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Offensive tackle Armand Membou, the Jets’ first-round pick Thursday at No. 7 overall, blocks out some time for some post-draft Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: Do you think you can handle my bull rush?
A: Maybe. I don’t know. You look kind of strong (half-smile).
Q: Describe what “kill time” means on the field.
A: You just gotta treat it like it’s war, ’cause it is war out there.
Q: How much pleasure do you get out of punishing people?
A: I love pancaking people, it’s one of my favorite parts of the game. Being able to move someone from Point A to Point B against his own will, it feels great.
Q: Which do you like better, pancake blocks or pancakes?
A: I like the pancake blocks better, for sure.
Q: Do you like actual pancakes?
A: I like actual pancakes, but pancake blocks are a little harder to come by.
Q: How many have you had, do you think?
A: I had a lot last year [at Missouri] for sure. You gotta move another man against his will, so it takes a lot more than just putting some pancake batter on the pan.
Q: Do you talk trash?
A: If I’m not tired, it depends. I really talk trash when they talk to me, or unless I’m just really feeling myself, but most of the time no.
Q: But if they talk to you…
A: I’m gonna for sure talk back, but usually they don’t talk to me ’cause they’re getting the business.
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Q: How good of a trash talker are you?
A: I’m your average trash talker, I’m just gonna say words that I can’t say in this interview right now.
Q: What is your definition of toughness?
A: At least in the game of football, just playing four quarters strong. You’re gonna go through ups and downs, you’re gonna get your trials and tribulations, but just fighting through all those problems that you face.
Q: And mental toughness?
A: About the same thing, but kind of tying back into the trash talk, you’re gonna have your bad plays, and there’s gonna be people that are gonna talk to you, especially D-linemen, they can smell fear, so just not letting them get to your head and just staying mentally strong.
Q: Can you smell fear?
A: Yeah. If you dominate someone on the field and just their body demeanor, you can tell when like they’re defeated.
Q: How good of a feeling is that?
A: Feels great to see, yeah, ’cause once you get in their head, it’s over with.
Q: How do you try to get in their head?
A: By dominating them. If you do talk a little bit with that, too, then it really messes someone up, depending on how strong they are mentally.
Q: Does it tick you off when you allow a sack?
A: It does, but last year I didn’t, so I wasn’t pissed that much (smile).
Q: You didn’t allow any sacks last year. Are you proud of that?
A: Very proud, yeah.
Q: How were you able to do that? That sounds almost impossible to do.
A: You just gotta fight your tail off every snap and make sure that guy doesn’t touch the QB.
Q: What would you tell Justin Fields about what he’s getting in front of him at right tackle?
A: Getting a good protector, and then just getting a tone-setter.
Q: Have you ever been overpowered on a football field?
A: I feel like everyone gets beat every once in a while, but it doesn’t happen to me often.
Q: Which defensive lineman from the past would you have liked to test your skills against?
A: It really don’t matter. I know I’m gonna face some pretty good D-linemen in the league. My job is to keep ’em away from the quarterback so … bring ’em on. Bring ’em all on.
Q: What do you like about Andrew Thomas?
A: Just quick feet with ability to anchor on command, I feel like those two attributes make a great tackle.
Q: How about Rashawn Slater?
A: Same thing, he had great feet and he’s always in good position. He has a good punch. … They can’t move him. If you’re fast in the edge, and you got a good anchor, you’re gonna be a really good tackle.
Q: You played against some talented players in college. What do you remember about defensive end Shemar Stewart out of Texas A&M, taken by the Bengals in the first round?
A: He was really strong.
Q: Another A&M defensive end, Nic Scourton, who went the second round to the Panthers?
A: Really twitchy.
Q: Commanders 2024 Rookie of the Year QB Jayden Daniels, out of LSU.
A: Anytime Jayden Daniels got outside the pocket, I remember he’ll scramble for like 40 yards, like it was an instant 40 yards. He’s definitely one of the best football players I ever seen, probably.
Q: What drives you?
A: My family, and then just also just my love for the game.
Q: You were in a marching band?
A: Yeah, it was my freshman year in high school. … I played baritone.
Q: You have a “KC” tattoo on your left arm. Were you a fan of the Chiefs?
A: A little bit, but I’m a Jets player now.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Jesus, LeBron [James], Joe Thomas.
Q: What was it about him that you liked?
A: He’s an all-time great tackle. Great vertical setter, great pass protector, really consistent. … I think he played like 10,000 snaps in a row. Can’t do much better than that.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Infinity War.”
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Can’t go wrong with like fried chicken or some barbecue or something.
Q: The pizza’s pretty good here.
A: That’s what everyone says.
Q: How big of an eater are you?
A: I can when I want to, but at the same time I can’t go crazy or else I’m gonna gain too much weight.
Q: What is your weight?
A: Right now, I’m about like 330.
Q: What would you want Jets fans to say about you when they watch you play?
A: I just want ’em to say I’m a good player, really. O-line, they get a lot of smack talk sometimes. You get beat one time in a game, then you’re the worst player ever. Versus like you’re a D-lineman, you make one play a game, you’re gonna be the best player ever.
Q: Do you like being an offensive tackle?
A: I love being an O-lineman, but at the same time, it’s different than other positions. You’re not getting all the clout and stuff as like a quarterback or a receiver.
Q: Did you ever think that you would become this good of a player?
A: I didn’t like set a cap for myself or anything, but I definitely have come a long way for sure.
Q: What are you most proud about what you’ve accomplished?
A: Just sitting here right now saying I just got drafted the Jets, really.
Q: As a first-round pick, do you feel any pressure to live up to the expectations?
A: Nah, it’s just football. I wouldn’t have came out if I wasn’t confident in myself, so just do me.
Q: Do you aspire to be great?
A: Every day.
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