Marvin Philip Press Conference

Marvin Philip
University of California Golden Bears
Center
6th Round – 201st Overall

How does a guy with your credentials slip so far down in the draft?

You know what, I don't know. I'm just honored and privileged to be playing for the Steelers with their great tradition. I'm super excited.

Do you know about their tradition of centers?

Yes, Dermontti Dawson. I'm familiar with a lot of the players that they have but Dermontti Dawson is one of my favorite centers.

Re: Oregon game and your match up against the nose guard Haloti Ngata.

He is actually a relative of mine. I have known him for a while. We do our best when we go out there and we try to keep him quiet and hopefully it doesn't go unnoticed.

How are you related?

He is my second cousin.

Do you agree that you played a good game against them?

Yeah, I do. I think the past couple of years I have had good games against top defensive lineman in our conference [Pacific 10].

Do you know that he is going to be in the division here?

Yes, it will be exciting.

What can you tell us about yourself?

I'm from California and I haven't been in the cold much, but other then that I'm excited. I have never been to Pennsylvania. I'm excited that the Steelers are coming off a Super Bowl win. Words can't explain how I feel right now.

You took off two years to go on a mission. What was it like to come back and play football?

It was difficult. I went on a mission and I lost about 50 pounds. So I came back in the transition of things and tried to put the weight back on. Offensive line, especially center, is a hard position to learn. You have to work on your technique and you loss that when you are gone for two years. It was a tough transition but I think that I did well coming back.

Where was your mission?

I was in the upper mid-west, South Dakota, North Dakota area.

During the winter time?

I sure was.

Did you spend both years there?

I also spent time in Nebraska and Wyoming as well.

How many times have you gone against your cousin?

It was just the last two years, it was in 2004 and this past year.

Are you Polynesian?

Yes, Tongan.

What was the system like that you played in with California?

I think that it is similar [to Pittsburgh's]. We run a balanced offense. We like to pound the ball a lot. Last year we had a 2,000 yard rusher in J.J. Arrington and this year we had two 1,000 yard rushers so you know that we like to run the ball. We pass the ball quite a bit too. You know we had Aaron Rogers last year that come out. So we kind of are that balanced attack. We run that two-running back offense and I think that it is similar to the way the Steelers run their offense.

Is your height the reason you went in the 6th round?

I think so. That is what I have been hearing a lot coming into the draft that there is a height issue. I guess a lot of teams were getting a misconception of that but I think that you can tell on game film that it really doesn't make a lot of difference. If anything I feel that it is an advantage.

How is being 6'1 an advantage?

I think with leverage. At the combine measured out to have the longest arms as a center other then Ryan Cook. Being able to come out low and get underneath the pads of the defensive lineman [is an advantage].