Emmanuel Pregnon Talks Offensive Line Heading Into Week 3: "Starting early, starting fast"

Emmanuel Pregnon earned the starting job as Oregon’s left guard after transferring in from USC. Through two games the Ducks haven’t allowed a sack and have surrendered just three tackles for loss.

The big 6-foot-5, 318-pounder met with reporters in Eugene following Tuesday’s practice to discuss the Oregon offense heading into game three against Northwestern.

Below are some of his top quotes and full video of his media availability.

On fun of getting upfield as an offensive line

Pregnon: “Just being able to get down there with the whole four, it’s dope. It makes me feel like a child and we’re all playing tag down the field or somethin’.”

On running counter plays

Pregnon: “As an offensive lineman, that’s a play that really, you mentally have to say I’m gonna set the tone here for the entire game. For how dominant, physical and at the point of attack that we’re gonna be and really set the tone to let the defense know essentially how you’re comin’.”

On how the offensive line has become so cohesive in short time

Pregnon: “As far as the egos, we all put our egos to the side. We all treat each other as brothers and as family. When you have family, you can talk through things. You work as a unit, so everything becomes cohesive and everybody is cooperative because we’re all fixated on one goal and that’s winning and keeping our quarterback clean.”

On what goes in to preparing for a 9 AM kickoff

Pregnon: “I believe it’s just like the emphasis coach has been leaving with us this week is being a fire starter. What that means to me is starting early, starting fast. So in practices like these, whatever we have, it’s the first rep of indy, you gotta start fast. You gotta come off that rock. As far as the mentality that you’re coming with, you wanna think start fast, so you can build now. That’s how I’m thinking about preparing for such an early game like that. So when I come out on Saturday at 9 AM, I’m punching somebody in the mouth right from the jump.”

On impressions of Jayden Limar

Pregnon: “Jayden Limar, he’s a dope dude man. I could remember when I had first got here and I had got into workouts and I was trying to get myself acclimated, just trying to transition. He was one of the first guys to help me by pointing me in the direction of people in the area that could help me out with my body. From the place that I’ve been at, there’s not a lot of people telling you where to go fix your body at, or help fix your body rather than them telling you go mess your body up.”

On traveling on an airplane

Pregnon: “I don’t know about y’all, but I’m an aisle guy. That leg room, I will fight anybody for that leg room. Just traveling—to be comfortable I just try to get an aisle seat and try to reason with the people on the plane because it is kinda difficult being a bigger guy and having to sit in a seat in between or sit in a window seat ’cause it’s just so tight.”

Conversations coaches are having leading up to first road game

Pregnon: “Conversations that we’re having is starting early. From the jump being a fire starter. Really setting the tone now. That’s the way I feel like mentally they’re instilling within us, so physically that’s how we’re preparing on the field, in practice. And that’s what we’re gonna continue to reiterate throughout the week and throughout practice throughout the reps and everything.”

On where offensive line can grow

Pregnon: “In the game of football to me, you’ve never made it. Especially with us, I gotta give respect where it’s due as one of the best units that I’ve been around. Essentially what I’m trying to say is that the sky’s the limit. The things I feel like we can get better at is our consistency in our play. Just keeping our technique and keeping our assignment. Being fixated on those things, I feel like will essentially take care of itself. But I feel like those are things that we can always stay keen on and continually make a mental mark to stay focused on those things so that we continue to progress incrementally as football players. And in the game of O-line.”