Welcome to the Command Center Podcast. I'm Julie Donaldson. Second year of cornerback Benjamin Saint. Juice was thrust into a starting role midseason following the trade of William Jackson, the third Pittsburgh. The Montreal native and Minnesota product thrived in his new role, but unfortunately the end of the season was derolled by an ankle injury. Prior to heading home for the offseason, he popped by the Players Club for a chat with London Fletcher and Santana Moss all Right said, Juice, man,
you had a breakout second season in the league. Obviously didn't didn't in the way you wanted to with battling the ankle injury. How do you feel you played and what led to your your success on the field this year. M I feel like from year one to year two it was a big confidence boost, um knowing that I, you know, belonging this league and I can be a
true like CB one starter here. And obviously that's just part of the proces, you know, going from a rookie, you playing against some top guys, you huning the game. At the same time, everything is fast, so you're trying to figure out if you fit in and where you're fit in all that stuff. And I started the season at nickel, which is something that you know I needed
to do for the team to be successful. Then moved back to corner and when I went through these you know, top receivers and matchup and I saw, like you know, I was performing well and all that stuff. That just gave me the confidence and say like, okay, I can do this like week in and week out. And like you said, unfortunately, like you know, it's part of the game,
I got injured, like somebody fell on my ankle. So that's really the only thing I wish for twenty twenty three, a full season of being healthy so I can show, like you know, the team, the fans and all the people that can do this day and day out. Well. One of the things we know, man, those things come and you gotta just stay preyed up. I mean, because I used to pray so much just to make it through the season. Man. But we know it comes. You know,
it comes with the territory all. One of the things I wanted to ask you is just watching you play this year, was it a difference to you when you moved outside? Oh, that was something that was natural to you. I mean you played the inside so well. I almost thought that that's where you did all, you know, throughout college and whatever else it was. But was playing on the outside first for you or it was something that you can do without happening to really think about where
you had on the field. Yeah, so outside, like you said, as my natural position. That's why I played Like my whole career, I never really played on the inside, but I was always, uh, something I was on the back of my mind because when I was getting recruited and you know, um in a draft process. I was also something that they brought up. There's like you taught you quick, so like you know, if we need to move you
to safety and nickel, can you do that? And I always said yeah, And the opportunity came and I was able to, you know, to to be prepared for that and play pretty well. And I think that's one of the assets that I have, is being how tall and big I am. But quick, I can still be in you know, in the slide and you know, blitz and all that stuff, and it's fun for real, Like it's
it just opens up the game and the scheme. You know that I can remember recalled interviewing you and you told us about you were playing hockey and being you know, and that helping you with your quickness and change of direction, being a six three corner, that that that skill. Said, What's what were you? What were you like on that hockey? Uh? On that ice, mad I was tough for I would say, like, you know, I'm very confident. I wanted this to come out cocky, but like if I kept playing hockey, I
think I would have made to the NHL. I would man into the league just because of how like my work ethic and you know, how gifted athletically, you know, shout out to Pops you know has done a good genetics. But uh yeah, hockey, Like I said, like it's usually most of the guys like they do track, you know, all that stuff, so they're pretty fastened linear speeding on stuff hockey so much, you know, side to side, stopping
on the dome, like playing defense. Came back with all that stuff like that helped me as a dB, and I'm starting to see the transition from I'm like, Okay, that's why I can move so well because I've you know, I've mastered those skills as a young kid. All the way until I was fourteen. What are one of those moments you take this off season and look back on and say, oh, this is who I need to be.
You know, this is the game where I showed that I had had my best outing and this is what I want to I want to take this over to the off season and build from it. I would say, honestly, that first game that I was put back at corner and I had like four or five pv us against the Eagles, even though we lost, like that that was good. But I would say like, like, I'm looking at the
stats that Justin Jefferson is putting up against DBS. I see like one hundred and eighty yards, two hundred yards, three yards, not you know, I held them to one touchdown seventy two yards. You know, as you know, a second year corner that's just you know, getting his name. So that's if I can recreate that type of performance, And that kind of was my eye opening moment, like, Yo, that's the top receiver in the league, and my team has enough confidence to say like this is who you're
gonna follow the whole game. And so if I can build off that this offseason, that'll be perfect for all your commander's news and analysis. Be sure to tune into Command Center weeknights but five and ten pm on NBC Sports Washington. You can also stream on YouTube and commanders dot com.