the
two best OL coaches in the country. Coach Marrone
came from the Saints where he was an OL coach. It
was a blessing. I had the best coaching. I ended
up playing right away. I redshirted, but then I
played all three seasons. So it was a great place.
I wouldn’t change anything about it.
Alex Khvatov:
Tell me about your junior season.
Justin Pugh: It
was tough missing the first four games of the
season. I had to watch. We went 1-3 to open the
season. But it made it more gratifying once I got
out there. It made me appreciate how much I needed
this game. Once I got back, we wound up going 7-2.
We went to the Pinstripe Bowl and got the big win
against West Virginia. It was awesome.
Alex Khvatov:
Talk about the Bowl Game in more detail.
Justin Pugh: We
knew that we would have to put up points against
West Virginia. But we always have faith in our
defense. Every year, our defense has shut down West
Virginia. I never lost to them personally. I never
saw them have a good offensive performance against
our defense. I saw what they did to teams
throughout the year, but I always have faith in our
defense. We were just going to go in there and do
our job. We ended up rushing for over 500 yards.
It worked out well for us getting that big win.
Alex Khvatov:
What are your strengths?
Justin Pugh: I am
a very good pass protector. Run blocking is
probably my favorite thing to do as an offensive
lineman. Once I get bigger and stronger, I know
that I will become a better run blocker. I can use
my athleticism in the zone blocking scheme. I am
really good at getting out in space and getting to
the second level. My leadership qualities are
really good. I was named captain at Syracuse by my
teammates. It is my biggest accomplishment at
Syracuse.
Alex Khvatov:
What areas of your game do you need to improve
upon?
Justin Pugh: I
don’t think that I have any glaring weaknesses in my
game. But I have to work on my technique and get
better at it. In the NFL, guys are bigger, stronger
and faster than I faced in college. So I need to
get that technique down.
Alex Khvatov:
Why did you decide to leave Syracuse after your
junior season?
Justin Pugh: There
were four main reasons why I decided to leave. I
have been there for four seasons. I redshirted my
first year, so I am a redshirt junior. I got three
years of football. I got my degree which is the
most important thing. My mom told me that I wasn’t
allowed to come out and declare for the draft unless
I had my degree. I think that I played really well
the past three years. I was an All-Conference
player all three years. After the injury, I played
really well my junior year. The season ended
great. We went 7-2 to end the season. It was my
dream to go to the NFL. Everything came together at
the right time. After I declared, Coach Marrone
left for the Bills. He took the whole offensive
staff to Buffalo. So it just worked out.
Alex Khvatov:
You were selected to play at the Senior Bowl as a
redshirt junior. This was groundbreaking for the
Senior Bowl, how honored were you to participate in
this event?
Justin Pugh: It
was an honor. I am thankful that we were able to
participate. We were rewarded for finishing school
early. We put our education first. D.J. Fluker
left after the first day because he had an injury.
I was the only one left practicing. Hopefully, it
will open the door for other guys like me in the
future.
Alex Khvatov:
Describe your Senior Bowl experience to us.
Justin Pugh: It
was a lot to take in at first. You are going every
day from 7 o’clock in the morning to 11 o’clock at
night. When you are not playing, you are doing
interviews and different events. It was a good
experience getting used to that and being around the
NFL guys. It was great to get exposed to NFL
coaching. Raiders’ coaching staff was great.
All-Star games are a bit unrealistic because
offensive playcalling is so limited. Defense knows
what’s coming. The game isn’t as important as the
practices. I think that I had a really good week of
practice. I was able to get some guard work in and
show my versatility. It was a great week for me.
Alex Khvatov:
Who is the toughest player that you faced during the
Senior Bowl practices?
Justin Pugh: On my
team, Datone Jones from UCLA was a really good
player. When I was playing guard, I went up against
Brandon Williams. I think that he is a Division II
player. He is a good player. He is a very strong
kid. Sylvester Williams is a really good player.
But I liked what Datone Jones brought to the table.
He had a good combination of power and speed.
Alex Khvatov:
Did you bond with any of the players during the
week?
Justin Pugh: At
first, I had a room to myself. Then my teammate
Alec Lemon ended up coming. He was a late addition
to the roster. He ended up as my roommate. I got
along really well with the other offensive linemen.
Kyle Long and Brian Winters were a couple of guys
that I bonded with.
Alex Khvatov:
Do you see yourself playing at tackle or guard at
the next level?
Justin Pugh: I
played left tackle during the whole game at the
Senior Bowl. I just got a couple of snaps at
guard. People keep saying that my arms are too
short to play tackle. At the end of the day,
football is football. People can write about it and
analyze it all they want. At the end of the day, 31
and a half inch arms aren’t going to be the
difference between me being a tackle and a guard. I
have been playing tackle for the last three years in
the Big East. I have played against first round
picks. I can definitely play tackle in the NFL.
NFL teams will see that with my athleticism and my
IQ. The more versatile that I am, the more valuable
I become on draft day.
Alex Khvatov:
What is the highlight of your football career up to
this point?
Justin Pugh: Going
to two bowl games in three years is my biggest
accomplishment that I have on the field. We set a
foundation for the Syracuse football program. We
are not one of the worst programs anymore. You
can’t neglect Syracuse football anymore.
Off-the-field, my highlight was getting my degree.
Alex Khvatov:
The Scouting Combine is a couple of days away, what
are you going though right now preparing for this
once in a lifetime event?
Justin Pugh: Going
into it, you know that this is your biggest
interview of your life. It can get a little nerve
wracking, but then I remind myself that this is
football. This is what I love to do. This is
something that I have been doing my whole life. I
have been getting ready for this interview since I
started playing this sport. I want to show them
what type of player that I am and what type of
athleticism that I have. The biggest thing is just
showing what type of kid that I am. I want to show
them that I can add value to their team and add
value to their city. You just need to find one of
those teams to like you and it is a wrap.
Alex Khvatov:
What separates you from all of the other players at
your position?
Justin Pugh: I
think that there a number of good tackles in the
draft. They all bring something to the table. I
just think the way that I fit into certain schemes.
My pass protection is very good. I can pass protect
with the best of them. The league is turning into a
passing league. You have to be able to get
downfield and block with all of those running QB’s.
I do a really good job at getting to the second
level. I don’t think that anyone brings the
intangibles which I bring to the table. I bring the
leadership qualities on and off-the-field. Teams
will see that in Indy.
Alex Khvatov:
Describe your teammate QB Ryan Nassib.
Justin Pugh: Ryan
and I are both from Philadelphia. We actually would
drive home together in the summer. We spent a lot
of time together. Ryan is a great guy. He became
the vocal leader of our team this past season. It
was the biggest change that he made in his game.
His play speaks for itself. He can make any throw
on the field. Just give him a little time and he
can make any offensive lineman look good. He is a
very smart guy. He has a degree in finance and in
accounting. He started his master’s degree while
training. He is definitely the type of guy that
works at it. He doesn’t want the spotlight. He
would rather just go out there and do his job. He
is not a prima donna. He is a blue collar guy. He
will fit in great wherever he goes.
Alex Khvatov:
Where are you training right now for the NFL Draft?
Justin Pugh: I am
down here in Atlanta at CES. It is Competitive Edge
Sports with Chip Smith. It is a really good place
to train. If you don’t want to work hard and just
go to one of those resort types of training
facilities where you get massages and go to the
beach all day, then this isn’t the place for you.
We come in every day and we work hard. I think that
I have gotten a lot better here.
Alex Khvatov:
What is your favorite NFL team?
Justin Pugh: I am
an Eagles fan. I grew up in Philadelphia.
Alex Khvatov:
Were you sad to see Andy Reid being let go?
Justin Pugh: Yeah,
I grew up watching Andy Reid. It is all I knew.
Andy Reid and the Eagles were synonymous. It was
also a big loss to see MacNabb leave. He was a
Syracuse guy. It was tough to see those guys leave
after you have rooted for them for so long. But
Philadelphia needed some fresh blood. Andy Reid is
a great coach and that is why you saw him get hired
right away because he knows what he is doing. But
it is time for them to go and start over again.
Alex Khvatov:
Are you excited about the Chip Kelly era?
Justin Pugh: Yeah,
definitely. He did great things at Oregon. The
fans should be excited about it. It is a great
scheme. He needs guys like me with that no-huddle
offense. He runs an up-tempo offense. I think that
I would be a great fit in that offense.
Alex Khvatov:
Who is your favorite NFL player?
Justin Pugh: Right
now, I haven’t been able to watch as much football
as I used to. I work with Jon Stinchcomb. He was a
tackle for the Saints. He has been to the Pro Bowl
and he has won a Super Bowl. I like the way he
plays. He is similar to me. He has been coaching
me here in Atlanta. I have definitely been getting
better.
Alex Khvatov:
What did you enjoy the most about playing college
football?
Justin Pugh: Being
in college, it is a different experience. You are
still a student and you still get to have fun. You
are around guys who are the same age as you. I miss
it. I am out here working out by myself. You are
really on your own for the first time. I miss being
around my teammates all the time. But it would be
great to see all of those guys once my pro day comes
up.
Alex Khvatov:
What does it take to be a leader?
Justin Pugh: I am
more of a lead by example type of guy. When you
first get to college or you are a rookie in the NFL,
you want to keep your head down and learn from the
older guys. You just want to take notes and learn
how they get respect. Then you have to go out there
and be a good player. You have to go out there and
work hard. Then with time, you can become more
vocal. But you slowly work your way to being a
leader.
Alex Khvatov:
Who will emerge as the next great player at
Syracuse?
Justin Pugh: We
have some young offensive linemen that started for
the first time last year. One kid is Sean Hickey.
He played LT when I was out. He is going to be the
next great Syracuse OL. He has a big body with long
arms. He is going to be a really good player. Our
RB Jerome Smith had over 1,200 yards last year. He
is also a really good player. WR Jarrod West is
another player to keep an eye on. I think that QB
Charley Loeb will surprise everyone next year. He
was my roommate. He is a 6’4, lefty QB who can make
every throw. He is a hard worker. He is one of the
most dedicated guys that I have ever met. He
actually won a bunch of competitions at the Manning
Camp this year against some of the top guys in this
year’s draft class. He was behind Ryan Nassib. He
should do a really good job next year.
Alex Khvatov:
Who is the toughest guy that you have faced during
your career?
Justin Pugh:
Chandler Jones. He was my teammate for three
seasons. He is with the Patriots now. We made each
other a lot better. It is good to go against future
NFL players in practice every day. It definitely
helps you out a lot.
Alex Khvatov:
What do you plan to do with your life after your
football career is over?
Justin Pugh: I
have a finance degree. So I thought that I want to
get into financial advising. But now I think that I
want to get into broadcasting after I am done
playing. I can talk fairly well. I have a good
time when I do my interviews. It would be something
cool to get into. I do have that football
background. Plus I am very well spoken. It would
be a good fit for me.
Alex Khvatov:
What are your hobbies?
Justin Pugh: I
like to hang out with my buddies. I have seven best
friends back home that I grew up with. I know them
since elementary school. One of my buddies plays
basketball at Drexel, so I am able to see some of
his games. I have two nephews and a niece back home
that I like to hang out with. I like to play video
games. I am a very competitive guy. We have a
Madden league going on. We have four guys in one
apartment and we like to play. I am also a big
beach guy. I like to boogie board.
Alex Khvatov:
At this point, is the NFL a dream or a reality?
Justin Pugh: It is
still a dream. I walked into my training facility
the other day and I saw a guy like Colin Kaepernick
working out at the same facility. He is a normal
guy. You put a guy like that on a pedestal your
whole life, but you realize that you are getting
closer to becoming just like him. It is exciting.
But until I get to hear my name called, you never
know what could happen. Once my name gets called on
TV and I see it go on the screen, then it will
become a reality.
Alex Khvatov:
Finish the sentence, Justin Pugh is….
Justin Pugh: A
tough, hard-working player who plays the game the
right way. |