10 Questions with Primetime - Kristian Bitonio
by tikobrown | 7 years ago | 0 Comments
10 Questions with Primetime - Kristian Bitonio
Prime: Wassup, RZ Nation! It’s ya boy Prime. I’m in Cheesehead City with the #6 pick in the RZ Draft. LB from Wisconson. Kristian Bitonio. Hey brotha.
KB: Hope all is well Primetime, it's an honor to be here with you right now.
Prime: Man I’m great, big dawg. Just livin my life in Primetime. :) You know the drill, my man. 10 questions. You ready to go?
KB: Can't wait to see what you've got for me!
Prime: #6 in the RZ Draft, man! Highest Packers Draft Pick since A.J. Hawk in 2006. How did it feel to go to go so high to such a rich Historic Franchise?
KB: Well this is a dream come true for me. Growing up in Milwaukee which is only about 2 hours away from the stadium. The day I was born my father placed a cheese head on me and I've bleed green and gold ever since. When I got that call from coach Tholstrup on draft day...Man. That was the greatest feeling in my life.
Prime: Man that has got to be the greatest feelin EVER, baby! So you came in with a lot of promise. Are you the 2nd coming of Clay Matthews?
KB: I only hope that I can be as great as Clay. That man was an absolute legend in the Green Bay front 7. I studied a lot of film on him in College and the pros and he's actually reached out to me a bit with some advice, which is amazing.
Prime: Class act, he is. True Legend. What has Clay taught you about the position so far? About being a pro?
KB: Most of his advice is to just take everything a day at a time. If you take an L make sure to understand what you did wrong and how you can improve on that the next time. On the being a pro aspect, you need that work/life balance and he's helped me figure out how and when certain things need to be handled.
Prime: Beautiful, man. Beautiful. You played High School ball in Milwaukee. College in Madison. Then drafted by Green Bay. How does it feel to be the hometown boy in the Big Leagues, man?
KB: Yeah it’s absolutely amazing. I came to my first game here when I was 5 years old and was awestruck. Green Bay is just an amazing place with amazing people and I show up to work every day with the biggest smile on my face because I'm literally living the dream that only a few players are able to live.
Prime: Livin the Dream… You guys had a tough season on Defense. Couldn’t seem to put it together to stop the opposing team’s offense. What are you doing to right the ship?
KB: You know we had our moments this last year. From my end I know I didn't play like I needed to 100% of the time. So going forward I know that if I put in my effort and start to see results. Hopefully that can feed to everyone else and then success should evolve out of that.
Prime: Ok, is there anyone that you would compare yourself to? Anyone that you have modelled your game like?
KB: I can't necessarily compare myself to anyone. However, like I said I've spent some time with Clay and watched a bunch of film. So I've tried to learn what I can from his game. When it comes to rushing the passer, I've watched a lot of film on Derrick Thomas because he could flat out get to the QB as a backer and that's something that I've devoted some time to getting better on.
Prime: Derrick was my true hero, man. One of the very best people I’ve ever met. And the greatest to ever do it. I hear your family owns several cheese dairies all over Wisconsin. What’s the best kinda cheese? What’s your favorite, my man?
KB: Ohhh man..that's tough...I've got to say that my personal favorite is Colby Jack but you can't go wrong with any of our 22 different varieties that we sell. I will tell you that Blue cheese is the one and only that I will not eat...Not sure what it is but I just can't do it.
Prime: Hahaha! Man I love 7 year Sharp Cheddar. My Gawd.. Haha! Have you got to Lambeau Leap yet? Is that on your To Do list?
KB: I haven't had the chance yet. I had the awesome first INT that I took to the house against Chicago in Chicago but nothing yet in GB. That first leap for me will be so special just knowing all the amazing players that I've seen from the stands make that awesome leap...Yeah, that first one will be pretty spectacular.
Prime: Dreams do come true, brotha. I’ll be watching for it. What goes through your head when you are running full speed at the QB on a Blitz, man?
KB: Probably a lot but what I can always remember is "do your job". I know that if I don't get to the QB then there's a good chance that I might cause a problem down the field. Everyone needs help to do their job and I need to do my part to make the team a whole.
Prime: Alright, man. And the Primetime Last Question, man. Did you buy yo mama a house, baby? How big?
KB: Actually the first thing I got her is the one thing she always wanted, the very first car her parents owned. I had someone track it down from a salvage yard and got it fully restored for her. I don't think I can remember my mom smile that big before.....well maybe other than when Jordy Nelson takes his shirt off hahaha!
Prime: Haha! Alright, man. Sounds like mama got some dollar bills ready for Jordy, baby! Haha! Cool my man. Yo, make sure mama gets that big house though, man. Thanks for visiting with me, brotha. This has been 10 Questions with Primetime. With Kristian Bitonio and ya bot Prime. We gone, baby!