A relatively unknown commodity coming into the season, Blaze receiver Tysson Poots has become one of Tommy Grady’s top targets in Utah. In eight games played this season, Poots has tallied 899 yards and 19 scores.

AFNation’s Shannon McCabe recently caught up with the long-haired wideout for this edition of “Beyond the Wall”.

SHANNON MCCABE: Thanks for joining me today, Tysson! At 10-5 and heading into a bye week, the Blaze are in good shape for the postseason, but there are still four teams within a game of each other battling for those final seedings. What does that do to your preparation and focus each week?

TYSSON POOTS:  We’ve got to take every game seriously and go into the week confident. The Conference that we are in right now is very tough. I believe we control our own destiny, so during the week, we have to prepare for each game and practice to be perfect.

SM: Are you looking at the bye week as an extra week of rest or an extra week to prepare for the Arizona game?

TP: I think it is a little bit of both. The Rattlers are always good. It is a good week for a little rest and a little bit of time off, but it’s resting for the mental preparation. We are going to watch what Arizona does this week and we have some time to it figure out. But the bye week is definitely helping with our health.

SM: Tommy Grady is having a career year. What’s it been like having him as your gunslinger?

TP: I believe Tommy is one of the best quarterbacks in the game and he has proven it. It is a joy to be one of his receivers and to play along with the guy. I know that he trusts his receivers to make the plays that are needed to play. That puts a lot of confidence in us.

SM: What drives you to be a better wide receiver?

TP:  I would say my teammates and other receivers. I see what the other receivers are doing and how they prepare. It always makes me a little bit better. I plan on being better than the next guy. I have to prepare myself to be that way.

SM: This is your first year with the Blaze. How has the transition been?

TP: We are all a pretty close-knit team. We all get along and have fun. Being my first year, it is still a little tough, just getting used to the game. But now that I get it and am starting to understand it, it’s gotten easier. Watching the veterans on this team has been a plus for me, too.

SM: What’s been your favorite point in the season so far?

TP: When we played Spokane and pulled it together late to get a victory. We were down by a lot with less than a minute to go. That was definitely a great experience. Coming together as a team to pull that victory off was a great boost.

SM: Thanks for joining me today, Tysson, and enjoy your bye week!