Brandon Jones – September 14, 2020
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Monday, September 14, 2020
S Brandon Jones
(Excuse us for our surprise, but you kind of came out of left field in terms of how much you played. Did you anticipate getting in the game as much as you did?) – “I think the biggest thing going into it – I knew I was in a couple of packages. It was really just based off of what the Patriots gave us depending on personnel and stuff, whether I would get in and play as much as I did. I was definitely up for the challenge and I was ready for it. We prepared every single day for that moment. I was ready for it even if I was starting in one package or backing somebody up in the next. I think the biggest thing for me was just being ready because you never know when your number is called. Surprisingly it was the first play of the game.”
(You just mentioned the first play of the game, how would you describe the feeling of being on the field as a starter in your first NFL game?) – “It was cool. It’s a lot different honestly than anything I’ve been a part of, obviously making the jump from college to the NFL, and the fact that there was nobody in the stands. It was crazy. It was an awesome experience obviously to be able to get out there. My biggest thing was to be able to trust my abilities and everything I have been coached to do up to that point. Trust my coaching and follow my keys for every play that I had. I was just out there doing my part at the end of the day, and not trying to do too much.”
(After having a chance to review the film. What are some things that you guys feel as a group you kind of learned that you can do better to stop the run?) – “I think the biggest thing is just doing your part. We have a lot of guys that are very competitive on the defensive side and want to make plays for the team and for us to get a better outcome than what we did yesterday. I think just being able to do your part, being able to master that and kind of control what you can control at the end of the day. Not doing too much, doing your 1/11th and kind of go from there.”
(Was it a surprise how much QB Cam Newton ran? He hadn’t played for like a year and there were some concerns about his health. Were you anticipating that much on the ground from the quarterback?) – “We had a pretty good idea going into it how much he was going to run, especially with a guy like Cam. He’s really good at doing what he does obviously, whether it’s in the passing game or if it’s running. They utilized him as best they could and they kind of fit the scheme around him. I don’t think we were too surprised about the run. We knew it was going to happen. I think the biggest thing for us was being able to stop it when he did.”
(I know you kind of pride yourself on preparation. We remember the draft stuff you were talking about with the cards. Was there one or two things that maybe you weren’t prepared for in your first game that surprised you?) – “I would say, being in college, I was kind of all over the place position wise. Yesterday my role was in the box a lot and just being able to see how fast the run develops was super surprising to me. I didn’t realize it happened that fast and you’ve just got to be ready to go. You key you guy as soon as he blocks down or does whatever he does, you have to kind of react after that. Just kind of getting a feel for that and seeing how fast that happens, it’s something you really can’t be ready for. You have to be in the situation to realize it.”
(In postgame, Bobby McCain did mention your play instincts. How would you assess your ability to play fast at this level in your first game?) – “I’d say just preparation in what I do and just the type of guy I am. I’m a firm believer in relentless effort and that’s one of our pillars too in the program. Doing whatever I can to get to the ball. Going through college with Coach (Tom) Herman, the play is not dead until the whistle is blown. That’s just kind of my mindset and how I’m wired, to just go, go, go until I hear a whistle; and really trust my techniques and all the stuff I’ve been able to accomplish up to this point. Like I said, being able to read your keys and seeing what you need to see and not see too much, I think I did a really good job of that and realized if this happens, what’s next to come. I think that was the biggest reason I was able to play at the speed I was yesterday.”
(Did you have a welcome to the NFL moment during the game at any point?) – “Not really, honestly. Just the speed itself is kind of it’s own welcome to the NFL (moment) for me. Just being able to see how fast it developed. Guys in the league – everybody is super strong and probably see me and want to take advantage of me any chance they get when it comes to cracking or guard pulling or stuff like that. Thankfully I was good for this week.”
(Besides the amount of playing time you had, what about that stat, 10 tackles – if I had told you before the game that you would wind up with that many, would you have been surprised? Is that a big number for you?) – “Nah, not to me. I had a couple of games like that in college, honestly. It is what it is. It’s my job as a defensive back, if stuff breaks or if the ball is on the perimeter, to get the guy on the ground at the end of the day. I wasn’t too excited about it. It is what it is. I’m super hard on myself anyways. I feel like there is one tackle I did miss, so that number could’ve been 11. That was the big thing to me.”
(You have another running quarterback this week in Buffalo QB Josh Allen. How much can you take from defending QB Cam Newton and apply that to defending Josh?) – “I think they are very similar in a way, but they are also very different. Obviously with the type of offense that they have – I think knowing Josh Allen has been in the offense for a little bit, I think we have a better idea or understanding of what’s to come versus Cam’s first game with the Patriots, we really weren’t too aware and didn’t know what could actually happen. I think that kind of gives us an advantage of watching last year’s film, having a good idea of situations or they do this when this happens and stuff like that. That’s a big thing. I’m always a guy that reads different keys during film, so being able to have that factor to help on Sunday is going to be big.”
