Matt Hennessy from the NFL Combine

This week owlsports.com attended the NFL Combine to catch up with Owl OL Matt Hennessy. Here is a transcript of his interview with the gathered media:

What has your journey been like since the Senior Bowl?
"So I've been training out in Irvine, California. Working on offense line fundamentals, knowledge of the game, and then physically developing in preparation for tests I'll be taking this week."

How did the Senior Bowl help?
"I think the exposure to all the great players there. Working with the [Detroit] Lions coaching staff. I learned a tremendous amount from their offensive line coach [Hank Fraley]. Just overall, a lot of fun."

For fans who will be seeing you for the first time, can you describe your game?
"I think the first thing people see when they turn on the film it's probably the athleticism. The ability to reach people at the first level second level blocking. Getting out on the screen as well."

Is there a player you watched growing up?
"The player I studied as a young player was Alex Mack. When I first got to Temple my offensive line coach [George DeLeone] had just come over from the Browns when Alex Mack was there. So all of our install film was the Browns. I found that he was an awesome player to watch and also learned a lot."

Is your game like his or somebody different?
"Maybe someone a little different, I'm not entirely sure. I haven't studied every center, but maybe someone different."

You haven't played guard since your freshman year. Are you comfortable there?
"It was week three of that year. I was competing for a starting spot and just the way the offensive line shook out that year, I was able to get a start at left guard. So they started me there that game, I rotated at center as well, and then played some right guard too."

When did you first think you could play at the NFL level?
"I think it goes back to high school, Don Bosco Prep in North Jersey. I played guys like [49ers DE] Nick Bosa and Packers LB] Rashan Gary and while those matchups weren't favorable for me in high school, I definitely saw that I could compete with those guys. Then getting to the college level, I saw that even more."

As a kid from North Jersey how would it be to be drafted by one of the teams from there?
"It would be incredible. I grew up a huge Giants fan. I had season tickets, went to every game until 2010, so that would be incredible. And then my brother [Thomas] is with the Jets, so that would be awesome too."

Is your brother petitioning the Jets to draft you?
"I think he's trying to, yeah maybe."

Did you have interviews with the Jets or Giants?
"I met with both the Jets and the Giants at the Senior Bowl but neither here yet."

Has your brother coached you on what to expect?
"He had a far different pre-draft process. He was an undrafted guy, actually signed here in Indy and then got traded to the Jets, so there was no combine or Senior Bowl for him. So with this part, I'm kind of on my own. As far as once you're on a team, the business side and all how the organizations operate, how essentially you need to add value to the organization and that's how you remain on the roster."

What are some of the differences between center and guard?
"I think center, one of the more significant difference is you're making all the calls. I would assume most teams in the NFL is the same thing where the center is getting everyone aligned. And then not having your snap hand right away. For that first half a second when you're snapping the ball, you just have your left arm available. So I would say those are most of the major differences."

Did it help having some of that playing experience?
"I think so. At a bunch of different practices at Temple I was switching around from center to guard and tackle as well. Just being able to see the whole picture from center was super helpful."

Do you think it would help starting out your NFL career at guard?
"I'd be comfortable playing center right away."

Have you met with the Falcons?
"Yes I have. Informal, but I do have a formal scheduled."

You talked about not having your hands at center, when you have a one-technique at nose and they bulrush what can you do with that one hand?
"Almost simultaneously you're gonna snap with the right and shoot with the left. A lot of times though, defensive linemen know that you just have the left available so they go after it. So a lot of it is about getting a little depth off the ball and giving yourself that space, so you can recover with the right."

Did the Senior Bowl practices helped since centers don't always see one-on-one action in games?
"I think so. I mean you're put in a tough position being a center in the one-on-ones because of that issue with the snap hand. And, of course, every defensive lineman lines up on your snap hand during those reps. It was awesome, it definitely helped."

Do you think with your athletic ability that you would project better to a team that slants its protection?
"I'd be really comfortable doing either but going back through my college career, that's what I did really well."

You played for a number of coaches and a number of systems, do you think that helps?
"I think so. I think being with Coach Rhule my freshman year more of a pro-style system… When I meet with a team, all those concepts, because that's what a lot of the teams are running. And then 2017 and 2018 to a spread offense with some pro-style concepts still. And this most recent year, more of a college-style offense. Having to learn all three and learning techniques from three different o-line coaches, is something that will be extremely helpful."

Who was the best defensive player you went up against in one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl?
"I think [Neville] Gallimore from Oklahoma is someone who definitely stood out."

What was it like working with an NFL staff – the Detroit Lions – at the Senior Bowl?
"Because at the Senior Bowl you know there's all the NFL [interview] stuff going on but you really there for the game. And the Lions and the Bengals coaching staff I'm sure were preparing to win that game on Saturday. The team meetings, the offensive unit meetings, and then the position meetings… Seeing how the head coach operated, the offensive coordinator, how they brought all the position groups together, and then working with Coach Fraley. He was an offensive lineman himself, so it was extremely helpful."

Can you tell us more about Coach [Hank] Fraley since he was just named offensive line coach?
"He was awesome. He controlled the room really well. Like I said, having been an offensive lineman, he was able to connect with us really easily and, therefore, able to help us. He was able to put himself in our shoes and be able to connect with us."

Have you run into Matt Rhule?
"Yeah I ran into him in Mobile and I ran into him here as well. And now more of the Panthers guys have been hired since and they were also guys that were at Temple. I've seen all those guys, it's pretty crazy."

Would you rather play center than guard?
"It's something that's become part of who I am, and be tough to do without it now. I really like having control of the line of scrimmage."

Have you always been a leader or did that evolve?
"It's something I evolved into, Starting off freshman year, I was super comfortable making the calls from there. It's developed into more of an overall leadership role versus a schematic thing. So definitely developed into it, but started at a schematic basis."

As a center you have to make all the calls and you still have to play fast. How do you do that?
"It starts with preparation throughout the week. Beginning extremely early in the week, knowing the pressures you are going to get, what is the skill set of defense, the skill set of the defensive linemen and linebackers. When you have the foundation and preparation, it's extremely easy to play fast out there."

Being in Philly, have you been able to watch Eagles' center Jason Kelce?
"Just because it's the local game we have access to watch. I've watched Jason Kelce a bunch. His athletic skill set is unreal. But it has been fun to watch."

How do you define Temple TUFF?
"I think it's a matter of doing all the little things right. Like regardless of how hard they are. A lot of times toughness it seemed as a physicality issue, which it is, or an issue of grit, which it also is. But Temple TUFF is more about doing the small, little things that are tough along the way, that make you tough."

Why did you elect to wear the Air Jordan's at the Senior Bowl?
"I experimented with a bunch of different cleats before the Senior Bowl and settled on the Jordan cleats. Not so much as a style thing, although they were good looking, but as a comfort thing. They were the most comfortable cleats I could find."

How was the swag part of the Senior Bowl?
"It was awesome. And the way that the tables were set up we were paired with some other conferences who had some big skill guys who everybody wanted to see. So I got kind of the extras that came through."

You had a great week at the Senior Bowl. Any other players stand out who you went up against?
"I think [Davon Hamilton] the defensive tackle from Ohio State. Extremely, extremely strong."

How did you go from a high school tackle to a college center?
"I was a right tackle throughout my high school career. I was a lightly-recruited guy because I think colleges saw me as a tackle but just a small one. So I didn't get heavily recruited, just by the Ivy's up in the Northeast. And then Temple asked me to come down to a recruiting camp before my senior year. And Coach Rhule actually found me during one of the one-on-one sessions in the camp and ended offering me a scholarship. And he was like, 'I know you're playing tackle but you have the ideal skill set for center.' From day one at Temple, he bumped me down to center."

How would you like to continue your career in Philadelphia?
"It would be incredible. Being exposed to the way the fans love the team and the way the team loves the city back, it would be pretty cool to be a part of that."

Who was the best pass rusher you have faced in your career?
"I think I'd go back to 2017 Ed Oliver of Houston [a first round pick of Buffalo in 2019]. He was strong, played with great leverage, and a lot of power."

What's the difference between playing center and guard?
"Above the neck. It's a matter of the center is making all the calls. You have a little bit more control. Having that foundational knowledge at center and playing guard, though, it'll definitely help me. From the fundamental standpoint, not having your snap hand available right away, so you need to give yourself time or space to be able to get that. At this level it will be that more important."

Are there guys in the NFL who you watch?
"Guys like Alex Mack and Jason Kelce. Guys who do things athletically really well."

Have you sensed the emphasis that NFL GMs have put on position flexibility?
"Yes, certainly. Like I said just being able to add value to the organization. There's only 53 guys who are going to suit up. You got to be able to do more than one thing."

Had you been exposed to guard during your time at Temple?
"Yeah I actually started a game my freshman year. Then throughout the time there at practice played both guards spots and tackle as well."

This is a long process, will you be excited to get back home?
"I'm headed back after the combine really excited to get back to up there. I'll be training at Parisi in Fairlawn, really excited."

Do you have a good Matt Rhule story?
"Yeah he came to my house along with Coach Foley and Coach Siravo, two guys who are actually with the Panthers now as well. It was real weird to see them wearing their Panthers' stuff. Four years ago we're sitting at my dining room table and now I'm here as well, so it's weird crossing paths again with them."

What do you bring to a team?
"On the field I think what I'm able to do in the offense is be able to reach people at the first-level, second-level blocking. But I also think off the field, being a leader in the weight room and the locker room as well."

Do you recall a game where it really went well for your team in terms of second-level blocking?
"I think East Carolina this year. Started off the first quarter kind of slow then we started to hit outside zone. I just kept stretching the defense and puncturing it, and we were able to run the ball really well that game."

How different is it between first- and second-level blocking?
"When you get out there and you're rolling it's not bad because you're so much heavier than most guys. So just getting in the way helps. I think it becomes more difficult when you have to have body control in space. I think that's when the second-level blocking is difficult for a lot of guys."

How have you worked at keeping your balance?
"Playing since I was so young that certainly has help me with balance. Something I do off the field this hot yoga pretty frequently, and that's definitely helped with my balance and body control as well."

Have you always been big or did you have a growth spurt at any time?
"Linear progression, kind of slow throughout high school. Played my senior year in high school at about 250. Got to Temple at about 270, and then progressed from there. Always been a bigger guy."

Did you and your brother battle all the time?
"We're super close. We used to fight a ton when we were younger. We're really competitive. He's been one of my biggest influences throughout my teenage years to where I am now. He went to Duke, a four-year starter there. Four years ahead of me so I had a chance to see how he did it. He went to Don Bosco Prep as well so seeing what he went through in high school before I was able to do it, then in college, and now the NFL. It kind of gives me a headstart on everything."

What's the feeling you get when you beat down your opponent in front of you?
"It's a pretty awesome feeling, beating down your opponent. To throw body blows to start a game, that's always the plan that I'm going into the game with. To wear people down until the fourth quarter. If there's one way to win a game, it would be a hard fought battle and then wear them down, and pull away at the end."

What's more important a pancake block or 40 yard completion?
"A 40-yard completion because I know how much ground we're covered on that."

How involved was Matt Rhule as a head coach?
"He was extremely involved as a head coach. A lot of times head coaches are just overseeing the organization but he was super involved defensively and offensively with scheme. And yes, specifically, he did spend the time with the offensive line."

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Matt Hennessy from the NFL Combine

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Matt Hennessy

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