Commanders safety Tyler Owens talks preseason debut with Kevin Sheehan
Tyler Owens, the undrafted rookie out of Texas Tech, has been one of the real good training camp stories out in Ashburn as the Washington Commanders' safety has made a nice impression with a few tackles as a safety and a special teamer in the preseason opener on Saturday
"I thought I did pretty good, I still have some things to imrpove on," Owens told Kevin Sheehan on Tuesday. "For the most part, I thought I gave a good effort."
Owens, who played more snaps on defense than just about anybody else on Saturday, said he "definitely" gets the sense that Washington's coaches are starting to gain a bit more confidence in him and are pushing him in the right direction.
At the NFL Draft combine, Owens put up some wild numbers with a 41-inch verticle and a 12-foot-2 broad jump, which came close to a world record. "I always knew I was explosive," he told Sheehan, "but when I started training and learning techniques, it kinda got to where like, I could go for the record. I shoulda ran the fastest 40."
And the rookie is looking to translate that raw skillset to the field.
"I feel like I run best, that's my best asset that I think I bring to the team, it allows me to play different positions, along with my size," the six-foot-two safety said, "I think I match up pretty good with tight ends, I think that gives me a pretty good advantage."
But special teams is where Owens is going to have to make his mark, he was "a big gunner" and a kickoff guy, and he thinks the former is his best way forward. "I think hold my own when I'm out there," Owens said about being a gunner.
Checkout the full conversation on the audio player above!
