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Eric Rowe – October 30, 2020 Download PDF version

Friday, October 30, 2020

S Eric Rowe

(This happens to be a similar Rams team to the team that you guys beat in the Super Bowl. How different are they from when you played them last and what’s the same?) – “What’s different is – not even really the players, not the coaches. Actually what’s different is at least offensive-wise – not much. It’s the same scheme, same players, obviously the same head coach. So actually I would say all those things are the same. Still great players over there. Still making plays. Still a good team. (They) have a really good scheme every week against whoever they play. Nothing really changed.”

(Head Coach Brian Flores told us that CB Jamal Perry – formerly Jomal Wiltz – sometimes I mess that up still – is out. So I don’t know if that means maybe some more time for S Brandon Jones or some more time for CB Noah Igbinoghene, but just in terms of Perry specifically, can you help explain to me what his role sort of generally is and what he does best – Perry?) – “His role is generally the slot defense, as we saw in the Seattle game when Bobby (McCain) went down – like the backup free safety. Really, he’s pretty versatile. He can go outside if you need him to also, and then on special teams. So his role is pretty deep on the team, so having him injured is kind of a little bit of a shock to the secondary, but that’s the season goes – how the NFL works.”

(I think we’ve all been curious. What is it about your skillset you think that makes you so good at locking down opposing tight ends? Tight ends can be such a tricky position to lock down based on size, speed and really the aspect they bring to the game. What is it about your game that you’re able to lock those guys down on a week-to-week basis?) – “I think a lot of it has to do with how the defense is set up – how (Defensive Coordinator) Josh (Boyer) and ‘Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores), how the system is structured. To me, I think I fit it, so I think that’s why I’m having a lot of success. Obviously it’s not just me. I’ve got d-line on the pass rush, sometimes me and Bobby (McCain) kind of – if it’s something over, I know I’ve got Bobby sitting there. It gives me time to catch up if he has the step on me. But kind of the other thing is coming just with the confidence. It’s all about your mentality on the field, so I just go in the game just telling myself I’m about to lock this guy up, about to make him not a threat on offense. Just leave him in the protection. So that’s just my mindset every game. Then that with how the defense – how the system is – I think all that kind of contributes to it.”

(Earlier this week, CB Byron Jones talked about how he thinks the communication is as good as it’s been for you guys in the secondary back there so far this season. With so many new pieces and the rookies and the young guys that you guys have had to kind of bring along, what did the bye week and that time off do to help you guys improve in those areas and get guys even more acclimated with maybe the mental side of the game?) – “Just more – the only thing you really can do is just get more reps. Just get more reps, have more film study together, talking about ‘we’re going to do this if they come out in this play.’ Just communication for it. ‘We call this play against this formation.’ All that. So even with the bye week, we had a practice. We kind of went through corrections – what we could do better, kind of just self-scouting and kind of just all that, pack that together because now we’ve got to go 10 weeks straight. There’s no re-dos, so we’ve got to bring them along and then all that communication; obviously we’re going to need it.”

(I wanted to ask you about the Rams in terms of all the motions and shifts and things that they do to try to create breakdowns in the secondary. How do you deal with that before the snap?) – “We’ve talked about that. We’ve got to keep our eyes on their huddle. So whatever play call that we have in – to the corners, even me – keep your eye on your man because they can come out with a receiver at the running back position and that can screw everything up. So just keep your eyes on your man. Don’t just line up in your spot that you may 90 percent (of the time) be in. Keep your eyes on your man so when they break the huddle, you’re on it, too, and then we’ve already got the communication ready to go so none of that breakdown stuff will happen.”

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