Luke Kuechly comparing notes with Thomas Davis ahead of Houston, and don't call Greg Olsen a security blanket

[Sir Purr]

Don't call Olsen a security blanket


Tight end Greg Olsen is the oldest guy on the team. That’s a fact.


Is he a “security blanket” for quarterback Kyle Allen? That’s up for debate. And it’s pretty clear which side Olsen is on.


“Security blanket, to me, is like an old slow guy who is like five yards from the line and when you have no one else to throw to, you throw it to that guy. That’s not quite me yet,” Olsen joked. “It’s not my favorite classification, but I don’t really care. Just try to get open when they throw it and try to catch it. I think quarterbacks feel comfortable knowing where I’m going to be. I take a lot of pride in that. I take a lot of pride in seeing things through their eyes, not through mine. Over time that’s done me a lot of good.”


During Carolina’s 38-20 win over Arizona, FOX commentators repeatedly pointed out Olsen’s age (34) as he put up six catches for 75 yards and two scores.


“Yeah, apparently that was a thing in the last broadcast,” Olsen said. “I’m going to have to talk to (color commentator) Brady (Quinn). I’ve known Brady for a long time.


“Whatever. I wear it with a badge of honor.”


On a more serious note, Olsen did say he’s quickly developed a good rapport with Allen. Olsen and Cam Newton spent years developing trust on the field, and that’s something the veteran tight end and the young backup quarterback will have to constantly work at.


“It takes time. You are never going to grow that overnight,” Olsen explained. “Cam and I have played a lot of games together, a lot of practice reps together. Those past experiences, good or bad, live on. With Kyle, a lot of it has to be verbal, just talking through things that may come up. You can’t wait till after they come up and get it wrong and say, ‘Oh, next time.’ There might not be a next time.


“We try to talk through as many possible looks you might get on a particular play or a particular coverage, just so in the event it does match up with that play or that coverage you’re both on the same page to capitalize on it. When it’s there, you got to hit it. If you don’t, in this league when you come back to it, it’s not going to be there.”