Emmanuel Ogbah – November 27, 2023
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Monday, November 27, 2023
DE Emmanuel Ogbah
(It has been a long road, long season for you. Obviously, you’re going to have more opportunities now, but what has this season been like from a personal perspective?) – “This season has had ups and downs, but I can’t really complain. Thankfully, I’m still here. But it’s definitely had its ups and downs. I’m just ready for my opportunity.”
(What’s it like now that you will have that opportunity? I know it’s tough when it comes with a player going down.) – “Just like I’ve been all season, just staying ready, just waiting for my name to be called. Like I said, it’s been frustrating, but I’m excited for this opportunity. I’m just looking forward to it.”
(How gratifying – obviously, again, you don’t want to have to go in because of a teammate going down, but how gratifying was it to go in there and then produce and have a sack and be able to make some plays as you know your role is going to get bigger?) – “Even the first play when I got in and jumped offsides, I was thinking about Jaelan (Phillips) the whole time. It definitely sucks seeing my brother go down. I told him, I’ve got to get me one for you. After the game, I had to run up to him and say, ‘Hey, man, I’m thinking about you,’ just to give him that support when I can.”
(I was asking RB Jeff Wilson Jr. how tough it is to be selfless, because he’s injured and RB Raheem Mostert is on pace for 1,000 yards and RB De’Von Achane is getting all these yards. For you, DT Christian Wilkins with 6.5 sacks and I guess LB Jaelan Phillips might have had 6.0 or 6.5, LB Bradley Chubb with 6.0. You know the numbers. DT Zach Sieler with 5.0. Everybody – you have 4.0, I believe, so you’re in on the party, but is it tough to sit on the sideline while everybody is having such success and the team is having such success?) – “Oh, not at all, because I know what those guys went through, what those guys are going through because we all battle together and we all work together. Just seeing them succeed, I’m happy for them. I want everybody to go out there and make plays for us. But yeah, also I want to be out there too making plays, but it’s always good seeing the guys eat too around me.”
(In the lead up to the trade deadline, did they come to you and say, “Hey, don’t worry, we’re not shopping you?” Was there any clarity from them or did you just have to wait until the deadline to pass?) – “No, I didn’t really have any word from the team that I was going to get traded. So, no.”
(Was it something you thought might be a possibility? And were you relieved it didn’t happen?) – “I mean, you always think – depending on what’s going on, you would think that, but I didn’t know what was going on. Like I said, I was just controlling what I could control. Nobody told me anything, so I was just playing on the Miami Dolphins.”
(I was going to ask you, how much does standing up playing outside linebacker does that add to your preparation each week in terms of potential pass coverage responsibilities occasionally compared to playing defensive end?) – “I mean, like standing up is still different for me, but like I said, I’m getting better. I’m working on it every day at practice. I’m improving every day and just doing what I can to help this team win.”
(What’s the message been from Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio, I guess, in the last few days, since LB Jaelan Phillips went down?) – “We haven’t really had a chance to really talk about the situation with Vic (Fangio). I know I’ve spoken to Jaelan (Phillips) personally, but having a guy like that going down is definitely tough in the room. A rising star in this league, he will definitely be missed, but we’ve got to make the season about him and play for him.”
(How has LB Jaelan Phillips been doing in your interactions with him?) – “Mentally, I’d say he’s been good. He’s been good. It’s always tough to really know what guys are going through. I used for example, with me going down last year, it was definitely tough on me, hard on me. So I just told him one thing – just stay together and stay focused mentally, because the biggest thing coming back is just your mental preparation and attack that rehab hard too.”
(You were here last year. I know you weren’t playing that much during that five-game losing streak, but what will make this different than last year? What did you guys learn from last year’s tough stretch?) – “It’s December football now, so it’s definitely tough playing in December, but just staying focused. Our defense is getting better each week. We’re getting better and better, and we’re getting healthier on defense. So just staying focused, don’t get complacent and attack every game and play hard every game.”
(Does it feel like the defense is getting better and better? I mean we see the plays, the sacks, the interceptions. Does it feel like you guys are changing games?) – “Yeah, we’re getting more comfortable with each other. Again, we’re playing for each other. We’re playing better every week. We have guys that are back – Jalen Ramsey is a big boost, him coming back. Guys are playing together, guys are playing hard. Pursuit is key. Just balling together as a unit.”
(It wasn’t that long ago you had those back-to-back nine sack seasons. Do you feel that is something that you could still get back to, that level of a pass rusher?) – “I mean, the sky is the limit for me. Like I said, I’ve always been ready, I’ve always stayed ready. I’m just waiting on the opportunity.”
(I asked RB Jeff Wilson Jr. this last week, is there any benefit to not having a lot of tread this year on the tires? Although you’re always in great shape obviously, is there any advantage to that for you the rest of the way?) – “Oh yeah, you feel good late in the season. Your body still feels good. Just going into games, you’re feeling fresh and feeling ready to go. There’s always some good toward it, but then again, you always still want to be out there. As a competitor, me, I want to go out there and play.”
(Who was emotionally supportive of you in terms of not playing a lot? You handled it great, but was there anyone you sort of leaned on who uplifted your spirits?) – “I mean, the guys in the room, they understand. They understood what I was going through. The outside linebackers, the d-line room, I’m tied in with those guys. They’d just come up to me and kept telling me, ‘Hey, don’t worry, we’re going to need you this season. We’re going to need you eventually this season.’ So I just stayed focused and just kept on being a good presence in the room.”
