ASK THE STEELERS – EMMANUEL SANDERS – PART 2
Steelers.com brings you the Ask the Steelers feature. Fans submitted the questions that were asked. Please understand that we receive an incredible number of questions for each player, with many of the questions being similar, and not all of the questions can be answered. We selected as many as possible, and took your questions to the current subject to get your answers.
Sam Hergert in Quad Cities, Illinois asks: After you earn your playing time, how fun and effective will it be to have you and Mike Wallace on the field at the same time with your speed?Emmanuel Sanders: It's going to be so fun. I played with a guy named Aldrick Robinson who was similar to Mike Wallace who is a 4.2 guy who can flat out run. I am pretty fast, but not as fast as Mike. That's how we can complement each other. Mike can be the vertical guy and I can be the guy catching outs, getting up field and juking people and things of that nature.
John Roetter in Naperville, Illinois asks: What are your main goals for the upcoming season? Emmanuel Sanders: I want to get rookie of the year. That's why I work out every day. I want to be a starter, I want to play on special teams, I want to be on the 53-man roster. I have plenty of goals and I feel like I can accomplish them. I set the bar high. I want to be Pro Bowler. I feel if you set the bar high and you fall a little short, you are still doing better than most people. That's how I see it.
Barry Price in New Jersey asks: Do they throw a lot at you during mini-camp? Emmanuel Sanders: They throw a whole bunch at you. They throw about 40 plays in a day and want you to learn it. They want to see how much you can absorb. I think I did well with it. The playbook is thick, but I am working on it.
Don Palmer in Ohio asks: What was it like to put a Steelers helmet on for the first time in mini-camp?Emmanuel Sanders: It felt good. When I put it on that's when I realized I made it. After the draft everyone asked how does it feel? I told them I don't feel like I am an NFL player yet. When I was out there practicing, had the helmet on, that's when I truly knew I had made it and it felt good.
Jared Lewis in Michigan: You hear a lot about the camaraderie in the Steelers locker room. What was your first impression of that?Emmanuel Sanders: That's what I liked most. Even though we are all grown men, there are friendships that are formed and everyone still has that kid in them. There is so much in this business that is serious, but I feel like you have to smile and have fun with it. Guys like Hines Ward make sure guys are smiling and having a good time.
Terrell Smith in Sugar Land, Texas asks: It must be a great honor to wear the#88 jersey, formerly worn by theHall of Fame receiverLynn Swann. Have you had the chance to learn about him at all yet?Emmanuel Sanders: It's an honor. I have big shoes to fill. At first I didn't understand what #88 meant. I am from Texas and I didn't watch football that much growing up. I heard about Lynn Swann and did my research. It made me take my work ethic to an extra height. I have big shoes to fill. If they let me wear that number I am going to try and represent to the best of my ability.
Jim Smith in Boston, Massachusetts asks: In what ways did you contribute to special teams at SMU, and what special team's roles do you see yourself contributing to as a member of the Steelers?Emmanuel Sanders: I did the majority of things. I played gunner with the punt team, I did punt return, kick return. There is no limit. I will play anything with the Steelers, wherever they ask me. I played some defensive back and that taught me to be physically tough. I feel like I can play kickoff, punt return, kickoff return. I can play it all. If they need my help, I am there to fill the void.
