00:00All right, we're not football coaches, but the evaluators out there say that the team had more than 40 pressures
00:07on Sunday in Houston.
00:08That seems like an outrageous number.
00:10How proud is this group of what you guys are doing up front to create chaos in the backfield?
00:15Yeah, we're definitely proud, you know, as an overall defense, you know, just especially after last year and, you know,
00:20the flaws that we had in defense to where we are this year.
00:23You know, obviously we've, you know, wanted to be as intentional as we possibly could, you know,
00:28and just coming in and doing our 1-11 thing, you know, like I said, we're very hyped this year
00:31to see that, you know, things are changing.
00:33There are so many options defensively, especially up front, waves of pressure is the way it's been described.
00:39How hard is that for an offense to block you guys and prevent you from getting in the backfield when
00:45you have so many fresh guys?
00:47Yeah, I think, you know, it definitely, you know, makes it tougher on the offensive line, you know,
00:51especially whenever we've got the type of caliber of guys that we've got.
00:54And the thing about our defensive line that I feel like kind of separates us is we have a lot
00:58of different types of rushers
01:00and different types of, you know, body types and different types of ways that guys can go out there
01:05and get to the quarterback and get pressure.
01:07So I feel like, like you said, it definitely, you know, makes it harder on the offensive line,
01:10and, you know, that makes it obviously better on us and our likelihoods of going out there and have a
01:15positive impact.
01:16Their running backs had 14 carries for 18 yards.
01:19You guys had a handful of sacks.
01:20They didn't score a touchdown.
01:21As a defense, what's the one number that you look back after a game and say, okay, that was a
01:26measurement of success?
01:28Yeah, I think, you know, stats is like you said, you know, obviously, you know, we shut the run down
01:33early
01:33and it got to the point where, you know, they weren't even confident in their abilities to run the ball.
01:38So obviously, you know, we hold our hats on that as a defense.
01:40And, you know, another stat would obviously be just the amount of pressure that we had, you know,
01:44from interior defense alignment to edge rushers.
01:48You know, I feel like we all together, you know, rushed as one, rushed as one unit,
01:53and I feel like, you know, we were able to go out there and have a positive impact on the
01:56game.
01:56You feel like everybody's starting to notice what the defense is in Cincinnati?
02:00Yeah, most definitely.
02:01I feel like, you know, as the weeks go by, it's just becoming more and more apparent that, you know,
02:05this is our identity now, and, you know, we're here to stay and we're here to, you know,
02:08compete with the best of them.
02:09It's not like John before the game said, hey, like, basically we want to show what we're about.
02:14Did y'all want to chip on your shoulder showing, hey, this can be one of the better defenses in
02:18the NFL going into that game?
02:19Yeah, most definitely.
02:20You know, just like you said, you know, John, he did a great speech before the game,
02:24just putting emphasis on, you know, just like I kind of said, just making this our identity.
02:29You know, going in no matter, you know, what type of defense the other team has,
02:33no matter what type of offense the other teams has, you know,
02:35just coming in and making sure that our opponent respects us
02:38and knows that we're coming in to go and win.
02:41What kind of impact does he have?
02:42We've obviously talked about Jackson Boyle, but on and off the deal,
02:44what has Jonathan done for this defensive line?
02:46He's done, you know, wonderful things, you know, just having, you know, a great vet like him.
02:50You know, he's, you know, brought along not only guys like myself,
02:54but, you know, really the whole other defensive line and just allowing them to, you know,
02:58just giving them different insights on to what certain things that he sees.
03:02And, you know, he's definitely helped improve the defensive line for sure.
03:06What excites you most about being able to showcase this defense now
03:09up against a division opponent, especially with the confidence of being 2-0?
03:13Yeah, the most exciting thing is just, you know, like I said,
03:16just going out there and putting the ball down at this point.
03:18Like I said, we're trying to, you know, make this our identity as a defense.
03:22So, you know, it's just another opportunity to go out there and prove ourselves.
03:25What's the early stage you remember seeing Aaron Rodgers play?
03:29Aaron Rodgers, too.
03:30I was probably like eight in the Super Bowl that one time.
03:35He was with the Green Bay.
03:36I forgot what year it was, but I was little though.
03:38I was definitely little.
03:39Is it crazy to think that you'll have a chance to go against him at Zach?
03:42Yeah.
03:42Like what's that like going against a guy like that?
03:45You know, it's definitely, you know, kind of a full circle moment.
03:48It's, you know, growing up you watch people like that,
03:51you watch quarterbacks like that until, you know, now go against them
03:53and be able to, you know, say I come and get them on the ground,
03:55you know, that would be a very cool thing to do.
03:58You've been living in the backfield.
04:00How eager are you to get that first sack?
04:02Oh, yeah, definitely pretty eager to go get it.
04:04Obviously, I'm not really, you know, necessarily chasing stats.
04:06You know, I just kind of want to go out there and have the best impact that I can.
04:10You know, if it comes down to getting the stacks, then get it.
04:13But, you know, obviously I'm eager to get the first sack, though.
04:16But, you know, just got to take it one game at a time, one play at a time.
04:19Is celebration going to be impromptu or do you have something planned?
04:22Is celebration going to be impromptu or do you have something planned?
04:25I probably do it as impromptu.
04:26I mean, I'll probably think about it, you know.
04:29I always kind of envision it like during the week.
04:31I kind of think like, oh, if I get a sack, I'm probably going to do this, do this, do
04:34this.
04:34But, you know, I'll probably just whatever comes to me, honestly.
04:38You said on Friday that you wanted to focus on your get-off, you know, that you had to do
04:44as quick as you wanted.
04:45Yeah.
04:46Did you think that was the reason you're going to be clear?
04:49You know, you must have worked on it.
04:51Was there anything in particular that you did do it?
04:53Yeah, you know, just not really anything specifically, just being intentional about it over the course of the week at
05:01practice.
05:02Just keeping myself, you know, just activated and really focusing on, you know, just keep loading up that front foot
05:08and getting off on the ball.
05:10Did Al have a number for your crushers?
05:11Did he give you how many?
05:12He didn't know, I didn't get any specific numbers, no.
05:15You cared?
05:16I mean, like, I mean, if you got them, I'd like to know.
05:19I don't know.
05:20I don't know.
05:21Pro Football Polkers, I think, had you, what, for six or five?
05:25He's up there.
05:26Yeah.
05:26I think he's won as a team.
05:27Oh, that's good.
05:28Yeah.
05:29You know, obviously, just want to continue to keep doing that for the next, we got 15 more weeks.
05:34Or 14 more weeks, at least, at least, yes, at least.
05:37Had Mafei for, right, I think, 10, I think.
05:40Yeah.
05:40Mafei had 10, which wouldn't surprise you.
05:42Yeah, no, yeah, we definitely had a great day as a defensive line, for sure.
05:47How many times do you watch that Jamar replay on the touchdown?
05:50Yeah, yeah, I done seen that.
05:51Every time I open my phone, I'm seeing that.
05:53So, it's just crazy the fact that he's able to, you know, go and move his body like that in
05:59the air and still, you feel me?
06:00Yeah.
06:01Toe tap it, and it's great.
06:03That's right there.
06:03That's Hall of Fame plays right there.
06:06So, you know, I'm glad to have him on my side and glad I don't have to guard that guy,
06:09for sure.
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