DE Isaiah McGuire (5.13.23)
How much were you smiling when you found out you got a new edge rusher in that room?
Oh, man. For me, it was definitely exciting. You know, me being a rookie coming in, having the opportunity to learn from a great vet such as Darius as well as the other people in the room is truly an honor and a blessing. I’m excited to learn from those people, pick their brains and just improve overall.
Where were you yesterday when you heard about that trade?
I was in my hotel room, actually watching film and going over the playbook and seeing that and sending to my family us talking about how what of a great opportunity it is for me as a young player. Adding that presence to the room and just overall and continuing to improve our pass rush.
I know you really haven’t been together with those guys yet, but what’s it like to think about having Myles and Darius and Oboe and then you and Alex?
And for sure, like I said, it’s just exciting. So when we play teams, when it comes to the season, we can just keep seeing. Everyone can stay fresh. I heard a lot about Myles having to take a lot of reps last year and even my senior at Mizzou where we had a lot more depth on the defensive line. I understand that fresh legs for a player can really help him improve or not improve, but impact the game overall. So, like I said, that’s definitely exciting, for sure.
How did you hear about the trade?
It was on Twitter or I got an NFL notification. I was like, oh, wow.
Just what’s been your first impressions coming in here?
So for us, having attack mindset but also having fun, football is supposed to be fun as well as violent. Like I said, you got to have fun. While football is hard enough, everyone is serious on details and whatnot. Like I said, just continue to improve on those things.
It seems like when people talk about your game, like your hands are always what comes up, I guess how much do you take pride in that part of what you’re able to do on the field?
So, like I said, hands is really what you have. No moves, no sex, that’s just really the truth of the matter. So for me, like I said, just continue to improve on those things. From college to now, being in the NFL, technique is everything. So for me, like I said, I have to take those necessary steps to improve so I can help the team win live football games.
Jim Schwartz, his style is attack tag, right? I’m sure he was already hammering that point home, but how do you think that fits your style?
I think it really fits my style because more so, even last year at Mizzou with Coach Baker, he really emphasized an attack defense and now it’s just Coach Schwartz eliminate a lot of thinking process and just going to wrecking havoc. So for me, that’s exciting.
Just what part of your game do you now realize that you have to pay special attention to make sure you refine that right away so you can maybe fit in and do what Jim wants you to do?
I think it’s just being overall, everything overall is a player. Even yesterday, like I said, we’re just working on basic fundamentals for this defense, having the mindset attack and mess everything up, create havoc on opposing offenses, for sure.
When you’re in this attack style, is the defense vulnerable to running backs going past you as you go into the quarterback?
No, not necessarily. Like I said, to be at this level, you have to be a smart player. Truthfully. So like I said, for us as a defense, all eleven doing their one of eleven, everyone’s doing their job. So no, absolutely not.
Just how much of you appreciated that and how much has that already, I guess, helped you coming in here?
So, like I said, even before I got here, to this point in my life, I heard a lot about how the NFL may not necessarily take the time to truly develop people or make sure everyone’s on the same page or whatnot. So for me, it’s a big blessing to have coaches like that to take the time to really develop and invest in their players. So like I said, everyone can be on the same page. Store us as rookie and the rookie mini camp so when the best get back, we’re all on the same page. We’re getting going.
You talked about the excitement of the attack, which some of the guys have compared it to being able to be like the skill players and they think flashy plays. Is that something that excites you? Honestly. Like I said, we don’t necessarily big up front. We don’t necessarily get the credit or the flashiness, such as a route receiver or running back. So for us, it’s like just having that freedom to just go attack and have fun and create havoc, for sure.
Go back to the hands, what’s your go to and what’s really your bread and butter?
Honestly. So even leading up to this point, everyone can see on film that I have a lot of power, like I said. But I’m also athletic, so I can attack offensive lineman or whatnot in different ways, whether it’s power, whether it’s finesse or speed. Like I said, just having that artillery as a pass rusher, as a defensive player really helps the team, for sure.
# # #
***Visit the Browns Media Center for materials provided by the Browns communications department, including media schedules, press releases, quotes, photos, media guides, rosters, depth charts and more.***