Vernon Davis Q&A: TE on his statistical decline, QBs with the 49ers
TE on his statistical decline, QBs with the 49ers
Asked about his recent statistical nosedive Wednesday, former 49ers tight end Vernon Davis had a ready answer:
Davis, who was traded to the Broncos on Monday, was asked to account for his two-season disappearing act in his first meeting with the Denver media.
If you look at San Francisco, look at the year when I started to drop off.
What happened with the team?
If the team's not having success, the chances are that I'm not going to have success.
Davis, who has averaged 2.2 catches and 22 yards in his past 20 games, has landed with a 7-0 team that employs quarterback Peyton Manning.
Not knocking those guys.
[...] Davis insisted he missed being with the team that selected him with the No. 6 pick in 2006.
“I miss everything about being a Niner,” Davis said.
Like I said, one door closes, the other door opens.
Here’s the transcript of Davis’ meeting with the Denver media, which was provided by the Broncos’ PR staff:
On being traded to the Denver Broncos:
The GM [49ers General Manager Trent Baalke] called me and said, 'Come in.'
Really?
Are you kidding me?' It was a very emotional day for me during that time, telling everyone goodbye and my teammates, seeing them for the last time.
On his first day as a member of the Denver Broncos:
VD: I felt like a chicken running around with my head chopped off.
The guys are lifting weights right now, but I didn't get the time.
Every chance that he got, he would grab me and we would just walk through some things.
The verbiage, signals and the way Peyton wants things, it's just different, but I'll get it.
On his excitement of being in an offense that uses tight ends
On being back on a contending team after playing in Super Bowl XLVII:
Even in the locker room, everyone is extremely nice.
On his level of play throughout his career:
If you look at San Francisco, look at the year when I started to drop off.
What happened with the team?
VD: Last time I felt that energy was when we were winning those games.
Like I said, I'm running around and trying to figure this thing out.
On what it means to play with a quarterback like Manning:
Peyton is one of those guys that every wide receiver dreams about having.
Not knocking those guys.
[San Francisco QB] Colin [Kaepernick] and [Kansas City QB] Alex [Smith] were really good.
On if he's picked the brains of other Broncos tight ends:
On if there is anything he misses about playing for San Francisco:
Like I said, one door closes, the other door opens.
VD: The synergy in the building that I just talked about, the energy and all of those things—you can feel it.
Normally when those things are floating around, it kind of makes you feel a certain way.
On playing against his brother, Colts CB Vontae Davis, on Sunday:
VD: It will be pretty cool to have my whole family come and see me compete against my brother, but this game isn't really about me and my brother.