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Byron Jones – November 9, 2021 Download PDF version

Tuesday, November 8, 2021

CB Byron Jones

(What do you think are the biggest changes in the defensive performance as a group the last couple of weeks that have allowed you to resume the dominant way you all looked for much of last season? Pressure on quarterback, tight coverage, what’s top of the list?) – “I think we’re throwing a little bit more at offenses. I think we’re getting turnovers and guys are executing.”

(Studying QB Lamrr Jackson now and his progression throughout the NFL career, do you feel he’s become as a dangerous passer as he’s always been a runner?) – “Absolutely. I think watching the film and watching the passes he’s able to make, but also how he extends the plays with his feet is really impressive. He’s done that since Day 1. We were actually watching the film from 2019 when they played Miami and he was throwing just fine then too.”

(What do you see when you watch WR Marquise Brown?) – “Speed.”

(How are you physically with this turn of playing on Sunday and then Thursday? How is your body? How is it doing? Is it any different?) – “You try to sleep as much as you can. You drink a lot of water and watch as much film as you can because you can’t really practice. Your body is beat up a little bit but everyone goes through it so you just have to suck it up and find a way because they are dealing with the same thing we’re dealing with. A good challenge for both of us.”

(I wanted to ask you about CB Nik Needham. What have you noticed about the way he plays, that you like or appreciate?) – “He’s just a scrappy player. When you look at his career path and understand that he wasn’t a drafted guy or wasn’t highly recruited at probably any stage of his life, to come here and be on this roster for so long and contribute to the starting defense for so long, I think I’ve said that before, I look up to guys like him. Those guys have it hard. They are looking to cut guys like that, but he’s always found a way to stay on the field and perform well. We all love Nik. We’re all happy for him to see that, but also he deserves it. He’s a smart guy. He plays hard. He’s a true professional.”

(How hard is it to defend QB Lamar Jackson because if you’re in man coverage, you’re locked in on covering your guy and all of a sudden you have to turn around and he might be 10 yards down the field.) – ‘We’ve played mobile quarterbacks who can throw or run. It’s not a new challenge for us, but we’ve never played against this type of threat with his legs. I’ve watched film of this guy just juking an entire team. You don’t see that often from a quarterback. You just play ball. Just cover when you need to cover and tackle when you need to tackle.”

(As a defensive back, when your back is actually turned to where the quarterback is. How do you start knowing that you’ve got the scramble drill? Do you react to the wide receiver if he starts to try to block you? Do you realize..?) – “A lot of it is just feel and just how the receiver’s eye light up, or you can see if the ball is coming or not. In terms of when the quarterback leaves the pocket, it’s definitely the receiver that’s going to tell you a lot of things. It’s just a feel. The crowd kind of reacts in a certain way too. For me, it’s just watch the receiver and if he stops running his route, his eyes are getting big or the ball is coming – I think it’s just feel. It’s hard to explain, but you just got to be out there to feel it, I guess.”

(A lot of times you hear DBs talk about plastering when you have these mobile quarterbacks. Do you have a strategy you go about practicing plastering?) – “No. it’s just exactly what you think. When we’re out there on the field, we understand that the play is going to go a little bit longer than we want it to, and then you keep your eyes on your receiver. He’s going to switch up his route. He may run a dig, but he may turn into a seven or he may come back to the quarterback, away from the quarterback. The best way to practice is to do exactly what you are probably going to do in the game and that’s just keep your eyes on the receiver and stay disciplined that way.”  

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