Rams Third-Round Draft Selection – David Long – Conference Call – April 26, 2019

Rams Third-Round Draft Selection – David Long – Conference Call – April 26, 2019

(On how it feels to be drafted by his hometown team)

“It feels great. It feels great. It’s a blessing. I went to school in Los Angeles, so to be able to really come back and play at home, it’s a blessing. Just to be able to come back home, play football and get another opportunity to play. I’m just really happy and grateful for the coaches and staff for believing in my talent and I’m really just ready to get to work.”

(On what his first impression is of the Rams defense)

“There’s (CB) Aqib Talib, you got (CB Nickell) Robey(-Coleman), (CB) Marcus Peters and you got a good group of guys in the defensive backfield. (Cornerbacks) Coach (Aubrey) Pleasant, I had really good meetings with him, interactions with him as far as what they would like me to do. It was a great meeting, a great visit with the Rams.”

(On what particular Coach Pleasant told him)

“It was mainly just helping me for the process. They expressed their interest in me as a prospect, thought I could do a lot of things, but it was mainly just getting me ready to take advantage of whatever opportunity that came. It was just a blessing that I get to be able to come back home and play in California.”

(On what the draft process was like with the Rams and how many times he met with them)

“I only met with them once and then I really didn’t speak with them afterwards. But, I knew that they liked me a lot and had a lot of interest. So, it was just a blessing that I was able to get this opportunity when the time came.”

(On if the meeting with Coach Pleasant was at the Combine)

“No. They brought me in for a top-30 (visit).”

(On what stood out from the visit with the Rams)

“It was my first time being at the facility and meeting everybody – the coaches, (General Manager Les) Snead and the rest of the gang. It felt so familiar being in there with, (Wide Receivers) Coach (Eric) Yarber and (Assistant Coordinator/Offense Jedd) Coach Fisch, he was there when I was at Michigan. So just seeing some familiar faces, it was really cool.”

(On having the opportunity to play with Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters and what that offers him as a young player)

“A lot of experience. To be able to pick up from those guys and do whatever they’ve been doing to stay in the league. A lot of those guys have had successful careers. Aqib Talib played a really long time – a lengthy career, so he knows what it takes. Marcus Peters and Robey (-Coleman), those guys have made plays at that level. So, just anything. Those guys know a lot and just pick-up and keep the ball rolling.”

(On why he chose Michigan as opposed to staying local and what it means to get to play back in L.A., a city that didn’t have any NFL teams when he left and now to play professionally here)

“(Inaudible).”