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Byron Jones – December 23, 2021 Download PDF version

Thursday, December 23, 2021

CB Byron Jones

(There was a report out today that the Saints are preparing to start rookie QB Ian Book instead of QB Taysom Hill. I was just curious how much do you know about Ian Book, how much does that change your preparation over the next couple days?) – “I guess that just came out. I got the news on the way up here. If he’s in the NFL and he’s playing quarterback, he’s going to be a good player. Preparation still stays the same. I’m sure he’s a mobile guy who can run and throw as well so we’ll be working, just the same way we work otherwise.”

(When you have such a quick change at the last minute, I understand this is COVID times so things are kind of unorthodox. How quickly do you have to go about the film study on this?)  – “Honestly you just prepare the same way. The meetings don’t really chance, the structure doesn’t change. I guess coaches will probably find some film of the new quarterback coming in but they still have 10 other players on the field that are consistent. I still have to guard the receivers, linebackers got to still tackle their running backs and so on and so forth.”

(Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer talked this week about how well you’re playing. How even in ways that the average fan wouldn’t necessarily see, you’re playing well in those areas as well. What’s your comfort level with year two in this defense compared to year one and do you think that’s helped you have a really good season?) – “Coming into this system, small things are different. The way you play man. Your high hip, low hip, how you attack the ball, whether you’re undercutting routes. It was a good challenge. It was a fun challenge especially trying to adjust the way you play later on in your career. That was something that I was eager to adjust to. It’s been fun. It’s been fun playing on this team and watching these young guys come up and become their own players and become their own superstars. I’m just excited to be a part of this whole process and hopefully we keep it going and keep it riding.”

(I wanted to ask you about CB Xavien Howard being named to the Pro Bowl, obviously your teammate and friend, I’m sure you have a lot of thoughts on that.) – “No, he makes fun of me every single day so he’s not my friend. (laughter) We definitely do work together. No, it’s a blessing to see a guy like that perform at the highest level that you see on a day-in and day-out basis. He’s a ball hawk. He’s a smart player. He’s grown in so many ways since I’ve been here. There’s no one more deserving to get that award than him on the defensive side. He’s always making an impact. We’re all happy for him and of course he wants more so he’s still pushing the rest of the year to get more.”

(I wanted to get your thoughts on this defensive turnaround from where the defense was at the 1-7 start and then now on this six-game winning streak. What do you think is the biggest reason for the stark difference?) – “I’m not sure. Guys are just playing better essentially. Guys are just executing their responsibilities a little bit better and when you’re doing that more consistently, you see the results that we’ve been seeing. That’s the whole thing. We all have a job to do – line up, get the communication out and do your job at the highest level. The call is going to be just fine. We’re going to be in a position to make plays and we’ve just got to make them. We’re starting to do that a lot more consistently this time around. Obviously we still want to keep that thing rolling but we’re off to a good start.”

(As a fellow safety turned cornerback, I’m sure you’re aware of the challenges that CB Nik Needham faced last week and has faced previously. Can you talk a little bit about the growth that you’ve seen from him as a player?) – “Nik is one of those guys where when I came in, I didn’t know too much about him but watching him perform and the way he approaches practice – there was at one point I told him, ‘The way you approach the game, you inspire me.’ He is a guy who was undrafted, didn’t have much of a shot but is fighting, scratching and clawing to be here. He’s been put in a lot of positions and he’s stepped up every single time. The fact that he was playing nickel throughout the entire year and has to hop back at safety and make all the calls is something that, as a team, doesn’t go unnoticed. I know fans probably overlook it but that’s an incredible adjustment to make in a week. He was a guy that all of us trusted and the coaches trusted and he did the job very well. I’m happy to see a guy like that be able to perform at that level and be versatile.”

(I’m curious, you have experience at that spot. Could you have done it and felt comfortable?) – “Truthfully, not in this system. The amount of responsibility that these safeties have is just tremendous. The fact that Nik (Needham) was able to do that within a five-day turnaround, that’s incredible. I’d like to consider myself a smart guy but I don’t know half their calls. I just look back at the safety, they give me my call and I say, ‘Yes, thank you.’ The fact that Nik was able to do that in four to six days is really impressive.”

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